MEET OUR TEAM
John Eads
Co-Founder and Executive Director
From the age of 14, John attended New Mexico Military Institute. He has earned both an MBA from New Mexico State University and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. Following his service as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, John worked as a healthcare executive and served as a hospital CEO for ten years. He has been involved in prison ministry since 1995 and inner-city ministry since 1996. He went into full-time ministry in 2007. In 2007, John traveled to East Los Angeles and lived with former gang members to learn from Homeboy Industries, considered to be the nation's "Best Practice" for Gang Intervention. John is also an instructor at Spring Hill College where he teaches business and social entrepreneur courses.
Dolores Eads
Co-Founder and On-site Director
Dolores grew up in the Pueblo of Tortugas, NM where she watched her parents serve their local church faithfully. Dolores has a dual degree in Special and Elementary Education from New Mexico State University. Dolores taught in public education for 12 years. Her journey to inner-city ministry began with prison ministry in 1995. She surrendered to the Lord's call and went into full-time ministry in 2007. In 2007, she and John traveled to Urban Promise in Camden, New Jersey, to learn from their programs and structure which served as a model for LOV. Dolores oversees the daily operations of Light of the Village providing spiritual and logistical oversight to our team while also ministering to the individuals we serve.
Morgan Copeland
College and Career Counselor
Satellite Programming Coordinator
Volunteer, Intern & Special Events Coordinator
Morgan holds a BBA from the University of Mobile and an MBA from the University of South Alabama. She graduated with honors from the University of Mobile where she earned the highest-ranking female award, the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Excellence Award upon graduation. She has been involved with the Light of the Village since 2007 when she started volunteering. She has spent time at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles to learn from what many consider the nation's "Best Practice" in Gang Intervention and Job Development. She has also visited Urban Promise in Camden, NJ and has helped us follow their model in expanding to multiple satellite campuses.
Elisabeth Davis
Camp LOV Director
Middle School Boys Leader
Candle Production Supervisor
Elisabeth, affectionately known as Biz, graduated from the University of Mobile, where she played soccer for four years while earning her degree in Athletic Training. Her journey with Light of the Village began in 2014 when she took on the role of a Summer Bible Camp intern. After that summer, Biz became a full-time staff member. Currently, she manages the Camp LOV (Light of the Village main campus) After School Program and Summer Bible Camp. Additionally, she oversees the production of our Lights of LOV Candles and leads Bible study sessions for middle school boys every week during Teen Night.
Kristen Jordan
Bright Lights Tutoring Program Director
Ladies’ Night Co-Teacher
Kristen earned her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of South Alabama, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She then spent 13 years teaching high school courses in the Mobile County Public School System. Since 2007, when she first participated in a student workday at Light of the Village (LOV), she has been actively involved with the organization. Kristen has generously contributed her photography skills to LOV for many years, capturing many of the stunning images you see here. Currently, she oversees our tutoring initiatives and educational partnerships, both in schools and after school, and teaches at our Ladies’ Night Bible study.
Julisa Theodore
Elementary Girls Leader
Middle School Girls Leader
Camp Peace Summer Bible Camp Co-Director
Julisa earned her Master's degree in Leadership and Communication and her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Mobile. She began her volunteer journey at Light of the Village in 2010 and joined us for her first summer in 2012. Since 2020, she has been a full-time team member. Currently, her responsibilities include teaching middle school girls during Teen Night, guiding upper elementary children in our After School Programs, and supporting the Ladies’ Night Bible study.
Janie Widemire
Camp Peace Director
Elementary Boys Leader
High School Girls Leader
Janie began her journey with Light of the Village as a teenager in 2011, initially volunteering her time. She later took on the role of a Summer Bible Camp intern and eventually became a full-time staff member. Currently, she manages operations at our Toulminville location and mentors elementary boys in the Camp LOV After School Program, as well as high school girls during Teen Night. Over the years, Janie has guided numerous children, teens, and young adults across several of our campuses.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Don Kennedy
Don is a retired corporate executive from the financial industry, as well as a retired Colonel from the Alabama National Guard. He has served on several boards and has been working with the Light of the Village since 2007.
Diane Kennedy
Diane is a vice president at First Community Bank in Mobile and has worked in the banking industry for forty years. She has served on numerous civic and church boards and is a trustee with the Alabama Baptist Association. She has been involved with the Light of the Village since 2008.
Bill Kinnaird
Bill is a law enforcement agent with the Federal Government. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Alabama where he majored in Accounting. He has been helping with the Light of the Village since 2005.
Eric Patterson
Eric is a division manager with Alabama Power Company. He is involved as a board member with several non-profit organizations in the Mobile area and has been helping with the Light of the Village since 2008.
Morgan Busby
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Morgan is founder and president of TradingPub.com and MarketDeal.com, providers of free trading education. Morgan has been involved with the coordination of Light of the Village's annual dinner, A Night in the Light, since its inception in 2012.
Dan Brennan
Dan is a nationally recognized radio personality and community advocate for youth endeavors in the Mobile, Alabama area. He has served on several Boards and has been involved with Light of the Village since 2009.