Traci knows that honor cannot stop at ceremony—it must be reflected in how government shows up for families long after the speeches are over. That lived experience defines her mission: to bring our respect H.O.M.E. For Traci, “home” is not a slogan. It is what families are supposed to feel—safety, dignity, opportunity, and trust that the systems meant to serve them actually work. As a mother raising children shaped by sacrifice, she understands both the human cost of government failure and the discipline required to fix it. Throughout her career, Traci has worked across economic development, food security, healthcare access, education, and community infrastructure—bringing together government, nonprofits, faith institutions, and the private sector to deliver real outcomes. She has built coalitions, managed complex initiatives, and helped stabilize systems that families rely on every day. Ceretta Smith is a proud Army Veteran, mother, wife, faith leader, grandmother, small business owner, and former Councilwoman in the City of Grovetown. She is proud to call Grovetown home for the past twenty years, where she lives with her husband, Retired Sergeant First Class Sterling Vandolph Smith. At her small business, she is committed to molding and developing future leaders of the workforce. It’s here that she teaches the values of compassionate leadership, guided by the adage: "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care." Before running her own business, she spent decades serving her country in various roles. She proudly served as a medic in the Army for nearly a decade, where she helped wounded soldiers recover in hospitals, clinics, and worked in a field unit in Germany. She then continued to serve by working for the Federal Government for another twenty-five years. Through her work, she became a Labor, Civil, Human Rights Activist, serving as: the Women’s and Fair Practices Coordinator, Chief Steward, Legislative Political Coordinator, Local President, Georgia State Council President and the National Fair Practices Coordinator for the largest Federal Government Union, the American Federation of Government Employees. Ceretta holds a Bachelor Degree in the Arts, a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling, four Associate Degree’s, one being in Criminal Justice and a Doctorate of Ministry with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership. She is a Certified Human Rights Consultant, Certified HISCoach Life Coach, a Certified Paracletos Counselor, a Christian Recording Artist, a Published Author, a Certified DISC Behavioral Analyst, a Certified Myers-Briggs Practitioner and a Faith Leader in her community that travels nationally and internationally. DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jackson is speaking only for herself. Her thoughts, views, and opinions regarding this tragedy belong solely to her. These are not to malign any profession, organization, anyone, or anything. Local Matters does not endorse candidates. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page at www.Janiceallenjackson.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LocalMattersPodcastofGeorgia Subscribe on Youtube: Local Matters Podcast of Georgia youtube.com/@localmatterspodcastofgeorg3624 Twitter: twitter.com/JAJAndAssocLLC Local Matters Podcast: Soundcloud: @localmatterspodcast Spotify: @localmatterspodcast Apple Podcasts: @localmatterspodcast
