Meet Our Staff

Sandy Patterson

Executive Director & Co-Founder, Cancer Survivor

Sandy is a breast cancer survivor who uses her experience to help others on the cancer journey. While going through her own treatment, she saw patients experiencing suffering and pain alone and felt that much could be done to benefit them through complementary therapies and sharing their stories. Two years later, in 1996, she co-founded Wings to accomplish her vision and goals.

901.322.2984

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Sarah Blackburn

Development Manager & Wings Gallery Curator

Sarah manages Wings fundraising activities, grant writing, and planned giving. As a graduate of Memphis College of Art she finds great pleasure in being part of the local art community as the Wings Gallery Curator.

901.683.0055 ext. 1187

Keri Burnette

Special Events Planner/PR Coordinator

Keri is working on Special Events fundraising and Public Relations.  She is a breast cancer survivor so she has a unique understanding and passion for our mission. 

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Angel Heinbach

Administrative Assistant

Angel joined the Wings staff after working as Patient Advocate at The West Clinic for several years.  Whether assisting a patient, keeping up with our donor database, selling Wings merchandise, or answering the phones, she truly is our "Angel with Wings". 

901.683.0055 ext. 1317

Chaplain Sharon Herlihy  

Wings Pastoral Care

Rev. Sharon Herlihy has joined the Wings Staff to provide spiritual support to patients, families, volunteers and staff. Sharon comes to us with an extensive background in pastoral ministry through the local church setting. Credentialed with the Assemblies of God as a Licensed Minister, Sharon is currently completing her Master's Degree in Christian Ministries with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO. With a heart of compassion and understanding, our Chaplain is available to provide pastoral care at each of our locations.

901.683.0055 ext. 1087  

Sally Hensley, LCSW

Programs Coordinator, East Memphis

Sally is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of practice in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. She is responsible for coordination or programming for the three Wings locations and facilitates many of the support groups. Sally is available to patients and families for individual counseling, crisis intervention counseling and those who may have special needs in the hospital.

Gigi Fernandez Lee, RN

Volunteer Program Coordinator

Gigi is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience in the medical field. She has extensive background in staff development and adult education. She oversees the efforts of 250 volunteers, most of them cancer survivors themselves, to help those who are at various stages of their cancer journey.

901.683.0055 ext. 1215

Valerie Matthews

Assistant Volunteer Program Coordinator, Southaven and Midtown

Valerie Matthews signed up as a Wings volunteer in April, 2005 and became the assistant volunteer coordinator at Midtown in 2007. Before coming to Wings, she was a volunteer for a local hospice. She remains very active in her church in Memphis. She is a very caring, nurturing and warm person who has the Wings mission at heart.  Valerie laid the foundation for a thriving volunteer group at Midtown. Her recruitment skills, nurturing spirit and a well- balanced temperament are attributes of an effective volunteer manager.

662.996.1083

Belinda Rimer

Programs Coordinator, Midtown

Belinda came to Wings with sixteen years experience in a hospice setting as bereavement coordinator and in program development and community education. She is responsible for developing and coordinating all programs for the Midtown office and is actively involved in patient care through providing emotional and spiritual support, crisis intervention, education, facilitating support groups, and in hospital visits to patients.

901.322.0447