MEET THE ACREE FAMILY: Embracing Service and Involvement in Our Faith Community

DeWayne and Jodi Acree believe in the importance of being actively involved in our parish community.

“We consider our faith to be much more than attending weekly Mass,” DeWayne says.

DeWayne and Jodi have four children — Gabrielle, Lillian, Caleb, and Isaiah. In 2010, The Acree family moved to our community from Fort Wayne, Ind. All of their children attended Catholic grade school, including their two youngest who attended St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School.

“Gabrielle got married two years ago to Joseph Buchieri — she works as an LMT here in Augusta,” Jodi says. “Lillian currently attends the Medical College of Georgia in her third year of medical school. Caleb recently graduated valedictorian of RCTCM and was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship to study Cyber Operations at Augusta University. Isaiah currently attends Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School where he sings in chorale and plays the piano.”

Jodi is a cradle Catholic, while DeWayne converted to the Catholic faith after they had been married for seven years.

“I felt it was important because our children were attending Catholic school,” DeWayne says. “I attended Mass regularly with the family at that time as well.” The Acree family has been involved in our parish since they moved here in 2010. DeWayne taught seventhgrade CCD, while Jodi joined the Rosary Making Ministry. Jodi also now participates in adoration and the soup kitchen. DeWayne serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and also assists as an adult leader of Boy Scouts.

Service runs in the Acree family, as their children are also involved in community life. Caleb assists with Boy Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster and helps with CCD for seventh-graders. Isaiah is an altar server and assists with CCD for third graders. Prior to medical school, Lillian assisted with kindergarten CCD. Gabrielle has previously played violin for Sunday Mass and her husband, Joseph, is also an adult leader with Boy Scouts.

“We feel being actively involved in our community helps us to grow in our faith,” Jodi says. “People coming together sharing experiences, supporting each other, doing good for others, while growing in our faith holds us all accountable to Jesus’ call to discipleship.”

As a family, the Acrees live out their faith in their daily lives. They pray together before bed and before meals. They all try to attend Sunday Mass together and have brunch together afterward.

“It keeps us connected as a family, and Jodi and I feel blessed to have all of our children local so that we can practice our faith together,” DeWayne says.

The Acree family feels grateful for the many service opportunities we have in our parish and its dedication to stewardship. They feel they’ve each benefited from serving in the parish community, learning more about the faith, and meeting lifelong friends along the way.

“When we have those moments where we need support, we have met some amazing people eager to help,” DeWayne says. “Also, when Jodi had her battle with cancer, the Meal Ministry helped provide meals four times a week for about three months. We felt the love and stewardship of so many people in a tangible way, and we had only been here for a year at that time. That’s a testament to people living their Catholic faith and helping when others need it most. We are forever grateful for those that helped us.”

The Acree family was the first family to receive the Honored Family award from the Knights of Columbus.

(Back row, from left) Joseph Buchieri, Gabrielle Buchieri, Isaiah Acree, Lillian Acree, Caleb Acree; (front row, from left) DeWayne and Jodi Acree