Patty Eagar, Executive Director

Patty Eagar has been Executive Director since June, 1997. She is responsible for the leadership and management of Advocates and its $1,400,000 annual budget. She is a native of southeastern Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Business Administration. She spent 6 years with IBM, 14 years as a manufacturing entrepreneur and two years as a manufacturers’ representative before joining Advocates. She is married with four grown children and is an active member of many civic and community groups.

Steve Yarish, Director of Residential Services

Steve joined Advocates in December 2006 and serves as the Director of Residential Services at Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter. Originally from New York, Steve has over 20 years of experience working with youth in residential programs. Steve received his Bachelor degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and received his Master of Public Administration degree from Troy State University. He is married with two children.

Karen White, Development Director

Karen White joined Advocates as Director of Development in December 2009. In this role she is responsible for ensuring diverse and expanded streams of funding for our valuable resources and programs. A native of Cincinnati, she is a graduate of Ohio University with a B.S. in Journalism. She spent several years working in event fundraising for a national non profit organization and three years as a development professional for a Catholic religious order before joining the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce in 2007. She resides happily in Cartersville with her husband and their dogs, Natty and Bud.

Sherry Wise Mays, Clinical Case Manager

Sherry Wise-Mays is a native of the metropolis of Kingston, Georgia. Sherry joined the Advocates family in June 2010 after 19 years as a Social Services Coordinator/Counselor at Bartow Academy. She received her BA from West Georgia College in Psychology with a concentration in Social Work and her Masters from Troy University in Counseling Psychology. She is currently working on becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. “Leo Buscaglia wrote ‘Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.’ I look forward to being a support system for the children at Flowering Branch in the hopes of helping them turn their lives around.”

Jessica Taylor, Case Manager

Jessica Taylor joined Advocates as Case Manager in June 2010. She relocated from Cusseta, Georgia to complete her education at Georgia State University where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. She brings with her an extensive background in case management from The Department of Family and Children Services, and a caring heart for children.

Marian Barber, Director of Volunteer Services

Marian Barber joined Advocates in July of 2008. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University and later a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Georgia has been home all her life, enjoying Cartersville since 2001. Having four sons has sharpened her ability to be resourceful, versatile and adaptable, smiling all the while. “I am enriched everyday by the incredible, young residents here at Flowering Branch. The spirit and warmth they possess, despite the challenging circumstances in their life, is to be respected by all of us. I take pride in being part of an organization dedicated to nurturing children and improving their quality of life.”

Deborah Parmenter, Bookkeeper

Deborah Parmenter has been a resident of Cartersville for 31 years. She is originally from Decatur, GA and is a graduate of Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in English. She has been employed by Advocates for 12 years, 10 years as Bookkeeper. She is a volunteer on Citizen’s Panel Review for Bartow County Juvenile Court and a member of Sam Jones Memorial United Methodist Church. She enjoys working with staff whose collective heart is always big enough to help one more child.

Kayleigh Ladshaw, Development Assistant

Kayleigh Ladshaw joined the Advocates family in January 2011. Having earned her B.S. in Public Relations from Kennesaw State University, her role here is to update our website, manage our social media presence, update online and printed media material as well as various other projects. Before joining our cause, she worked for the Salvation Army and the Gwinnett County School system doing client in-take and communications. She is excited about the chance to make a difference in the lives of the children in Bartow County, and hopes to continue to grow and learn through Advocates.

Ava Lipscomb, CASA Director

Ava Lipscomb is a native of Cartersville, GA. She attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL, and graduated with a BA in Communication Arts from Ambassador College in Big Sandy, TX. After working for the Department of Family and Children Services in Cherokee and Pickens Counties, Ava became the CASA Director for Advocates in 2000. She was once a common fixture as an actor/director with our local theatre group, the Pumphouse Players, where she met her husband, Andy. “After 20+ years in this field, I am passionate about working for Advocates because I know the primary focus of the organization is helping each individual child. Our efforts can be life-changing for a child.”

Rebecca Bentley, Director, A Better Way Children’s Advocacy Center

Rebecca Bentley came from the Pacific Northwest to Georgia in 1996. She holds a Master of Science in Human Services, a Master’s Certificate in Social & Community Services, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Child Development Associate (CDA Credential). She joined Advocates for Children in 2006, and is grateful to have the opportunity to practice her “occupassion’ - caring for families, right here in her own community. “I have found that each of Advocates’ Programs strives to remain committed to ensuring children and families receive the most supportive and professional care possible, when they need it most.”

Lisa Keeler, CASA Volunteer Coordinator

Originally from Merritt Island, FL, Lisa has been with Advocates since August 2008. She has a Bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and has been in the field of Child Welfare since 2006. “I love working for Advocates because it means helping children and their families. Although it can be difficult to work with issues such as child abuse and neglect, it’s rewarding to watch the work we do every day make a difference to the children in our community that need us the most.”

Theresa Barr, CASA Volunteer Coordinator

Theresa Barr is a native Atlantan who moved to Cartersville, Georgia 20 years ago. She has two wonderful children who are now fine adults. After being employed in the social services field for 10 years she was given the opportunity almost two years ago to work for Advocates of Bartow’s Children under the CASA Program. “To be able to work with wonderful volunteers from my community and see the difference that CASA can make in a child’s life, makes this a fantastic and rewarding job. “

Liz Fox, Family Advocate/Supervised Visitation, A Better Way Children’s Advocacy Center

Liz Fox hails from the big town of Ashtabula, Ohio in the heart of the SNOWbelt. She’s been with Advocates for about one year as the Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer at A Better Way Children’s Advocacy Center. She has worked in the social services field for about 25 years in different capacities. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Corrections from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She is an avid runner and cyclist and an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. “I am very committed to providing a safe and responsible place for children in their time of great need and am privileged to be part of Advocates for Children, an organization that shares this philosophy.”