Terry graduated from Auburn with his BS in Forest Management and the Alabama State Fire College as a Certified Firefighter & EMT Basic. His related licensures include: Firefighter I & II, EMT Basic, and Registered Forester, as well as multiple certifications including: Airport Firefighter, Critical Incident Stress Management, Emergency Response to Terrorism, Fire Investigator, Hazmat, and Incident Command. He also received many awards and recognitions including Firefighter of the Year (2004) and Recognition for Saving a Life from a House Fire. He was also President and Co-owner of Midsouth Forestry Services before becoming the owner of Landmax, Inc., a Firefighter/EMT, Fire Chaplain, and Battalion Chief with Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Services.

Gary joined the Rogersville Alabama Volunteer Fire Department when he was 21 years old and became a pastor when he was 23 years old. He has spent his life enjoying both. He graduated from the University of North Alabama with his Bachelors in History and Sociology and his Masters in Counseling. He also received his Doctor of Ministry from Omega Seminary in Monroe, Louisiana. However, due to a health issue in 1990, he became a bi-vocational pastor and full time fireman with the City of Muscle Shoals Fire Department. Later, he retired from the City of Muscle Shoals Fire Department as fire marshal. Today, he is an associate pastor at Grace House church in Florence, Alabama. He and his wife, Susie, have two married sons and a whopping eleven grandchildren, including one in heaven. He is also and has been the chaplain for Florence and Muscle Shoals Fire Departments since 2010. He has his CISM Counseling Certification from the American Association of Christian Counselors and attended many fire training courses offered by his department and the Alabama Fire College. He also recruits  chaplains in North Alabama.

Sam earned his Associates in Ministry, Bachelors in Theology, and Masters in Religion from Bethany Bible College and Theological Seminary in Dothan, AL, and was ordained in 1997 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Center Point, AL. While studying for the ministry, Sam served as a prison chaplain at St. Clair Correctional Facility. He later became a Dispatcher for Center Point Fire Department; going beyond his dispatch duties by going on calls with the guys. He was always there with them and for them, and eventually earned the high honor of becoming their fire chaplain. He has earned multiple training certificates through FEMA, Alabama Fire College, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federation of Fire Chaplains, etc. He was also awarded with the Public Safety Telecommunicator of the Year Award in 2019, the first dispatcher to ever be given this award.  He also serves alongside his wife as chaplain with Jefferson County 911.