Staff
HOUSTON BYNUM, executive director
On May 1, 2010, Houston Bynum began his service as as the administrator of Happy Haven Children’s Home. A native of Cowan, TN, Houston is a preacher with 40 years of experience in ministry. He is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman (A.A.), Harding (B.A.), and Harding Graduate School of Religion (M.A.). He has served churches in Winchester, Manchester, Fayetteville, Chattanooga, and LaVergne, TN, as well as in Florida, Arkansas, and Georgia. He has been married since 1976 to the former Beverly Reed who was born in Livingston and grew up in Winchester, TN. She is also a graduate of Freed-Hardeman (B.S.). They have 3 children & 3 grandchildren.
ELAYNE MONTGOMERY, administrative assistant
Elayne has served Happy Haven for almost a decade. A native Cookevillian, she is a graduate of Putnam County Senior High School with additional business training through Tennessee Tech and a wealth of practical experience in the business field. She and her husband, Art, have two daughters and two grandsons.
BEVERLY BYNUM, administrative assistant
Beverly has a B.S. degree from Freed-Hardeman in Office Management. She has previously worked in Special Education with the school system and more recently was the receptionist at Gospel Advocate in Nashville. She and Houston have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
KIM STAFFORD, social worker
Kim Stafford works with us part-time as caseworker for the children here at Happy Haven. She assesses needs, schedules appointments, monitors grades and maintains the paperwork needed for us to be a licensed residential children’s home. Kim, her husband Tom, and their children Annalee and Jared worship at Willow Avenue Church of Christ. A native of Sparta, Tennessee, Kim has a B. S. from Tennessee Tech, and she also works part-time at Jefferson Avenue Mother’s Day Out.
CARRIE AND NATHAN HOFFMAN, houseparents
Carrie and Nathan Hoffman work with us as houseparents at Happy Haven and live in the “Gainesboro” house. They worship with the Collegeside Church of Christ. A native of Denver, CO, Nathan has a B.S. from Harding University and is a teacher and coach at the Stone Memorial High School in Cumberland County. A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Carrie has a B.A. from Harding University. She has 11 brothers and sisters and she has several years of previous experience as a “nanny.”
LIZ AND CHRIS LAWRENCE, houseparents
Liz and Chris Lawrence work with us as houseparents at Happy Haven and live in the “Richmond Chapel Nevins” house. They worship with the Collegeside Church of Christ. A native of Smyrna, TN, Chris has a B.S. from Tennessee Tech University and works for Triad Partners, LLC, in Crossville, TN. A native of Onsted, MI, Liz has several years of experience as a “nanny” and previously served here as a respite houseparent.