The son of a sharecropper from rural South Georgia, Vernie was the youngest of 12 children. He saw firsthand how a lack of education and financial access can affect a community. These lessons stayed with him and fueled him with a desire to battle poverty however he could.

Vernie worked hard and received his Masters in Industrial Management from Clemson University. While he was there he was part of the 1981 National Championship Football Team, and also served as an Assistant Football Coach.

Vernie put his management skills to work first at IBM and then at BMW Manufacturing before becoming part of Jubilee Realtors with his wife, Gisele. Vernie wanted Jubilee to be different than most real estate companies, and emphasized their place as a part of the community. They have worked hard to shift the mindset of Upstate residents from the deceptive comforts of renting to the affordability and wealth building possibilities of home ownership.

As Jubilee Realtor's success continues to grow, so have Vernie & Gisele's contributions back to the community. Vernie is actively involved in a variety of community organizations, and is well known for his charity work. Recently, Jubilee Realtors partnered with Goodwill to award checks to needy families in the area throughout the holiday season.

Vernie is a member of Valley Brook Outreach Baptist Church. Vernie and his wife Gisele have three children: a sophomore at Clemson University, a freshman in high school, and a seventh-grader.

For his continual efforts to teach others how to increase their wealth possibilities, 107.3 JAMZ is proud to salute Vernie Anthony as a 2008 Upstate Black History Maker.