Hilda Stewart – Founding Director

As the Founding Director and visionary for Cheerful Hearts, Hilda has held tight to the vision of this ministry in 2005 as an inclusive, healing place of rest and restoration.

Hilda develops and oversees the ministries, activities, and events at Cheerful Hearts as well as serves the ministry team and clients as intercessor, advocate, and partner in faith. She and her supportive husband Michael have 5 grown children and 12 precious grandchildren.

Before Cheerful Hearts Ministry was birthed, Hilda worked in early intervention (birth to 5-year-old children with special needs) and was the founding director in 1992 of a preschool that served normally developing children as well as those with developmental delays in conjunction with the county school system; it is alive and well today.

She earned a BA in Psychology, MA in Pastoral Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary, and is pursuing her Doctorate currently. As a life-long learner Hilda has completed many classes, trainings, and programs to learn as much as she can to serve other women faithfully. She served as a pastor in a mainline denomination for a season before God called her to begin Cheerful Hearts in 2005.

As with many ministries, Cheerful Hearts was birthed from God’s presence in Hilda’s life from overcoming personal hardship. Hilda became physically ill to the point of medical disability. Jesus responded to her cries for healing by leading her on a path that resulted in her own health restoration, but also in a ministry to women, ages 12-112. Hilda said yes to Jesus’ invitation to come on an adventure with Him, and it has been quite an adventure.

Cheerful Hearts delves into deep issues of the heart, whether individually or on retreat with 12 or less women in attendance. Cheerful Hearts has welcomed thousands of ladies through the years of journeying together to the feet of Jesus through small groups, individual prayer ministry, and retreats.

Hilda has been active for almost three decades in developing and leading weekend and one-day retreats for women in personal homes, state parks, conventions centers, churches and wherever the Lord would lead her. It is a great joy for Hilda, to walk alongside other women who seek to find true peace and joy in her relationship with Christ.

Shelley Martin – Associate Director of Ministry

Training, teaching, and mentoring has been a regular part of Shelley’s life for twenty-five years. After graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity, Shelley spent most of her years serving the local church in student ministry before transitioning to women’s ministry. Having the heart of a revivalist, she is passionate about assisting women discover their unique identity. Her teaching style embodies a conversational story-telling flow, sprinkled with practical strategies for engaging God. As a retreat speaker, she is known for awakening women to everyday faith encounters. In the past, Shelley has led workshops and retreats around the topics of identity, healing, hearing God, and life with Holy Spirit.

As the newest one to join the CHM team, Shelley is excited to provide spiritual care and assisting in the area of content management for the ministry. Often described as “the real deal,” she brings a humorous spiritual awareness to the mundane.

Shelley and Ryan have been married for twenty-one years and treasure their three sons: Miles, Grady, and Callan. In her down time, Shelley enjoys painting acrylic landscapes and creating mixed media faith collages on wooden panels.

Leigh Hinesley – Chaplain

Leigh is an Author, Minister, and Missionary. She is also a wife, a mom, and a Lolli. She was born and raised in Newnan, GA. After inviting Jesus into her heart at the age of four, her eyes were opened to the spirit realm. She has been attending “the school of the Holy Spirit” ever since. The lessons were not always easy, and her path was not always straight. But God was always faithful to her, even when during the times she was less than faithful to Him.

In 2009 the Lord moved her to Florida for a season of pruning, growth, and education. During that time, she attended Ministry Training College at Christian International in Santa Rosa Beach. This education helped her to began to walk fully in her 5-Fold Ministry Gifting. She was trained in the prophetic and in healing and deliverance. Leigh is licensed and ordained through the National Association of Christian Ministers (NACM).

Leigh has served in many areas of ministry over the years. She is passionate about healing and deliverance. She longs to help others find the freedom she has found through Christ Jesus. Leigh has a heart for missions and a desire to live out the discipleship model that Jesus taught. She holds tight to the mandate Jesus gave in Mark 16:15-18.

In 2009 the Lord moved her to Florida for a season of pruning, growth, and education. During that time, she attended Ministry Training College at Christian International in Santa Rosa Beach. This education helped her to began to walk fully in her 5-Fold Ministry Gifting. She was trained in the prophetic and in healing and deliverance. Leigh is licensed and ordained through the National Association of Christian Ministers (NACM).

Leigh has served in many areas of ministry over the years. She is passionate about healing and deliverance. She longs to help others find the freedom she has found through Christ Jesus. Leigh has a heart for missions and a desire to live out the discipleship model that Jesus taught. She holds tight to the mandate Jesus gave in Mark 16:15-18.

Deborah Williamson – Ministry Partner

Deborah stepped into the Cheerful Hearts adventure in 2006. After accepting an invitation to come and hear Hilda’s vision for a women’s ministry in the Eatonton area, Deborah said YES!  She continues her involvement to this day, scheduling and assisting in the individual ministry opportunities at CHM: Heart to Heart, Red Chair, and Beauty for Ashes.

Deborah understands debilitating fear, deep-seated unforgiveness, shame, and projecting blame onto others. She has grown, and is growing free to such an extent, if you had told her years ago this freedom was possible, she would not have believed it. She is a living testimony of God’s grace and restoration. And, if God did it for Deborah, He can and will do it for you!

in 2029, Deborah and her husband Coleman will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Together, they have 6 children, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Their quiver is full! They are enthralled and surprised by what God is doing in their latter years; welcoming others to encounter Jesus through silence, solitude, and rest on their 171 acres.

ministry@cheerfulheartsministry.org 

Leigh Ann Miller – Prayer Minister

Leigh Ann has walked with the Lord Jesus since she was a young child, and for more than 35 years, through intimate time spent with Him, He has continued to heal, restore, and shape her heart. Much of her own journey has been one of learning to listen to His voice, to His presence, and to the quiet ways He brings beauty from ashes.

Since 2011, Leigh Ann has been involved in listening prayer ministry and was trained through Living Waters Ministry. For over 15 years, she has walked alongside women in ministry, prayer, and spiritual guidance, creating safe and welcoming spaces for women to encounter Jesus, experience His love, and receive the healing He so freely offers. Her life verse, Isaiah 61:1–3, continues to anchor her calling, which is the same calling verse as Cheerful Hearts Ministry and that is to see the brokenhearted comforted, the weary strengthened, and hearts renewed by God’s grace.

Leigh Ann leads along with a partner the ministry prayer time, Beauty for Ashes, reflecting God’s promise to exchange sorrow for joy and despair for praise. This work is offered gently and without labels, grounded in the belief that true restoration begins in the presence of God.

Leigh Ann has been married for 34 years to her husband, Mark, a teacher and coach at Lake Oconee Academy, and together they have been blessed with four children and ten grandchildren. Family is one of God’s greatest gifts to her and has deeply shaped her heart for women in every season of life.

She is also a long-time swim instructor who is passionate about water safety and teaching survival skills for infants through adults and is a PADI Rescue Diver. Leigh Ann enjoys swimming, hiking, scuba diving, and crafting—simple spaces where she finds rest, creativity, and renewal.

Above all, Leigh Ann loves Jesus. Her prayer is that every woman she walks with would feel seen, known, and deeply loved—and would come to know the healing, freedom, and joy found in Christ.

Juleen DuBois – PAIR Partner

Soon after moving to the Lake Oconee area, Juleen discovered Cheerful Hearts Ministry, and knew immediately it was a place she wanted to be involved with.  Juleen has a heart for seeing women healed, free and walking in the identity that Christ died for them to have. She has served the community by leading Small Groups at Cheerful Hearts in the past and currently assists with Individual Ministries that help women grow in all these areas.

When anyone meets Juleen it is obvious that her heart is filled with joy and it overflows onto anyone in her presence. She is also a mighty prayer warrior for Cheerful Hearts or for anyone the Lord lays on her heart or calls on her to pray. She joyfully accepts this as an honor.

As an occupation, Juleen enjoys assisting employees and their families throughout the United States who must relocate due to a job change or transfer.  In her leisure time, Juleen enjoys worship music, hiking, crafting, visiting coffee shops and playing pickleball with her husband and friends.