Board of Directors

David Spence

David, along with his wife Brittany, founded the Forrest Spence Fund in memory of their son Forrest. David was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated with his BA from the University of Tennessee, received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee and completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.  He is employed as a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon with Campbell Clinic in Memphis, TN. He currently serves on the Family Partners Council at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center and as a medical advisor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He loves traveling, fishing, music, and spending time with friends and family.

Brittany Spence

Brittany, along with her husband David, founded the Forrest Spence Fund in memory of their son Forrest. Brittany was born and raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She graduated with a Masters degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from The University of Tennessee. She worked as a schoolteacher and youth director for several years before becoming a full-time homemaker and mother to Austin, Miller, and Maggie. Brittany currently serves on the Family Partners Council and leads the Parent Mentor Program at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center. She loves to read, travel, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.

Gregg Smith

Gregg has been married to Valerie Hyde Smith since 1998. They have a son, Witt, and a daughter, Emily. Gregg grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas and graduated from Ole Miss with a Bachelors and Masters in Accounting. He has worked in various accounting and finance roles for a number of private and public companies with a focus on start-ups. He also experienced the Le Bonheur ER and PICU when he lost his first daughter, Mary Witten, in a car accident in 1996 that also took the life of his first wife, Laurie. He loves cooking, traveling, cycling and spending time with his family. Gregg is a family friend of the Spences.

William C. Martin

William was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Memphis at the age of eight. After graduating from Evangelical Christian High School, he received an Engineering Science and Mechanics degree with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering and a Business minor from the University of Tennessee. William’s first job and only job is in the financial industry as a money manager, analyst and broker in the Futures Markets. He continues in that capacity today and has recently earned his CFA charter. William enjoys hunting, fishing, Tennessee football, exercising, friends, family, promoting the Forrest Spence Fund and spending time with his wife Ashley and daughter Carlisle. William is a family friend of the Spences.

Halley Williams

Halley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, after spending the majority of her childhood in Jackson, Mississippi. She has been married to Ford Williams since 2004. Halley studied nursing at Ole Miss and graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing. She is a registered nurse (RN) and has served a Medical-Surgical unit at a major Memphis hospital since the summer of 2007. Halley volunteers with several organizations in the Memphis area, including Hutchison School for Girls and Life Choices, which provides care for girls facing crisis pregnancy. She enjoys exercising, spending time with Ford, and serving on medical missions trips to South America. Halley is a family friend of the Spences.

Richard Vining

Since 2005, Richard has worked in the Business Office at Streets Ministries where he is currently serving as Director. Originally from D.C., Richard’s family moved to Memphis in 1972 and has stayed put ever since. Richard is a graduate of Memphis University School and the University of Alabama, but his largest rooting interests have always been with the Memphis Tiger basketball team. In 1995, Richard worked at Vice President of Investment Strategies at Vining-Sparks and then later co-founded Revenue Assurance Professionals, LLC in 2005. His current involvement at Streets Ministries began after first serving as a volunteer. At Streets, it his is his goal to handle the business side of the not-for-profit organization in such a way that it enables the Education and Ministry staffs to focus on the organization’s mission. Richard and his wife Kristen have three daughters and are members at Independent Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, Richard enjoys working on old cars, even older houses, hanging out at Horseshoe Lake, and taking care of his pet chickens.

Staff Members

Donna Nash — Event/Volunteer Coordinator

Donna graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.  Through the years she has worked, served as a board member and volunteered with various non-profits.  She and her husband, Steve, founded Advance Memphis in 1999.  Donna desires to bring her experience to the Forrest Spence Fund and is excited to be a part!  She and her husband have four children:  Katherine, Ann Bennett, Elizabeth, and Stephen.  She enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, her church and dreams of being a gardener.

Betsey Bailey - Bookkeeper

Betsey graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelors in Accountancy and a Masters of Taxation. She is a CPA who works as a financial analysis at York Development, and is also involved with Junior League, Junior Achievement and Make a Wish. She loves running, traveling, reading and shopping. Betsey has always had a passion for working with children and is very excited to be a part of the Forrest Spence Fund Team!

Our website is maintanined by Stephen M. Hackett.