Biographies
TIFFANY ATKINSON
As the oldest of four girls and a mother of three daughters, Tiffany Atkinson is burdened with a responsibility to protect children. She began serving internationally over 25 years ago and has gained extensive experience in global nonprofit work since. The Lord called Tiffany to Freedom's Promise (www.FreedomsPromise.org) in 2007 and she currently serves as the President of the ministry. She finds the most fulfillment in bringing people into a deeper, passionate relationship with Jesus and providing opportunities to build the Kingdom both in the U.S. as well as the nations.
GLENDA SUTTON
Apostle Glenda Gleaves Sutton is Founder and CEO Family Affair Ministries. Like every born-again believer, Apostle Glenda has a date of birth and date of rebirth known as the born-again experience. From the time of being born again, she has set herself to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that all the rest could be added at the appointed time (Matthew 6:33). And she did. She now serves as Founder and Senior Pastor of Family Affair Ministries Fellowship, and Founder and CEO of Family Affair Ministries, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization located in East Nashville, TN, alongside her husband Dair Sutton.
In 1988, while working in Avon Park, Florida as an Air Traffic Controller, Glenda began to feel compelled to teach others the simplicity of God’s love. Her then pastor, Elder Clarence Black of Antioch Temple Church of God in Christ (also in Avon Park, FL) confirmed this desire she felt to indeed be led by the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God. Glenda’s desire for God’s righteousness was more than a mere “feeling” and exploded from every area of her life. He, nor anyone she encountered, could deny the calling of God on her life. Elder Black, seeing the Fruit of the Spirit taking very deep root in Glenda, then licensed her to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He afterward instructed her to prepare for a journey that would change life as she knew it forever – and change it did.
She and her two boys, Dale age 8 and Sean age 2, left all the comforts of a place called home to pursue a place called grace. Asked of God to trust Him, they boarded a Greyhound bus after giving away all their belongings except for 7 days’ worth of clothing. Asked of God to seek Him in the Nashville Women’s Rescue Mission (homeless shelter), she and her sons submitted, living there for 21 days. Asked of God to be his hands extended in the public housing arena, she did; she and her sons lived in James Cayce Homes for 10 years. The ministry of reaching and teaching the poor began on the day that they moved in, May 15, 1989, Apostle Glenda’s 27th birthday. Ten years into the call, she met and married her husband Dair Sutton, who came and caught the vision and walked with her. God raised a team of awesome men and women who also caught the vision and helped her walk it out.
Glenda has always believed in God for the fulfillment of His promises, and all the promises of God are “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Today, after 33 years of serving God in East Nashville, the evidence of the call has been seen in various ways including through a 7-year radio broadcast, “It’s a Family Affair”, opening a Family Center in Berkshire Place Apartments in 2002, receiving the Presidential Award for Volunteerism in 2006, presented with a Resolution from Nashville Mayor Purcell for community change efforts, providing afterschool programs in the Stratford School Cluster for over 12 years, acquiring properties in East Nashville for worship, transitional housing, and hospitality housing and the list is ever-growing. Her most recent endeavor includes purchasing 21 acres in Goodlettsville known as “Papa’s Place” which serves as a place of respite for the fellowship. Unfortunately, the same year “Papa’s Place” was acquired her eldest son, Dale, went home to be with the Lord. Glenda is a true servant of God. Her soul’s desire is to be used for His service while remaining as clay in the master potter’s hands.
During Covid Dair and Glenda started a Mobile Ministry to distribute much needed food and supplies to families while hosting Family Affair Conference Line for the sick, shut in and those who were simply uncertain about the day. Today, our worship is both in Berkshire Apartment In Community Communion Events, Papa’s Place for special events, and continues to minister 3 times per week on The First Watch Conference Line.
MARION FARRAR
Marion is the founder of Nashville Women's Conference and has a passion to see women fulfill their destinies. As an intercessor, she has a multifaceted call to prayer and intercession. In addition to being a governmental intercessor, she has a call of God as a "river" intercessor, she has taught prayer to inner city children, carries an anointing for soul-winning intercession as well as an anointing to release destiny to members of the body of Christ. Marion loves to give spiritual historical tours of Nashville, Tennessee and is passionate about revival. She has written articles on places of historic spiritual interest and recently she has put together the Tennessee Gatekeepers as a legislative body of twelve apostolic leaders over the state of Tennessee.
Marion currently serves as the Tennessee General for Reformation Prayer Network under Mike and Cindy Jacobs. She is ordained under the ministry of James Goll as well as the ministry of Mike and Cindy Jacobs. As founder of Heart of Intercession Ministries, Marion’s chief desire is to seek the heart of God and to know Him and His ways. Marion has been married for 44 years and has 2 grown daughters and a son-in-law. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee and has lived here most of her life except for a some years in Memphis and Knoxville.
SUSAN CARTER
Susan came to know the Lord early on but found strength to follow Him when she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at 22 years old. The Lord dramatically changed her life and called her into the ministry of intercession. In 2000 she found a greater prayer passion in the House of Prayer movement. She left her secular job as a comptroller and served as the Director of the House of Prayer for All Nations in Largo, Florida. Serving there for over five years she then spent a few years helping develop the One Thing Prayer Center in Brandon Florida and developing a teaching ministry, Release the Light, Inc.
Through a God connection Susan felt the Lord’s call to move to the Middle Tennessee to plant a House of Prayer. God opened the door, and in 2008 and Susan came to Murfreesboro with a vision to establish a House of Prayer near Middle Tennessee State University. In 2009, she, along with other city intercessors, founded the Gap House of Prayer. Susan sees the heart of the GAP as prayer, worship, community, and world missions. Knowing that they are called to turn the tide of the spiritual battle from their strategic location she stays steadfast on the wall.
Susan has a bachelors degree in Theology from Faith Theological Seminary and Christian College. She likes to teach, pray, sing, and enjoys science fiction. She works part time with God Encounters Ministry and helps lead Global Prayer Storm and also serves GEM as an Intercessor, and with Partner Relations & Customer Service.
KATE GARDNER
Kate Gardner has been living in Nashville for a little more than three years and seeks to spread the kingdom through hospitality, prayer, and women's ministry. She has a background in campus ministry leadership, having helped pioneer a charismatic fellowship group at Princeton University, and then alongside of faith-based non-profits and start ups through prayer calls and encouragement. At 29 years old, she has been captivated by Jesus and the vision of what it means to live a full and abundant life in Him. Joy is a central word over her story, and she delights in trying to impart fresh hope and expectancy for the Lord to move especially as His people humble themselves and seek His face (2 Chronicles 7:14).
She hopes to share an encouraging word around how she has seen God move in her life and fill her with unexpected and inexplicable joy through mountain and valley seasons. She has seen the Lord "rewire" various circumstances, internally and externally, to experience God's goodness and kindness no matter what the world brings. She also seeks to encourage others to focus and build out of delight found in community -- life always just seems a little brighter if other Spirit-filled people share the road! She is honored to be a speaker at the Nashville Women's Conference this year as she has been very inspired by it in years past!
ROSE MARIE HAIRE
The foundation for Rose Marie’s life is the truth of the Word of God, the power of prayer and worship. She loves being part of intercession teams. Her goal is to enjoy her journey with God even when it is on paths she would never have chosen! She loves telling and hearing God stories! It is her belief that the best is yet to come!
Born in Nashville, Rose Marie has lived here all of her life with the exception of 2 years in Knoxville. She graduated from Vanderbilt with a BS in Psychology and from UT Knoxville with a BS in Nursing. As a career RN, she has served in many capacities including Urology, Hematology/Oncology, treatment for abused boys, home health and medical missions. About 20 years ago she began pursuing holistic medicine. Although she is not practicing at the moment, her license is active and she is watching for an opportunity to invest her skills.
Physical health is important but her real passion is to help people connect on a deep level with God. No matter where anyone is on their spiritual journey, she believes there is always more for them! She has completed training in many Biblical studies and inner healing models including Bethel Bible Series, Understanding God, Commission U, Sozo, Restoring the Foundations, Keys to Freedom, Freedom Prayer and Kingdom University. Working with her husband, Bill, in the ministry, Global Foundation which he founded in 1995, she has led teams locally and around the world to spread the hope of the Kingdom. She has been involved in Kairos prison ministry and antihuman trafficking efforts. 38 out of the 40 years that she and Bill have been married, they have opened their home to individuals and families who need respite. She and Bill have 2 grown sons and one 10 year old granddaughter.
NICOLE TURBINTON
Nicole is the solo practitioner at Turbinton Law Firm, PLLC. Most of Nicole’s work involves being a parent’s attorney or a guardian ad litem in custody and child abuse cases. Nicole attended her undergraduate education at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Sociology, and she graduated from the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in May of 2021. Although she is relatively early in her career, Nicole is already involved in the KBA and is the Co-Chair of the New Lawyers Section. She is also active in the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court and the American Bar Association. Nicole is the daughter of Sheila Turbinton who has been there to help shape her in her life and in her career. Through everything that she has done and been through, Nicole gives glory to God for giving her grace and mercy. Without Him, should would not be as far as she is in her life or in her career.
SHEILA TURBINTON
Sheila Turbinton is not a “status quo” person, nor does she tend to cling to the past, rather she’s forwarding thinking. She looks forward to the next phase of life and believes we have more to look forward to than to look back upon. Relationships are extremely important to her and people are much more important than status, possessions, or accomplishments. Her optimistic nature makes her solution-oriented, automatically looking for positive solutions to life’s problems. She tends to see problems as opportunities to overcome rather than seeing herself as a victim. She strives to stay in the non-judgmental lane toward others so she can counsel, help, and encourage others to improve and grow into their potential. Sheila’s passion is to motivate others to become all that they can be.
Her creativity is expressed through her appreciation of the creativity of others. She believes whether your creativity is developed or yet to be discovered, it is within you, and you will experience great joy by finding the gifts God has placed in you. She is a forever learner in personal growth and development and always looks for ways to improve and try to stay abreast of the latest self-help trends.
With 40+ years of ministry experience she has served as leader, intercessor, mentor, advocacy counselor, facilitator, and coach. She’s a good friend and loves cheering, encouraging, affirming, and inspiring others to be all who God made them to be. She is a woman who is passionate about the Word of God.
Sheila has over 42 years of Human Resource experience working in the various facets of human resource, i.e., staffing, classification, training, compensation, organizational management, and labor employee relations. She retired from the USDA Forest Services - California as the Human Resource Officer over a direct report workforce of 132 employees servicing 8,000 employees. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Theological Suites from Vision International University.
Sheila is widowed and has an adult daughter named Nicole.
CAROL WOODALL
Carol was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 27, 1937, the oldest of three children. She was blessed to be raised with a solid Baptist upbringing and always loved helping people, having given her life to Jesus at a young age.
Due to her father’s job transfer to Jacksonville, Florida, Carol attended high school and college in Florida, choosing to major in the then-developing field of special education. She has taught in both special education classrooms as well as regular elementary classrooms.
As a girl she would often take her allowance, ride the bus to the Atlanta Old Folks Home and visit with the forgotten older ones. As an adult this same compassion caused her to lead an arts and crafts program for hospitalized children.
She and her husband, David, have moved to Nashville three times in their 56 years of married life. They’ve been blessed with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
David and Carol love travel and getting to know all types of places and people, whether near or far. When Cuba reopened to foreign travel after being closed for 40 years, they were some of the first to take teams of young people on a mission trip there in 1999.
David and Carol have a passion for pursuing the Holy Spirit in all sorts of flavors and situations. They deeply seek His direction in their lives.