Meet the Team
Tressy Wells
Co-Director
Meet Tressy! She is the wife of Gerame and the mom of Tate, Tucker, Trent, Tycen, Josey and Jillian! She has a degree in education and taught for several years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. In 2018, when their youngest at the time was 8 years old, Tressy began to feel God calling her to adoption. She talked to Gerame about it and he was on board from the beginning! They began the process is early 2019 and brought sweet Jillian home from China in January of 2020.
The process of adoption opened Tressy’s eyes to the needs of children not only around the world, but also right here in our community. She has a heart for all children and is honored and excited to have been asked to serve on the board for the Joy Closet. She is looking forward to doing whatever she can to love, support and encourage foster, kinship and adoptive families in any way possible!
Julia Roberts
Co-Director
Meet Julia! She's a Hopkinsville native who took a short hiatus, but has been back in town for a little over a year. Julia is married to Logan and together they have two biological kiddos and one foster love. She's done a little bit of everything: from working in an office, to coaching USA swim teams, to managing fitness studios, but her favorite title is always "momma"
Their family has been part of foster care for going on three years and they have seen the need for the Hope House first hand. "Interestingly enough I talked to Heather about a loose concept before I knew what she was working on behind the scenes. The impact we have the opportunity to create here is something to be proud of and I'm so excited to be on the frontlines."
Margaret Kirkwood
Operations Director
Meet Margaret! She is a native of Central City and lived there until she moved to Hopkins Co, thirty years ago. Margaret has spent her life taking care of others and loves doing so. Her past work experience is in the patient care setting at nursing homes and hospital settings for 30+ years.
She loves caring for others, but feels her real purpose is to be a mother. Margaret has three biological sons and two adopted daughters. Her nickname around JC is "Saint Margaret" due to her heart for foster care. In the last 5+ years, she has fostered 38 different children, including some multiple times. She has a heart for taking children that are labeled as difficult and giving them a chance when others will not. The 38 children have ranged in ages from 7 weeks to 17 years.
Margaret feels it's her calling to serve people and that is what lead her to Joy Closet. She enjoys serving children in any way possible and helping make their lives better as many ways she can.
Emily Flack
Volunteer Coordinator
Meet Emily! She is the wife of Drew and mother to sweet Ryleigh. Born and raised in Ohio, she moved to Kentucky in 2022. Emily went to The Ohio State University and graduated in 2017 with an Agriscience Education degree. She taught middle and high school Agriculture/ FFA for five years. Then, she became the Freshman Seminar Teacher at Hopkinsville High School for one year before deciding to stay home to raise her daughter.
Emily has always felt God leading her to work with/ for children. After leaving the classroom she was led to volunteer with us at Joy Closet for about six months before becoming our Volunteer Coordinator. She is excited to help many children and their families with us!
Meet The Board
Derek Guyer, Board Chair (Business Owner)
Heather Butler, Treasurer (Accountant)
Vice Killebrew, Vice Chair (CCPS, Foster Parent)
Bonnie Lynch, Secretary (Retired Teacher)
Sean Tripp (Business Owner)