Jeff Youmans, Prep ’86
2026 Community Service Award
For Jeff Youmans, serving others means meeting people where they are, recognizing their worth, and responding when a neighbor needs help.
Through Brighter Days Ministry, Jeff helps individuals and families facing circumstances ranging from house fires and homelessness to addiction and other unexpected hardships. His work is practical and personal. He and the volunteers he brings together have built wheelchair ramps and porches, provided furniture and vehicles, helped individuals find housing, supported recovery efforts, and completed countless other projects designed to meet people’s immediate needs while preserving their dignity.
For Jeff, service is rooted deeply in his faith. He has served his local church for more than 27 years, particularly through ministries involving children and youth.
His service has also created a meaningful connection back to GMC. For the past three years, Brighter Days Ministry has partnered with the GMC Corps of Cadets on community projects. Cadets have worked alongside Jeff and other volunteers hauling lumber, preparing sites and constructing wheelchair ramps, rebuilding structures, cleaning community spaces, and assisting local residents. Through those experiences, cadets have an opportunity to see servant leadership in action and understand the difference they can make in the lives of their neighbors.
From his decades of service through his church to the countless needs met through Brighter Days Ministry, Jeff continues to demonstrate what can happen when one person chooses to see a need and act.
Family remains an important part of his story. Jeff was married for 32 years and is the father of two children, both of whom also attended GMC Prep. He is now the proud grandfather of two grandchildren.
Georgia Military College is honored to recognize Jeff Youmans with the 2026 Community Service Award.
