John M. Gregory

John M. Gregory, president of the board of directors for King Benevolent Fund, established the organization in 1991 as a single ministry to distribute food and clothing. Since its inception, the Benevolent Fund has ascended into one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the nation according to Wall Watchers, Inc. Mr. Gregory and the board of directors have created the Benevolent Fund to become a four ministry organization to include: International, The Lord's Storehouse, The Widow's Mite and The Face of God.

In addition to his service for King Benevolent Fund, Mr. Gregory has founded four successful businesses. Most recently, he and his entrepreneurial family established SJ Strategic Investments, a company created as an investment vehicle with a diverse portfolio of public and private investments. Other founding businesses include King Pharmaceuticals, an S&P 500 Index company and General Injectables and Vaccines, a company that supplied injectables and vaccines directly to physicians' offices. In addition, Mr. Gregory opened Bastian, Virginia's first retail pharmacy. Proving to be a highly successful businessman, Mr. Gregory received The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Health and Sciences in 2002.

Mr. Gregory lives in Bristol, TN, with his wife, Joan. They attend Shelby Street Church of God and St. Anne Catholic Church.

Joan Gregory

Joan Gregory has served on the Benevolent Fund board of directors for approximately 10 years. In addition to her service for King Benevolent Fund, Mrs. Gregory is very involved with organizations throughout the Tri-Cities, TN/VA region. She volunteers for the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN, and for Bristol Family YMCA where she is also an active participant of their Christian Emphasis Committee. Mrs. Gregory also serves on the board of directors for The Lazarus Foundation and on the King College board of trustees.     

Mrs. Gregory lives in Bristol, Tennessee with her husband, John. They attend Shelby Street Church of God and St. Anne Catholic Church.  

Herschel Blessing

Herschel Blessing has served on the Benevolent Fund board of directors for approximately 10 years.   He is an active volunteer in distribution and transportation, as well. Mr. Blessing is employed by SJ Strategic Investments as executive vice president of logistics. Prior to his employment with SJ Strategic Investments, he was employed by King Pharmaceuticals as executive vice president of distribution.

Mr. Blessing volunteers as the head coach for the girls varsity basketball team of Tri-Cities Christian School. He also serves on the King College Advisory Board and the Tri-Cities Christian School board of directors. Mr. Blessing and his wife, Mary Ann, established What A Blessing! Farms, a successful program in Bristol, Tennessee, designed to raise quality walking horses for pleasure and show. They live in Bristol, TN, and attend Highlands Fellowship Church.

Mary Ann Blessing

Mary Ann Blessing has played an integral part of King Benevolent Fund since 1991. She serves as treasurer and secretary of the Benevolent Fund board of directors and is an active volunteer. In addition to her service for the Benevolent Fund, Mrs. Blessing serves on the boards of directors for Boys and Girls Club of Bristol, Global Resource Services, Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, The Lazarus Foundation and Mike Jenkins Evangelistic Association. She also serves on the Board of Governors for King College.

Mrs. Blessing coaches a cheerleading squad and a competition cheerleading squad for Tri-Cities Christian School. She is also very active with Christian Cheerleaders of America. Mrs. Blessing and her husband, Herschel, own and oversee What a Blessing! Farms located in Bristol, TN. They attend Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, VA.          

Brenda Viars

Brenda Viars has served on the King Benevolent Fund board of directors for eight years. Throughout her many years of service, Mrs. Viars has been actively involved in sharing the love of Jesus through other ministries, as well. In 1997, she established Brenda Viars for Jesus, Inc., a Christian organization of which she remains president of the board of directors. In addition, Mrs. Viars hosts a weekly Christian television program on WLFG. She also assists with the coordination of New Beginnings World Outreach, a television production located in Bishop, Virginia. Mrs. Viars also pastors All for Jesus Church of God in Blountville, TN.

Mrs. Viars serves on the board of directors for H.O.P.E. (Helping Overcoming Poverty's Existence). She also volunteers for Broadmoor Nursing Home where she ministers to senior citizens. She is very musically and vocally talented and she uses these talents to evangelize to people everywhere. She and her husband, Mickey, live in Blountville, Tennessee.           

Jean Chesnutt

Jean Chesnutt has served on the King Benevolent Fund board of directors for 3 ½ years. In addition to her service with the Benevolent Fund, Mrs. Chesnutt assists with the efforts of other organizations, including the Ladies Jail Ministry for the Bristol, Virginia City Jail; the Gateway Baptist Church food pantry and Out Back Ministries Youth Camp.

Mrs. Chesnutt is employed by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in Bristol, Tennessee. As a department manager, she is required to oversee the responsibilities of the sanitation department. Mrs. Chesnutt and her husband, Jay, reside in Bristol, Tennessee. They attend Gateway Baptist Church.  

Carol Shrader