Our Staff

Valerie Cooper
Valerie CooperExecutive Director
Michelle Turner
Michelle TurnerFinancial Administrator
Jaime Rhodes
Jaime RhodesResident Coordinator
Crystal Dopson
Crystal DopsonAdministrative Assistant
Tina Brown
Tina BrownMinistry Support

Our Board of Directors

Beverly Hall, M.Ed, CCC/S-LP
Beverly Hall, M.Ed, CCC/S-LPPresident
Beverly takes delight in serving on the board of Son Shine Lighthouse Ministry where she is experiencing our Lord doing “abundantly more than we can ask or imagine”(Ephesians 3:20) in the lives of women and their children. She has a passion for the higher education of those who have struggled with issues that require redirection/rehabilitation. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and has attained the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech- Language Pathology. She has received numerous professional accolades. Beverly and her husband, Kelly are active members of First Baptist Church of Henderson, Texas where she serves on Local Ministry and Missions Team, Potter’s Hand Ministry , leading bible studies and women’s retreats. She loves her myriad roles as wife , mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend!
Lauri Thomas, MSLS, MSN, RN, FACHE
Lauri Thomas, MSLS, MSN, RN, FACHEVice President
Lauri has had an adventurous career journey as a teacher, librarian, Registered Nurse to include Executive Leadership roles. She holds two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees along with several certifications. She is transitioning from her fulltime role as the Division Clinical Resource Director for UT Health East Texas to that of fulltime self-employment as an Artist. Lauri and her husband Raymond, own a small business, Resurrected, LLC where they honor the past by creating new works from vintage items. They share 3 children and spouses along with a total of 8 grandchildren. Lauri and Raymond are members of New London United Methodist Church.
Drew Butler, V.P., Texas Bank
Drew Butler, V.P., Texas BankTreasurer
Drew Butler serves as the treasurer on the board for Son Shine Lighthouse Ministry. In addition to his involvement with this ministry, Drew is the Vice President for Texas Bank in Henderson. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Kilgore and his Bachelors of Business in Finance from University of Texas, Tyler and is currently Enrolled in SMU graduate School of Banking. He serves faithfully as an elected trustee on Henderson ISD school board. Drew, his wife Teris, and son and daughter Boston and Millie, attend Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson. Calvary has been a part of Drew’s life for 35 years and his family continues to serve and be involved with the church in multiple ways.
Louise Weizel
Louise WeizelSecretary
Louise Weizel has always had a heart for ministry to women trying to find peace and strength through a relationship with Jesus.
She has served on other philanthropic boards in the Houston area for many years, but after hearing the testimonies of redemption, love and healing from Jesus by the programs and relationships at Son Shine Lighthouse, she knew this would be where she could be used by God.
Louise has a B.S. in Education from the University of Houston and many years of experience in youth and women’s ministries. She and her husband, Ira, have been married for 40 years. They have two sons, one daughter-in-law and three grandchildren, all blessings from God. They are active members of Cy-Fair Christian Church in Houston.
John Rupert
John Rupert
John Rupert currently serves as the Senior Warden at East Texas Treatment Facility, the largest treatment facility in Texas, with over two thousand beds housing and treating men and women. Prior to this position, he was employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for 28 1/2 years, retiring from the TDJC in 2016. He holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Trinity Valley Community College. He and his wife, Stephanie, married for over 29 years, have four children and seven grandchildren. They are members of Flint Baptist Church, where they have attended for the past 6 years. He is a member of the Henderson Lion’s Club.
Matt Gholson
Matt Gholson
Matt is dedicated to seeing God’s kingdom grow and be glorified through individual and community outreach, mission work, and maturing of disciples. He is a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he has served for 15 years. He is also the Vice President of Texas Bank where he has served for 8 years. He is an active member of numerous civic groups in the community. He holds a Doctor of Theology Degree from Texas Baptist Institute. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Henderson. They have two children, Savannah and Levi.
Loneta Nelson
Loneta Nelson
Loneta is truly a lover of the Word of God and strives every day to use her areas of influence to bring Glory to His name. She is a retired business owner of a florist shop, a tea room/ Bed and Breakfast , an antique shop, as well as an interior decorator. She received her educational training at Tyler Jr College and Kilgore College. She is an active member of Overton/New London Chamber of Commerce, having lived in the community for over 50 years. She is a member of Rose Heights Church in Tyler. Loneta has been married to her husband Jim for 55 years, they have 2 beautiful and successful daughters and 5 amazing grandchildren. She loves to share Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are you saved through Faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Christie Taylor
Christie Taylor
Christie Taylor is a new addition to the Son Shine Lighthouse Board. She has been volunteering at Son Shine for about eight years and loves connecting with the ladies and sharing her life experiences through the various Bible Studies she leads. As a member of this community her whole life, she sees the value of Christian mentoring and the importance of the work done at Son Shine. In addition to her volunteer work at Son Shine, she leads the women’s ministry at her church, Bar-None Cowboy Church in Tatum, Texas, where her husband serves as the Pastor. Christie and her husband Jason have been married for 32 years and have four children and two grandchildren.
As evidenced in John chapter 2 when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was those serving that witnessed and became a part of the miracle. That is her hope and purpose, to see and be a part of the miracles the Lord does in the lives of all connected to Son Shine Lighthouse Ministry.