The Story of Hannah’s Hope
Hannah’s Hope was created in 2003 to minister to children and families.
Hannah’s Hope was created in 2003 to minister to children and families. Born out of the rich tradition of the Holston Home for Children – which served as the United Methodist adoption agency in West Tennessee from 1985 until 2002 – Hannah’s Hope was built on that foundation. The Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church helped create Hannah’s Hope to continue the needed ministry of adoption services, crisis pregnancy counseling, and adoption counseling.
A progressive agency as a matter of policy and principle, Hannah’s Hope promotes each person’s ability to develop to their maximum capacity – honoring the individual’s right to acceptance, love, and membership in a family. Services and programs through Hannah’s Hope are offered without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation.
Funding for Hannah’s Hope is provided through: grants with the State of Tennessee, grants from the Tennessee Western Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, a grant from the Mission Committee at Germantown United Methodist Church, and the generosity of individuals, groups, and congregations who support the mission of the agency.
Who Was Hannah?
“For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” (1 Sam. 1:27-28)
The story of Hannah, Elkanah’s childless wife found in 1 Samuel Chapter 1, is the inspiration for the name of our agency. Hannah was tormented by Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife who had borne him children, because the “Lord had closed Hannah’s womb” (1 Sam. 1:5). Hannah wept, could not eat, and prayed to God fervently. God granted her petition. She became pregnant and gave birth to Samuel. Hannah then dedicated him to God as she had promised.
Hannah's Hope Leadership
Rev. Trina Morrison
Executive Director
Rev. Trina Morrison is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has been appointed as Executive Director at Hannah’s Hope since 2006. As a Murfreesboro, TN native, she made her way to West Tennessee to attend Lambuth University and continued her education with an M.Div. at Emory University. She and her husband are the proud parents of two teenage daughters. Trina was adopted as an infant herself and has been in reunion with her birth family for more than twenty years, so the mission of Hannah’s Hope is especially close to her. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is the focus on building relationships with clients and the times that she’s been able to find extraordinary parents who are just the right fit for babies with very challenging needs.
Susan Prince, LCSW
Social Worker
Social Worker, Susan Prince, has been with Hannah’s Hope since 2008. After growing up in Germantown, she attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to earn her BA and Masters in Social Work. Certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy, Susan has two daughters, one son, and identical twin grandsons. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is that they are an atypical adoption agency that is extremely accepting and is able to help difficult to place children.
Alesia Thomas
Office Manager
Office Manager, Alesia Thomas, has been with Hannah’s Hope since 2009. Originally from Virginia, Alesia loves that she has the opportunity to share hope and guidance with women facing the crisis moments of life – reflecting God’s love through the care and compassion Hannah’s Hope offers. She believes that Hannah’s Hope is more than just employees – it’s a united family, working together, sharing God’s love through actions and service to others.
Sara Vonderheide
Development & Community Outreach Specialist
Development and Community Outreach Specialist, Sara Vonderheide, has worked with Hannah’s Hope since 2021, but her relationship with the organization began in 2019 when she and her husband adopted their first child, a son, through Hannah’s Hope (with her daughter being placed with them in 2022). After growing up in Bolivar, TN, Sara graduated from Lambuth University, continuing her education with an MBA at Union University and a post-graduate certificate in Community College Leadership at East Tennessee State University. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is the way the clients are met where they are and how they are met with compassion and love instead of judgment. She also loves seeing the relief on a client’s face when they receive much-needed supplies to take care of their baby, knowing that she is helping the client to build a healthy family in a variety of ways.
Rev. Trina Morrison
Executive Director
Rev. Trina Morrison is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and has been appointed as Executive Director at Hannah’s Hope since 2006. As a Murfreesboro, TN native, she made her way to West Tennessee to attend Lambuth University and continued her education with an M.Div. at Emory University. She and her husband are the proud parents of two teenage daughters. Trina was adopted as an infant herself and has been in reunion with her birth family for more than twenty years, so the mission of Hannah’s Hope is especially close to her. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is the focus on building relationships with clients and the times that she’s been able to find extraordinary parents who are just the right fit for babies with very challenging needs.
Susan Prince, LCSW
Social Worker
Social Worker, Susan Prince, has been with Hannah’s Hope since 2008. After growing up in Germantown, she attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to earn her BA and Masters in Social Work. Certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy, Susan has two daughters, one son, and identical twin grandsons. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is that they are an atypical adoption agency that is extremely accepting and is able to help difficult to place children.
Alesia Thomas
Office Manager
Office Manager, Alesia Thomas, has been with Hannah’s Hope since 2009. Originally from Virginia, Alesia loves that she has the opportunity to share hope and guidance with women facing the crisis moments of life – reflecting God’s love through the care and compassion Hannah’s Hope offers. She believes that Hannah’s Hope is more than just employees – it’s a united family, working together, sharing God’s love through actions and service to others.
Sara Vonderheide
Development & Community Outreach Specialist
Development and Community Outreach Specialist, Sara Vonderheide, has worked with Hannah’s Hope since 2021, but her relationship with the organization began in 2019 when she and her husband adopted their first child, a son, through Hannah’s Hope (with her daughter being placed with them in 2022). After growing up in Bolivar, TN, Sara graduated from Lambuth University, continuing her education with an MBA at Union University and a post-graduate certificate in Community College Leadership at East Tennessee State University. Her favorite thing about Hannah’s Hope is the way the clients are met where they are and how they are met with compassion and love instead of judgment. She also loves seeing the relief on a client’s face when they receive much-needed supplies to take care of their baby, knowing that she is helping the client to build a healthy family in a variety of ways.
Hannah’s Hope Board of Trustees
Dr. Jeannine Hogg
Board Chair, 2025
Pediatrician
Bluff City Medical Society
Rev. Dr. Tom Fuerst, PhD
Vice-Chair
Pastor of Memphis First United Methodist
Laura Harris
Board Treasurer
Director of Grants
MidSouth Development District
Joey Hassell
Board Secretary
Milan Special School District
Director, Career-Technical Education; Supervisor, Teaching & Learning (9-12)
Lauren Baker
Mortgage Loan Officer
Arbor Home Loans
Becca Keel
Germantown United Methodist Church
Matthew Macaw
Attorney
Berry Cannon Crawford Macaw, PLLC
Rev. Dr. Deborah Smith
Ex-officio Member
Interim District Superintendent
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
United Methodist Church