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Elaine studied theater at Lambuth College in Jackson, TN and earned an associate degree in nursing from Union University in Jackson. She is a certified parish nurse. She worked for twenty years in acute care settings; ten years of that time she worked with people recovering from addictions. She earned a BS from UT Martin in 1992, with a double major in English and philosophy. She earned her Master of Divinity, 2000, from Memphis Theological Seminary. She taught a course, “The Preacher as Storyteller,” at MTS in the fall of 2011. She is a minister in the
Progressive Christian Alliance.
She is a hospice chaplain.
Elaine’s first book, Help Me Remember, was published and recorded by Pilgrim Press in 2005. Her short fiction has won Honorable Mention in the 2008 Memphis Magazine Fiction Contest, and her nonfiction
was published by
Christian Century magazine. She is a company member with Memphis’ theater company,
Voices of the South.
Elaine has been trained in nonviolent conflict resolution through Marshall Rosenberg’s
Center for Nonviolent Communication.
Elaine facilitates an ongoing class at Shelby County’s prison for women. The class meets twice a week. Over a four month period each class of twelve participants builds trust, shares stories and creates a dramatic staged production for the entire prison population. For her creative work in the prison system, she was awarded The 2011 Jefferson Award for Public Service. She was selected as an Upstander by
Facing History and Ourselves. She was selected by the
Commercial Appeal as one of the 16 Memphians who made a difference in Memphis in 2011.
Elaine co-wrote the play,
For Goodness Sake, with
David Prete. It is a one-woman performance. “For Goodness Sake” is a story about oppression and redemption. The show is currently touring and available to be booked in your area. For information about Elaine’s performances go to
the events page on this
website and go to the FaceBook fan page,
For Goodness Sake.
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