Staff
Want to join our team? Check out our Careers Page
Administration
Pamela Reed Phipps
Executive Director
Pamela Reed Phipps became the Executive Director at Grace House in 2010. At Grace House she is responsible for managing the day to day operations as well as raising awareness and funds to support the ministry. Pamela served as the owner and etiquette consultant of NsideoutEtiquette; conducting business, church and youth etiquette seminars throughout Alabama. Prior to joining Grace House, Pamela worked in executive level administrative positions at several companies including the Birmingham law office of Constangy, Brooks and Smith, AmSouth Investment Services and Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama. Notable is her 10 year professional modeling career, which was the key that unlocked her passion for mentoring young girls. The Birmingham Business Journal featured Pamela in the class of 2014 "Top 40 Under 40" and she was a member of the 2016 Leadership Birmingham class. Pamela currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Board of Directors of Creative Montessori School. A Birmingham native, Pamela and her husband Bennie live in Hoover with their three sons: Douglas, Stuart and Reed. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University. In June 2021, Pamela was featured in StyleBlueprint as "Birmingham's Champion of Girls in Foster Care." Pamela will always be an advocate for girls and is committed to empowering and equipping young ladies to be confident and Godly women.
Katherine Connell
Development Director
Katherine Connell joined the Grace House staff in May of 2016. She graduated from UAB in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and graduated in December 2017 as a Master of Public Administration. Katherine is a member of the Psi Alpha Alpha, the Public Administration Honor Society. Prior to Grace House, Katherine worked in marketing and administration at The Red Barn. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy and her two cats (Pepper and Kitty). Katherine is passionate about spreading the word about the amazing work the Lord is doing at Grace House.
Kristie Allen
Finance Manager
Bio coming soon.
Hannah Rutledge
Ministry and Volunteer Coordinator
Hannah came to Grace House as a resident at 17 years old. She found her relationship with Jesus through Mama Lois sharing the Gospel with her in 2014. Hannah became one of the first three residents to enter the TLP program at Grace House. After leaving Grace House, Hannah attended Highlands college and graduated in 2017. She began her career in non-profit by interning at the Birmingham Dream Center. Hannah returned to Grace House in 2020 as the Ministry & Volunteer Coordinator. Hannah spends her free time with her husband, Zachary and their 2 dogs.
Josy Gray
Development Coordinator
Josy is a recent graduate of Birmingham-Southern College. She graduated with a BA in Sociology and minor in Gender and Women Studies. She hopes to study Sociology in Graduate school. Josy joined us at Grace House in the Fall of 2020 as a Marketing Intern and joined part-time in January 2021 as the Development Coordinator. Josy loves spending time with her friends and reading in her spare time. She is passionate about the mission of Grace House and the work she does to help make that mission a reality.
Tim Agee
Facilities Manager
Tim has spent the last 40 years in or around the building business. First as a residential contractor and later when he became a Christian, he started using his talents for the Lord. He has been a part of building projects in the USA, Thailand, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Tim joined Grace House Ministries in January of 2020 as their Facilities Manager. This entails caring for the house parents, girls, and the facilities by making sure everything is in proper working order and welcoming to all.
Residential Program
Antonia Hill
Antonia C. Hill has been practicing counseling since 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Antonia’s passion for serving others is driven by her love for God and the belief that the combination of faith and works can lead to greater quality of life. Antonia has extensive training in the treatment modality of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and utilizes this along with Person-Centered Therapy to inform her practice. In addition to mental health counseling, Antonia’s professional interests include higher education, social justice counseling, career counseling, industrial/organizational psychology and Christian counseling. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Antonia has plans to uplift her community by breaking the stigma of seeking mental health services by providing quality and authentic care, access, education, and visibility. Antonia currently holds the licensure and certification of Associate Licensed Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor and is in active pursuit of the Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor credentials. On a personal note, Antonia loves music and is active in her local church , is extremely family oriented, and has a weakness for a good book and a great cup of coffee!
Maggie Roberts,
Youth Program Assistant
Maggie Roberts is a current student at Samford University studying human development with a minor in religion. She joined the Grace House staff in September of 2020. Maggie loves spending time with the residents and staff at Grace House and when she is not here, she loves being with friends and with her puppy Charlotte. Maggie is passionate about making sure that others feel the love of Christ.
Eboney Jones
Case Manager
Eboney Jones age 26, graduated from the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, she also holds a Masters degree in Social Work with a Children and Families (CAF) concentration. Eboney has been a part of the Grace House Family since 2009 when she came to live at Grace House as a foster youth, Eboney has literally grown up at Grace House. Eboney arrived at 15 years old and Grace House saw her off to college at 18 years old. Eboney has always stayed in touch and kept a healthy flowing relationship with Grace House. While in college Eboney participated in Grace House’s Extended Transitional Living program in which she was a role model and peer mentor to the girls. Eboney joined Grace House in her Profession in November 2019 as a Residential Assistant, she is currently a staff mentor and Case Manager for The Priscilla Home and Interim Case Manager for The Sarah Home.
Chelsea Thomas
Case Manager
Chelsea Thomas is a fun, loving, passionate, devoted, God fearing woman who loves yorkiepoos. She has a yorkiepoo of her own and his name is Midnight. She has just received her bachelor’s from the University of Montevallo last summer, in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies. She is new to the Grace House family, and loves it so much. God has truly been ordering her steps and led her here. She loves Grace House wholeheartedly, and is so thankful for this opportunity to create change and provide love to the girls who come her way.
Raine Jones
Case Manager
bio coming soon
El'Vira Parks,
Live-In House Parent
El’Vira joined the Grace House staff in October of 2016. El’Vira graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Prior to becoming a member of the Grace House family, El'Vira was the Center Director at Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama. There she spent over 15 years inspiring all girls to be STRONG, SMART, and BOLD. El’Vira is passionate about writing and she is a three-time published author. El’Vira continues to mentor and inspire girls, reminding them that Jesus loves them and that they can do all things through Christ.
Rolicia McKeller
Life Coach
Rolica joined the Grace House staff in November of 2020. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham 2015, with a Bachelor of Social Work. Prior to Grace House, Rolicia worked at DHR in the area of child abuse and neglect. She also did her internship at Aletheia House.
She enjoys spending time with her two teenagers, Rashad and Ariyuana. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and shopping. Rolicia has a soft spot for teenagers and she enjoys seeing them evolve.
Donna Lidge,
Live-In House Parent
Bio coming soon.
Education Program
Devin Lewis
Education and Outreach Director
Devin Lewis joined the Grace House Staff in October of 2012. She received her B.A. in African American Studies and Secondary Education in 2007 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She comes to Grace House from the Education Department at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where she worked with one of the city's largest 21 Century Community Learning Centers, Birmingham Cultural Alliance Partnership (BCAP) and the Legacy Youth Leadership Program in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Her prior experience also includes program coordination for Sisterbration’s special programming and health education initiatives. She currently serves as a Birmingham Ambassador for Sisterbration. As a wife, mother, and educator, she strives to inspire, cultivate, and positively influence those whose lives she encounters. She is passionate about educating girls and believes that education is the key to breaking generational curses and changing lives. Devin lives in McCalla with her husband Demetrius and children, Sadia and Shiloh.
Suzy Thompson
Campus School History & Bible Teacher
sthompson@grace-house.org
Suzy is the History & Bible teacher for the Grace House Campus School. She graduated from the University of Montevallo with a BS in Social Science, and completed the Teacher Education Program with a focus in Secondary Education. Suzy began volunteering at Grace House in 2017 and has enjoyed serving as a tutor as well as helping to lead a Bible study group. She began teaching in the Grace House Campus School during the 2019-2020 school year. She loves being able to encourage the girls at Grace House and point them to Jesus. Suzy lives in Vestavia with her husband, Brian, and our daughter and son
Chandra Bonner
Campus School Math & Science Teacher
cbonner@grace-house.org
Chandra Bonner graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science and is currently enrolled at the University of Montevallo completing her studies in Nutrition and Dietetics. A 2020 freshman to the Grace House family, Ms. Bonner teaches Science and Math in Campus School. Chandra enjoys encouraging the girls to believe in themselves and to know they can achieve anything they put their hearts and minds to. In her spare time Ms. Chandra enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling.
Nikki McCauley
Campus School English Language Arts Teacher/Reading Specialist
Nikki McCauley is serving as the Campus School English Language Arts Teacher/Reading Specialist. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.F.A in Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in Marketing. While in college Nikki worked with America Reads and developed a love for helping children become successful readers. After volunteering and working with children she decided to switch her fashion path and move towards the direction God had laid out for her. From there she has tutored and mentored many children in reading and writing for over 15 years. Most recently she was an Instructional Aide for Hoover City Schools where she assisted children with special needs. She joined the Grace House family in 2020, where she is currently developing and implementing strategic lessons that enrich the girls’ reading curriculum. Nikki lives in Hoover with her husband and 3 daughters.
Nya Hamilton
Teacher's Aide
Nya Hamilton joined the Grace House family at the start of the new school year in 2020 as the Teacher Aide/Online Proctor. She is currently enrolled at the University of Alabama in Birmingham working on her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Secondary Education. After graduation, she plans to start her career as a high school chemistry teacher. She is excited to be a part of the Grace House story and have the opportunity to inspire the lives of young ladies
Tiara Jones
Teacher's Aide
Tiara Jones joined the Grace House family at the start of the new school year in 2020 as the Teacher Aide/Online Proctor. She is a Senior Psychology major at the illustrious Clark Atlanta University. Tiara is passionate about African American Women's Studies and mental health among African American Teens. Her plans after graduation are to pursue her Master's degree in Social Work and own a private practice one day.