The Ark’s team is comprised of experienced, dedicated professionals who are well-trained in interactive parenting skills and will be part of every supervised family visit. The therapists model good family values of generosity, fairness, forgiveness, and loving interactions. Through modalities of modeling and direct training, families will learn better communication skills, effective discipline techniques, and the components that make for good family life.
Beverly J. Oxley, Ph.D., RPT-S Founder and CEO of the Ark
Beverly Oxley is an ardent defender of the powerless and the young. Although she has retired twice from stimulating careers in psychology and education, her dedication for helping those in need will likely keep her in the workplace for many more years. It’s that commitment that motivated her to open up Wellsprings Psychological Resources in 2009 and it’s that zeal that is driving the founding of The Ark, a place where shattered families can become whole again.
Dr. Oxley’s heroine is her maternal grandmother (“Grandma Clink”) who lived to be 97, sharing her flowers, home-made jams, and organic vegetables with her neighbors, the homeless, and her extended family. Grandma Clink unashamedly showed loving kindness to people of all walks of life.
A radical passion for sharing life and her faith with people has taken Dr. Oxley around the globe, leading numerous mission trips with her husband Paul into East Africa, but also for cross-cultural training in psychology/ counseling in Eastern Europe (Ukraine and Romania) and in Asian countries (Malaysia and Singapore). If you want to see her become animated and her eyes light up, ask her about her grandchildren. She has two of her own and several others she has “adopted” over the years. If a child wants a “Gigi,” she is the first in line to volunteer!
Lucy Floyd, Ed.S., Director of Fund-raising and Donor Relations
Lucy is a retired middle school teacher and administrator who now works in several school systems supporting teachers working with at-risk populations. Her experiences as an educator, as well as extended family situations, brought her first-hand knowledge of the struggles of families, especially children.
For years, she supported The Ark financially, but, since retiring, she has become more deeply involved in The Ark Family Preservation Center, knowing that supporting broken families with love, learning and boundaries is the pathway to healing.
Even though her role as a fundraiser for The Ark FPC is outside her comfort zone, she believes it is important enough to “stretch her zone!”
Lucy has been married more than 36 years to Jeff, and they are parents to Nick, Chelsea and Caitie. Currently, her favorite zone is the grandma (LuLu) zone for their four grandchildren.
Cyndi Hamner, Parent Coach
If someone is in need, you can count on Cyndi to be the first in line to volunteer. Her mission in life has been serving children and families in both her church and community. From helping students with homework and providing positive behavior support to them, to being involved in many community outreach events, she has consistently mentored and supported fathers and mothers during difficult times. On several occasions, she served as foster parent for emergency placements.
Professionally, Cyndi served the Franklin County school system for many years as administrative secretary and technology specialist.
Cyndi’s love for helping others has extended beyond her community into mission trips in both Guatemala and Canada. In Guatemala, her team provided food, water, love, and laughter to people in need. In Canada, she worked with the Indigenous Peoples Ministry, providing summer camp for First Nation children on the reservation.
In addition to her numerous volunteer positions, Cyndi is part owner and operator of Sweet Georgia Publishing.
Cyndi has been married to Mark for 35 years and they have 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 2 granddaughters. “Grandma” is excited about a third one on the way.
Tanya Hipp, Program Director and Parent Coach
Tanya has worked with the entire age gamut of people, from preschoolers to seniors, but always helping others. She spent many years as a daycare teacher (both in her own home and in a church) and also as a caregiver for seniors, helping their families through tough times. She even homeschooled her own children – not an easy task!
As Assistant Counselor at Sundown Ranch, Inc., a youth rehab center, she worked with males and females ages 12-26. There, she taught life skill classes and provided education on how drugs and alcohol affect the body and brain.
When she served as Itinerary Coordinator for A Great Love Ministries, she coordinated speaking engagements and made travel arrangements for the speakers within the U.S. and in foreign countries.
Tanya is married to Danny (for almost 4 decades) and they have one daughter, two sons, and seven grandchildren.
Terry Morris, M.S., LPC Family Therapist
Terry is a Georgia Licensed Practical Counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience specializing in anger management, addiction, teenage behavioral problems, depression and anxiety disorders, as well as communication issues between couples and families. Terry is a member of the Georgia Licensed Practical Counselor Association, and the National Anger Management Association. Prior to coming to Wellsprings, Terry was co-facilitator of group therapy at an adolescent psychiatric hospital in Ohio, where he also facilitated groups in anger management, self-esteem, problem solving, and conflict resolution
Terry Morris is a Family Therapist and a leader of Parenting Classes, Anger Management Classes, and other support groups.
Although perfection on earth is not an achievable goal, Terry is always striving for excellence. Terry believes there is profit in all work, just not always monetary gain. He believes you cannot put a price tag on the faces of children when parents work out their differences, or when adults overcome addictions, or when an angry teen is able to discover his own self-worth. Terry read a quote in his freshman year of college that reshaped his life, written by a Korean pastor, ‘The Good is the eternal enemy of the Best, and the best always involves helping others transform their lives.’
“My philosophy of life is “Make a Difference.” This has been burning in my heart even more since May 31, 2014 when I died for one minute. I suffered a major heart attack. My recovery was called “amazing” by my heart doctor. I believe I was spared to help make a difference in more lives. This is the vision of the Ark, to make a difference in families, in the lives of moms, dads, and children. To provide hope where little hope is seen; to help build stronger families, and strong families build strong communities.”
Terry enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, and 5 granddaughters. Terry and his wife also love to travel and almost always drive because ‘getting there’ is as much fun as ‘being there’. Terry also likes to mark each of his major birthdays by pushing his limits and achieving some task. Usually it’s climbing a wall, or completing a ropes course, but he will soon mark his birthday with his first kayaking trip.
