South Carolina

Being a professional and a grandmother on staff at Abiding Love Adoptions, I have been a Christian for over 50 years and a Social Worker in some capacity for over 40 years. His love is the greatest gift in my life, and I live out my passion, purpose, and mission daily – changing the lives of others as a servant in His kingdom, with and by the power of His love – the greatest power ever known! 

Several earlier life experiences led me into Social Work – helping a childhood adopted friend find her birth family, living internationally with my military family, and arriving at then Craig Air Force base in Selma, Alabama three months before the movement, after living in a totally different world overseas. These experiences left me with a vision and desire to change the world of adoptions, demonstrate His love to all cultures and ethnicities, and fight injustice everywhere.

Later, I graduated from Troy University with a double major in Social Rehabilitation Services and Journalism, as well as a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. I have served in almost every type of public child welfare social service program, including Adoptions, at all levels, including county, multi-state and federal. In one of those positions, while Director of two County Child Welfare Agencies, I met Carrie Murray Nellis, then Guardian-ad-litem for our children in Juvenile Court proceedings, and now founder, owner and Executive Director of Abiding Love Adoptions. We have always shared a heart and focus for the children, their birth mothers, and adoptive parents. I just didn’t know then how shared it would become one day…

In my personal life, my precious husband Kip Decker has been a naturalistic impressionistic artist for over 50 years and is recognized and published as one of America’s Top 200 Acrylic/Water Media Artists. As a blended family, we share five adult children and their families, including our hearts – 11 grandchildren! We are known as Lolli and Pop, and those grandparent roles fill our hearts with joy! 

Finally, after retirement from the government sector, a position opened at Abiding Love Adoptions. The sacred calling to go love big and well was clear. I could not say no to the only agency existing anywhere that honors everyone in the process – birthmothers, babies, and adoptive families. So here I am, surprisingly now the SC State Director of Abiding Love Adoptions and Birthmother Advocate. What a blessing and privilege to serve our Birthparents with such a team of dedicated team of professionals!

As the proverb goes: “It takes a village to raise a child.” This saying proved true in my own life. I was born to a young couple and raised in Lexington, SC, primarily by a single father. My father reminded me daily of my mother’s love and the sacrifice and selflessness that it took for her to allow someone else to help fill that role in my life when she was unable. Having a wonderful dad, a selfless loving mom, a large family and wonderful family friends -my village- stepped in and helped mold me into the woman that I am today. This village is comprised of many members of the adoption triad, and of all ethnicities.

As an adult, my husband and I still reside in Lexington, SC. We share a beautiful, blended family of 4 children. When the time came to grow our family, adoption made sense for us. Our beautiful little girl was adopted through Abiding Love and we have been able to witness how well Abiding Love truly loves our daughter’s Birth Mother. We continue to rely on “our village” (and our gracious Heavenly Father) to mold our children, and we are so thankful that both my mom and our daughter’s Birth Mother are a part of that.

With a servant’s heart, I am incredibly honored to represent Abiding Love and walk alongside women as they make one of the most difficult and selfless decisions in life.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1Corinthians 16:14