Our Team

John is a native of Brunswick, Georgia with a BS in Mathematics from Morehouse College. John had his entrepreneurial mindset and prowess even while in college. He has since started several businesses and is currently both a licensed General Contractor and a Real Estate Broker in the State of Georgia. In addition, John was for 29 years a full time staff member of The Gathering Place, most recently Director of Youth Ministry. The Gathering Place is a non-denominational leadership development organization established to help reach students with the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip them to be effective Christian leaders, and send them out to impact their communities and the world. It was as a general contractor that John first came to know Hand in Hand of Glynn and our mission. As our relationship grew, we at Hand in Hand began to envision John’s leadership role at The Grove at Correll Commons. John eventually understood and shared our vision. We are blessed to have his energy and enthusiasm surrounding our residents. John and Kelly, his wife of 35 years, have three sons John Jr, Jarvis, Jamel and one daughter Janae. John Jr and Jarvis are educators in Brunswick and Atlanta, respectively, while Jamel and Janae are working in corporate America in Atlanta, Ga.
John and Kelly are the proud grandparents of three girls and recently, their first grandson. John continues to serve as the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Brunswick, Ga. “Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is what I am most passionate about.”

Takiela Langley has devoted her career to helping and educating others. She has taken her life experiences and the skills acquired from her decade as an educator in Glynn, Chatham, and Houston counties to advocate for and empower the underrepresented individuals whom she has crossed paths with.

Takiela began her career in the nonprofit sector at Safe Harbor Children’s Center as a Life Skills Coach. She then went on to help renters obtain over $160,000 in emergency rental assistance through the Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Georgia Rental Assistance Program. After the sunset of that program, Takiela began helping the homeless apply to become residents at The Grove at Correll Commons, the tiny homes, through DCA’s Coordinated Entry and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). She was also responsible for coordinating Glynn County’s Homeless Coalition meetings. When Takiela realized that Hand in Hand of Glynn could use her skill set to help actualize their vision, she took on the role as their Resident Care Coordinator. She inherited the original 10 residents and has played a key role in growing occupancy to maximum capacity as the Program Manager. Today Takiela wears many hats. She is primarily responsible for coordinating and managing programs, resources, and services for the residents.

She is a proud graduate of HBCU, Fort Valley State University, and Georgia Southern University where she earned her bachelor and master degree, respectively. Takiela relishes in being able to see the fruit of her labor in the progression of her two sons’ lives. In her leisure time, she enjoys quiet time, tending to her plants, epicurean adventures, thrifting, and interior decorating.

Romeka Cohen McBride is a proud mother of two fiercely bright souls who bring joy to her life. Some of her favorite moments are spent in simple meaningful ways —engaging conversations with her family, sharing good books, and savoring delicious meals together. Though she was born in Cheverly, Maryland, she will always say she is from Brunswick, Georgia, the place that feels most like home. Romeka earned her Associate

of Marketing Degree from Ogeechee Technical School and has always been drawn to experiences that enrich her journey—whether through international travel, cozy evenings curled up with an amazing book, or the comfort of a truly great cup of coffee.

Today, Romeka serves as the Case Manager for Hand In Hand of Glynn. She believes case management is less about tasks and more about transformation. Romeka views case management as more than just a job- it’s a calling! To her, it is the work of uncovering the greatness that often lies dormant, encouraging growth, and walking alongside individuals as they step into the best version of themselves. In practice, that means listening deeply, assessing needs, creating personalized plans, coordinating medical and psychiatric care with our onsite providers and carefully monitoring progress so that adjustments can be made with care and intention. For Romeka, case management is not just a role—it’s a relationship. It’s about helping others discover strength, build skills, and embrace possibility, one step at a time.

Sandra Gibson is a native of Brunswick, Georgia and a product of the Glynn County school system. She attended Brunswick College, now known as The College of Coastal Georgia, where she earned a certificate in Business and Office Technology. She then went on to earn an Associate degree in Dietary Management from the University of Georgia. Sandra served as the Food Service Director at Sears Manor Nursing Home for 25 years before retiring. At Sears Manor she was responsible for managing the food service operations which included: insuring food safety, maintaining nutrition documentation, creating menus, managing the annual budget of $132,000 and overseeing purchasing, food preparation, implementing nutrition principles, and managing teams of staff members. Sandra is also a covenant partner at Maranatha Baptist Church in Brunswick, Georgia.