Some love stories begin with a grand plan. Ours began in Army boots at Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where two soldiers from Alabama crossed paths, never imagining they were about to begin a journey

that would last a lifetime.

Marcus was reclassifying into a new Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), while Tomeka was completing her training before reporting to her first duty assignment. Although we grew up an hour apart—Marcus in Montgomery and Tomeka in Dozier—we had never met until the Army brought us together.

At first, there was nothing romantic about our story. Tomeka was already in a relationship back home, so Marcus was immediately placed into what she

affectionately calls the "Army brother" category. When we discovered we would both be stationed at Fort Bragg, Marcus gave Tomeka his phone number and told her to call once she arrived. She did...but after hearing a woman's voice on the answering machine, Tomeka was convinced she had all the information she needed; she hung up so fast she never even left a message. As it turned out, the

voice belonged to Marcus' sister-in-law. Thankfully, fate wasn't finished with us.

A short time later, we unexpectedly found ourselves assigned to the same unit. What began as a friendship soon grew into something much more after Marcus began giving Tomeka rides to PT formation and work when her first car turned out to be a complete lemon.

Marcus still jokes that he knew he was in trouble the morning he saw her legs as he watched Tomeka walk back to his car after PT. At that moment he was hooked!! Tomeka prefers to believe it was her smile, personality, and sense of humor. We'll let Marcus keep telling his version.

Our first official date was a simple trip to the movies, followed by dinner at Luigi's, where we shared our first kiss—and where Tomeka was introduced to

calzones for the very first time. Neither of us could have imagined that one evening would become the beginning of a love story spanning three decades.

On October 11, 1996, we exchanged vows at the courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama surrounded by a small circle of family. It wasn't the elaborate wedding

we dreamed of, well that Tomeka had dreamed of, but it was the beginning of something far more meaningful—a marriage built on love, faith, commitment, and the promise to face life together.

Over the past thirty years, we've built something far more beautiful than a wedding day—we've built a marriage. Together we've experienced life's greatest blessings and its greatest lessons. We've built a home, raised two incredible sons, Marcus Jr. and Tavion, and created countless memories through military life, career changes, family adventures, road trips, vacations, quiet evenings on the couch, and simply enjoying life together.

Like every lasting marriage, ours has experienced seasons of joy, growth, and challenges. Along the way, we've learned that love isn't about perfection. It's about commitment, grace, forgiveness, laughter, and choosing each other again and again. Some of our happiest memories have come from the simplest moments, reminding us that the best parts of life are often the ones you never plan.

So why renew our vows after thirty years? The answer is simple...

Why not?

Thirty years of marriage is worth celebrating. Thirty years of Black love is worth honoring. And after three decades, we're finally able to celebrate the wedding day we dreamed about—not because our courthouse wedding wasn't enough, but because the marriage that followed has been worth celebrating every single day.

Looking back, it's amazing to think that one Army training class, a maroon beret, one misunderstood voicemail, one broken-down car, one movie date...and

yes, one unforgettable pair of legs...would lead to thirty years of marriage, two amazing sons, countless memories, and a love story that is still being written.

As we look toward the future, we're excited for the next chapter of our lives together - a chapter filled with new adventures, more laughter, more travel, quiet evenings together, and, if we're lucky, plenty of time listening to the waves on a beautiful beach.

Thirty years have passed since our journey began, but one thing remains unchanged…we still choose each other. Every single day.

Although the date is one day different, the promise has never changed. And today, October 10, 2026, surrounded by the people we love most, we proudly say once again... We Still Do!!