Staff

SOS Staff

Philip Walkley, Executive Director

Philip has been around SOS for a while, beginning in 1998 when he served with a college team and later in 2002 when he served on our SOS College Summer Staff as a team leader. After graduating from Ole Miss, marrying his beautiful bride Kelsea, serving in Mexico and working as a youth minister in Grenada, MS, for four years Philip has finally moved to Memphis. Originally from Jonesboro, AR, Philip and his wife Kelsea are now residents of Binghampton and have two beautiful children, Romey and Archer. Philip loves details, his wife, and singing in falsetto.
Contact Philip

John Major, Construction Director

John joined the summer SOS staff as a Construction Manager for the 2004 summer. After an All-Star performance that summer, John was signed to a full-time contract in August of 2004 and has now moved up in ranks to Construction Director. His duties include Home Visits and selection of homeowners, staff construction training, and supervision of construction during our spring and summer camps and any other time SOS constructs something. When asked to describe John, one work team came up with “bubbly, kind, patient, and talented.” John loves talk radio, but not as much as he does his wife Arnetta and their three boys Jonathan, Justin, and Joshua. Contact John

Marlon “Big Dog” Brown, Assistant Construction Director/Homeowner Relations

Marlon joined the summer SOS staff as a Construction Manager for the 2004 summer. The former Mr. Millington (TN) High School and college basketball star brought his jump shot to stay at SOS in August 04. Marlon does many odd jobs around SOS, including, homeowner relations, exposing folks to the inner city, leading work groups, and much much more…seriously. When asked to describe Marlon in one word, Jenny from Southwest Missouri State pleaded for hyphens and said “larger-than-life.” We definitely agree. Marlon spends his free time reading, using his teal pickup truck to deliver goods to the less fortunate and eating at Texas de Brazil. He recently married the love of his life, Jackie. Contact Marlon

Candace Todd, Program Director

Candace comes to us from Union University after spending three summers on staff at SOS. She participated in our Academy internship program from 2007-2009, serving at SOS as our office intern as well as the Program Director for SOS’s new plant, SOS 114. After completing a two-year internship with us, she is now serving as our Program Director. “Candy,” as she’s known around the office is responsible for the recruiting and registration of all our Spring, Summer and Fall groups. In addition, she plans and coordinates all aspects of our camp experience. She is a die hard Memphis Tigers fan who loves speaking in Spanish and talking in accents.
Contact Candace.

Laura Haltom, Financial Administrator

Laura comes to us after getting her Master’s Degree at Texas Christian University. She first came to SOS in the summer of 2005 to serve on our office staff, and then came back in the summer of 2006 to be a team leader. Laura is now serving as our Financial Administrator. She keeps everything running smoothly through her organization of all the financial aspects of SOS. Laura recently married her husband, Drew, who she met at SOS in 2006, and had to give up her famous last name “Montague.” She enjoys wearing aprons, Sharpie pens, and horned frogs.
Contact Laura.

Drew Haltom, Camp Director

Drew first worked at SOS in the summer of 2006 as a team leader, after coming as a camper. He came back as a team leader in 2007 and then was the staff servant in 2008. Drew graduated from Delta State University with a degree in Marketing and serves on our full-time as Camp Director. He is responsible for running both of our camps in Binghampton and Orange Mound. He lives in Binghampton with his bride, Laura. Drew loves making outlines, keeping a tidy desk, and taking pictures with various SOS tools.
Contact Drew.

Brian Bowe, Assistant Construction Director

Born and raised in Missouri, Brian graduated with a Plant Science: Turf Management degree from the University of Missouri (M-I-Z…). Brian recently completed the SOS Academy where he worked with the Binghampton Development Corporation’s newly created Urban Farm and with SOS as the Construction Intern. We are excited to have Brian join us as our Assistant Construction Director where he will be responsible for facilities management and construction oversight. Brian enjoys custom woodworking, grass, sports, and outdoor activities including riding bikes and hiking.  Contact Brian

Erin Hatcher, Office Intern

Erin joins the SOS staff this year as our Office Intern. She previously worked as a team leader this past summer with us and decided to stick around for more. Erin is currently pursuing photography and graphic design. She has a love for editing and organizing photos. We are so excited to have Erin here this year to help us with all of our office-related tasks such as mass mailings, home visits, and answering the phones. Erin enjoys eating oreos, wearing fake glasses, and harmonizing with every song. Her quirky love is chapstick.  “Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam…”  Contact Erin

 SOS 114 Staff & Academy Interns

Jenna Claire Barto, SOS & A Way Out

Jenna was born and raised in Southern Pines, NC (U-N-C!), and recently graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with an Elementary Education and Recreational Administration Degree. Jenna made the move to Memphis for her first time when she came to join the Academy this August. Having never been here or worked with SOS before, she was told about the Academy and followed the Lord here in a desire to learn about and experience urban ministry while growing in her personal walk. She is excited to delve into whatever adventures the Lord has for her here as she gets the opportunity to live intentionally in Binghampton and intern at A Way Out and SOS.  She is also is a lover of ice cream, pandas, laughing, and all things Dolly Parton.

Breezy Torres, Binghampton Artist in Residence

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Breezy recently graduated with a degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in Photography from the University of Missouri (…Z-O-U!). Without a single post-graduation plan, she decided to listen to her friends about applying for SOS Summer Staff. Breezy got the gig as one half of the AV Team as the videographer. Half way through the summer, she decided to do The Academy and spend an entire year in Memphis. She is working as the “Artist-in-residence” for the Binghampton ministry community doing photo and video projects for a number of different ministries and organizations that SOS partners with. Breezy enjoys whistling, biking, and everything bagels/bread.

 Maggie McFarlane, Cornerstone Preparatory School

Maggie was born and raised in Mobile, AL and just recently graduated Auburn University (WAAARRRR EAGLEEE!) with a degree in Social Work. She came to a SOS camp this past summer as an “Adult” with her old youth group where she heard about the Academy. God placed the Academy on her heart and everything fell into place and worked out just the way it was supposed to to get her to Memphis for this year. She is interning with Cornerstone Preparatory School and getting to be a servant to the full time staff. She is there to make it easier for the teachers to focus solely on teaching the amazing children. She loves football, the sound of seagulls, and old VHS tapes.

Sarah Brubaker, Christ Community Ministries

Sarah spent the past three summers working at SOS as part of the summer staff.  This May she graduated from Union University with a Bachelor in Social Work and decided to return to Memphis to be part of this year’s SOS Academy interns.  After growing up overseas and spending her final semester of college in South Africa, she is excited to be working with the Refugee Ministry connected with Christ Community Ministries.  Sarah loves making a variety of art, taking walks through her new neighborhood, and hiking in the mountains.