Meet the

Board of Directors
 President
Clifton L. Lemelle, Sr.
Clifton Louis Lemelle, Sr., a native and resident of Eunice, Louisiana, is the son of the late Joseph and Elena Lemelle.
He was educated in the public schools of Eunice and received the bachelor’s degree from Grambling College, M.Ed.
and plus thirty from Southern University. He devoted thirty-six years to education and nurturing the boys and girls of
St. Landry Parish as a teacher, coach and administrator.

With a desire to embody his personal philosophy, “Strong faith and integrity will enable one to meet the challenges of
serving humanity,” Mr. Lemelle currently serves on many boards and organizations including:

Honorable Discharge U.S. Army, Specialist 4th class

President, J.K. Haynes Foundation & Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
President, Child Development Council of Acadiana, St. Landry Head Start
President, Iota Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Opelousas
President, St. Landry Parish Federal Credit Union
Executive Secretary, St. Landry Parish Education Association
Founder, Black Men Make a Difference, Eunice, LA
Past President, St. Landry Parish Bi-racial Committee
Past Commander, VFW Post 3786 and 7th District Commander
Past Member of the LA Governor’s Commission on Human Rights
Past Member of LA State Commission of Education on Student Drop-outs
Past Member of LA State Commission Teacher Certification & Evaluation

Life Memberships:
Grambling University National Alumni Association
J.K. Haynes Foundation Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Distinguished Awards:
St. Landry Parish School Board Distinguished Service
Child Development Council of Acadiana, Inc.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award presented by City of Eunice
Proclamation “Clifton Lemelle Day” by City of Eunice (March, 2003)
African American Hall of Fame Inductee—Hon. Donald Cravins, Jr., District 40
St. Landry Branch of NAUW Award for “Leading the Struggle against Racism”
St. Landry Branch NAUW African American Hall of Fame Inductee

He has spoken for various organizations and educational institutions across the state and nation. He has conducted
educational seminars on school desegregation, racism in the workplace, and affirmative action. He is the recipient of
over 145 awards and honors.

Mr. Lemelle is a member of New Zion Baptist Church where he serves as deacon, minister of music, and Sunday
school teacher. He was married to the late Josie Parker Lemelle for 32 years and to this union was born: Mellanie,
Clifton Jr., and Chad. He is currently married to Cecile C. Lemelle and shares two children, Donna and Johnny; 9
grandchildren: Colby, Dondre, Chloe, Robbi, Jovan, Josi, Carson, Cayli, and Cydney.
 Vice President

Melissa Bickham
Melissa Bickham graduated from Grambling State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Computer Science. Besides being a native of Franklinton, Louisiana, Ms. Bickham also comes from a
family that includes several generations of GSU alum. As a Lifetime Member, Ms. Bickham has
strived to display her commitment to continuous growth of GUNAA by becoming a founding
member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ms. Bickham has served as past President Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter. Under her direction the
chapter was able to increase membership as well as alumni participation. The chapter was also able to
increase the number of scholarships given to Metro Atlanta students attending GSU.

With over 17 years of experience, Ms. Bickham is a Technical Training Business Consultant and
entrepreneur whose client list has included Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Defense,
and IBM. Ms. Bickham has used her technical experience to improve communication within the
Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter. In addition to serving as a chapter president, she has also served as
Business Manager of GUNAA and GUNAA Southeast Regional Representative.

In her role as the 2010-2012 Vice President, Ms. Bickham’s focus will be supporting and developing
programs that enhance and build relationships between the Grambling State University, alumni, and
supporters. These programs will help contribute to the university’s bottom line becoming an
economically and financially sound institution, while also establishing viable networks to secure
greater support amongst political leaders and decision makers.

Additionally, this will help to raise funding for projects, endowments and scholarships, and enhance
programs that provide professional development for alumni and students. Most importantly, she will
work to increase the recruitment and retention of GSU students. Ms. Bickham will work with
representatives from several committees to ensure the initiatives and the goals of the organization and
reached.

Melissa Bickham currently resides in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area where she is an active member
of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She is also a member of the National Coalition of 100
Black Women, Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter, Inc., and a member of New Birth Missionary
Baptist Church.
 Secretary
Bobbie J. Williams

Full of energy and enthusiasm, Bobbie Jean Scott Williams is eager to begin her tenure as
secretary of the Grambling University National Alumni Association. She is a member of the
GUNAA Ray D. Molo Chapter – Lake Charles, La. where she serves as vice president and
assistant financial secretary. Her year round pet project is event planner for the GUNAA
Homecoming Golf Tournament.

A graduate of St. James High School in Alexandria, La., she decided she wanted to be “where
everybody is somebody.” She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies with a
minor in Library Science August, 1965 from Grambling College. Her graduate work was done
at Prairie View A&M University, and she received a Language/Learning Certificate from Lamar
University.

Bobbie spent thirty-eight wonderful years as an educator. She began her career as a curator of
the Special Collections at Prairie View A&M University Library, an elementary librarian in
Houston ISD, and finally 27 years as a teacher in Beaumont ISD.

She is the mother of two sons, two grand-daughters and one grandson.
In the community of Beaumont, Texas, she is actively involved at St. Paul AME Church, serving
as church secretary, missionary treasurer, choir president, and steward.

Bobbie is President of the Beaumont Association of Retired Teachers, and an active member of
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. having served on the local as well as the regional level.

She is filled with the sincerest gratitude for having the opportunity to serve as Secretary of the
Grambling University National Alumni Association, Inc.
 Treasurer
Bobby Rabon

Bobby Rabon is a native of Grambling where he attended grammar school through college. In college, he
was privileged to play football for the Legendary Coach Eddie G. Robinson. Bobby graduated as a
Mathematics major in Secondary Education, served in the US Army, and was chosen as the outstanding
soldier in his basic training battalion. He served his tour of duty in Europe during the height of the Cold
War. In addition to being a soldier, one of his goals was to learn the language of the country in which he
would be stationed. Consequently, Bobby learned to speak, read, and write German as a means to better
communicate with the people of that culture.

After military service, Bobby met and married Youlia Delafosse and became a teacher/ volunteer coach at
Pinecrest High School in Winnfield, Louisiana and subsequently moved to Abbeville in south Louisiana
where he resided for 40 years as a Mathematics/Science Teacher/Coach until he became involved in
school administration during the early years of school integration. He served as Assistant Principal and
Principal at the largest high school in Vermilion Parish with a school population of 1200 plus students
and 80 plus employees.

Additionally, Mr. Rabon served on several Boards of Directors including Louisiana Association of
Educators, Louisiana Works, the Vermilion School Employees Credit Union, and others during his tenure
in Abbeville.

Bobby retired in 1998, and eventually moved back to Grambling where he has been intimately involved
with Grambling University National Alumni Association, Inc. and the pursuit of the Video Bingo in
which GUNAA participates.

As treasurer, Bobby introduced the organization to Video Bingo. Thus, GUNAA financially supports the
educational aspects of Grambling, our SGA, our students through scholarships as well as play an integral
role in financing the Professional Experience Laboratory of the College of Education designed to help
prepare student teachers pass the Praxis Examination, and GUNAA.

Mr. Rabon brings to the position his keen insight for financial matters and his ability to analyze and make
sound decisions as it relates to financial investments.
 Financial Secretary
Russell Leday, MBA

The newly elected Financial Secretary for the Grambling University National Alumni Association, Inc. is
Mr. Russell LeDay. Russell earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration
(Accounting major) in 1982 from Grambling State University. Additionally, Russell earned his Master of
Business Administration (MBA) Degree with a concentration in General Business in 1991 from his Alma
Mater. Mr. Leday is currently pursuing a PhD in Organization Management with emphasis in Leadership.
Russell has held various positions at ARCO Oil and Gas Company, Grambling State University, Texas
College, and now Langston University.

Since his graduation from Grambling State University, Mr. LeDay has always supported the institution
and Grambling University National Alumni Association (GUNAA). While at his Dear Alma Mater,
Russell served proudly as the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, where he was instrumental in building
relationships and bridging gaps among the alumni and the university.

Russell has served as the Dallas Chapter and Elizabeth Robinson Chapter as President and has served in
many other capacities with GUNAA.

Russell is the proud father of two Gramblinites, Rashaad and Raven. He is a native of Opelousas,
Louisiana and is a member of the Elizabeth Robinson Chapter.

Affiliations:
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity
Grambling University National Alumni Association (Life Member)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (Life Member, Past Regional Treasurer)
Unified Omegas of Louisiana (Immediate Past Treasurer, Past President)
Ruston/Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (Past Chairman)
Rotary Club International
Honors:
International Youth in Achievement Award
Who’s Who among Students in America Universities & Colleges
Outstanding Young Man of America
Grambling State University Outstanding Alumnus Award
NAFEO Distinguished Alumnus Award
Omega Man of the Year (Gamma Gamma, Theta Alpha, & Pi Tau)
 Business Manager
Veronica L. Johnson, MBA/Acc, MSA

Veronica is a Grambling State University Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Class of December 1983
with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Additionally, she holds a Masters of Business
Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accountancy. Veronica is
also a CPA Candidate.

Some of her memberships include being an active financial member, past officer, and committee
chairperson of Douglas L. Williams Alumni Chapter (Houston, Texas) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. (Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter- Houston, Texas). She is a Life Member of both organizations as
well as Grambling University National Alumni Association, Inc., National Council of Negro Women,
and NAACP. Her membership in the National Association of Black Accountants allows her the
opportunity to assist students prepare for the workforce by providing interview proficiency techniques
and resume’ writing tips. To augment her skills as a member and officer of an organization, she became
a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians where she serves as Vice-President of the
State of Texas Association of Parliamentarians Bayshore Unit.

Since graduation, Veronica has been employed in the Oil & Gas industry for 25+ years. She serves as a
Tax Seminar presenter. Moreover, Ms. Johnson is author of An Accounting System, which was created to
assist non-profit organizations enhance their accounting systems.

Being true to her belief, “the sum of the parts is more valuable than the individual pieces,” as her
chapter and foundation’s Endowed Scholarship Committee team member, she saw the team achieve
their goal of establishing a substantial Endowed Scholarship with their Alma Mater, Grambling State
University.

Veronica was inducted into the Cambridge Who’s Who among Professionals and Entrepreneurs. She
brings with her insight, professionalism, a vast business background, reliability, and accountability.