Jerome Childs of The American Legion (TAL) Slaughter Brothers Post 222 in Johnston was elevated to TAL Department of South Carolina 3rd Vice Commander in May 2025. Childs will simultaneously retain his presence as commander of Post 222, just as he did throughout his recently concluded, six-year tenure as District 17 Commander. Childs is a retired South Carolina Army National Guard veteran of 21 years and graduate of Strom Thurmond High School.

 

Childs, part of TAL for more than sixteen years, is described by other members as generous with his time, routinely crisscrossing his district to make personal appearances at multiple post meetings every month. Above all, he is respected and admired, maintaining the reputation of being just a phone call away for any veteran --and their family members --needing assistance.

 

There's another good reason for his state leadership advancement directly related to his community vision and successful strategic planning abilities. He sees a need and takes steps to make meaningful improvements. Post 222 has served Johnston since 1952, first meeting on Railroad Avenue at “the Shack,” a nickname for the Slaughter Brothers building which became the post’s official namesake. After some time, the group relocated to the Young Men of Honor Society building where Childs recalls gathering when he first joined the post in 2010. He recollected that it consisted of “a bunch of fellas getting together just to meet and that’s all.” By the time he assumed leadership in 2017, the tight band of veterans had been congregating for several years in a back room of Davis Funeral Home’s now closed Johnston office. It was there that newly minted Commander Childs declared his intention to obtain a piece of land and erect a permanent meeting place.

 

By 2018, he had secured land generously donated by Carter Lewis, son and heir of Albert Lewis, who used to run the Maxwell Drug Store in downtown Johnston, known as a friend to veterans. Childs continued to press forward, spearheading a fundraising drive involving dinners, raffles, and donations that eventually secured sufficient cash to bid on the former Strom Thurmond High School modular classroom building which was relocated and became Post 222’s first permanent facility in 2020.  

What’s on the horizon for Childs in his new position? “I want to encourage post-9/11 veterans to discover the services and the community leadership opportunities the Legion alone offers to them. And I want Edgefield County posts to be more active in the school system and help our kids take advantage of the generous scholarships available through the American Legion Law Cadet program and Boy State and Girls State.” As proof of the power of veterans and the rewards available to youth, Childs points to Post 222’s 2025 Boys State candidate who recently garnered a $30,000 four-year scholarship to Presbyterian College.

 

With ambitious goals for membership growth, it’s clear Post 222 is going to need a bigger building. Fortunately, Childs and his 52-strong dedicated members have got that covered. In fall 2025, they will host a grand opening for a brand new 30x50 annex which will provide the post with much-needed banquet facilities and meeting space, a full kitchen, another restroom, and a storage room. It’s a long way from the back of a funeral home and Childs is just getting started.

 

Written and photographed by Diane Peterson