Staff & Board
Covenant Care Staff
Carol Gledhill
Executive Director
Carol Gledhill was born and raised in Macon, Georgia and graduated from First Presbyterian Day School. She received a Master’s of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology from Georgia College and State University and is a member of the Adoption Council for the Christian Adoptions Alliance. Carol is married to Clay Gledhill and they have one son Hobson. They are members of Lizella Baptist Church where they are active in the music ministry. Carol has years of leadership experience and a passion for serving women, children, and families.
Loren Rae Grace
Assistant Director
Loren Rae earned a B.S. in Psychology from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Fort Valley State University. She lives in South East GA with her husband, Rusty, who is a Presbyterian pastor. They have five children, ages 3-11, who joined their family through adoption. Loren Rae is a licensed counselor who is certified as an Adoption Competent Therapist.
David Baker
Director of Development
Elle Garrison
Business Manager
Elle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric from Georgia College and State University in 2007. As Business Manager, she ensures the efficient and professional functioning of the State Administrative Office on a day-to-day basis and provides support to other staff members. Elle has 4 adopted children and is a foster parent in Bibb County. She is a member of Ingleside Baptist Church.
Linda Cozart
Financial Secretary
Linda has been with CCS for 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Georgia College & State University. She is married to Dr. David Cozart, Chair of the Computer Science Department at Mercer University. They have four children and five grandchildren.
Amy Hilliard
Administrative Assistant
Amy resides in Gray, Georgia where she was raised. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Valdosta State University. She has 2 young adult sons. Amy is a member of Ingleside Baptist Church and you can often find her volunteering at the church bookstore. She loves fishing and spending time outdoors. She retired from GEICO after 17 years and brings a wealth of administrative experience.
Shirley Duncan
Ministry Assistant
Shirley Locklear Duncan was born and raised in Lumberton, NC. She is an American Lumbee Indian. Through a series of God-events, she came to live at Hephzibah Children’s Home in Macon, GA. She graduated from Central High School and then from Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education and a minor in Early Elementary Education. She is married to Rev. David Duncan and they are the parents to three adopted daughters, Jamie, Aimee and Halley (sisters) They have three grandsons: Blake, Thomas and Ayden. Shirley is an author of her own life story, “I Will Go On!” She travels extensively speaking in Ladies Retreats and Conferences proclaiming the healing power of God’s Touch and new life after abuse. Shirley served as Director of Church and Public Relations Director for 30 years for the ministry where she grew up before coming to Covenant Care.. She and her husband David are Co-founders of a neighborhood children’s ministry called The Hotdog Club. Shirley’s favorite scripture verse is Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight..
Birthmother Counselors
Madelyne Morrison
Central and Southwest Georgia
Madelyne was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Child and Family Development with an emphasis in Family Services. Madelyne now lives in Warner Robins, with her husband, Kody. Madelyne and Kody attend church at Bonaire First Baptist. Madelyne has family members who are adopted, so adoption has always been a passion of hers. In her free time she enjoys camping, spending time with her family, playing pickleball, and visiting new places.
Kristen Burke
Northeast Georgia
Kristen graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2006 with a degree in English, and lived in Statesboro for 12 years. She now lives in Calhoun with her husband Justin and their three children. Kristen was the Director of Client Services at Choices of the Heart Pregnancy Resource Center in Statesboro before joining Covenant Care in 2018. She enjoys reading, running, listening to music and podcasts, and watching baseball.
Dori Brown
Atlanta and Central East Georgia
Marla Niewiadomski
East Georgia
Marla was born and raised in Sedalia, Missouri. She graduated from State Fair Community College with
a nursing degree and then from Bob Jones University with an Bachelor of Science in Education. Marla is
a widow after 27 years of marriage and has three married daughters and five grandchildren. Marla has a granddaughter who is adopted, so adoption has has
become a passion of hers. In her free time she enjoys reading, knitting, spending time with her family,
and watching RomCom movies.
Adoptive Family Caseworkers
Christie Lader
Christie works with our adoptive couples from the beginning of the adoption process until after placement. She has a Masters in Public Administration from Georgia College & State Univerisity. Christie began working with CCS in 2008 after 16 years with DFCS. She is married and has three children. Her family attends Northway Church in Macon.
Tricia Paulin
Tricia works with adoptive families by assisting them from the start of the home study process through post placement. She received her bachelor’s degree in child and family development from UGA and has been with CCS since 2011. She and her husband Erik have two children and attend Ingleside Baptist Church.
Covenant Care Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors meets bi-monthly and provides broad leadership and oversight to Covenant Care.
- Sharon Anderson
- Adam Blakely
- Kevin Bridges
- Michael Duckett
- Julian Earls
- Abby Gottwals
- Bruce Jones
- Jo Betsy Kinser
- Judy Kornegay
- Bruce Leicht
- Jennifer Marks
- Paula Maxwell
- Bailey Mitchell
- Susan Mitchell
- Janet Newman
- Kristen Oren
- Jessica Wade
Why do you serve on the CCS Board of Directors?
I serve on the CCS Board because God has given me such a burden for unborn children and for couples who are unable to have children for whatever reason. I praise the Lord for the work that God is doing in Christian adoption through Covenant Care!
Sharon Anderson
I have a personal testimony of being a young birthmother many years ago faced with my own unplanned pregnancy, but I did not have any counsel or a ministry like CCS to come alongside me. Because of this personal experience I was delighted to serve on the Board of CCS when I was asked. Most importantly, I serve on the Board because God is the one who opened these doors, having clearly called me when He saved me. He gave me a compelling passion to serve young birthmothers with the love, hope and promise of a new life in Christ, and to help them see God’s plan and purpose for the life of their unborn babies.
Susan Mitchell