Alex & Ellen

Ellen met Susanna at the ETSU Wesley Foundation (United Methodist Campus Ministry). They became quick friends and even lived together for a year at ETSU and two years in Rogersville when they both moved there for jobs. Many fun late nights have been spent by Ellen and Susanna laughing, watching "Heart of Dixie," "Friends," "The Golden Girls," and other various activities which shall not be disclosed on this website.

Allison Hammer

Ellen met Allison through the ETSU Wesley Foundation's annual Divine Rhythm (Young Adult) retreat. Ellen didn't know many people and was signed up to ride in Allison's car. Although initially Allison took one look at Ellen's leopard print suitcase and decided it could be a long car ride, it took about 10 minutes for them to become good friends. The rest is history. Ellen and Allison love to travel and have adventured to The Bahamas, Scotland, and Ireland together. The moral to this story is.... don't judge a person by their leopard suitcase and Taylor Swift music. Or just don't give your friend control of the old school iPod that hooks into the cassette player.

Jenna Hylton

Ellen and Jenna are lifetime best friends, both growing up at Rogersville First United Methodist Church and attending Kindergarten through 12th grade together. They have been partners in crime for countless church plays, choir concerts, band concerts/ballgames, church trips, school trips, shopping trips, and church classes together. They have been adopted by each other's families and even ended up working with each other's Moms as adults. At Jenna's wedding, Ellen caught the bouquet. It only took 9 years to work!

Emily Mahoney

Ellen met Emily at the ETSU Wesley Foundation, and they have been best friends for 10 years. Although Ellen and Emily never lived together, they have spent countless fun nights in countless cities at each other's house or apartment. They are well known for their Rogersville adventures, making a big event out of a small town weekend! Favorite adventure spots are downtown (LuElla's, Heritage Days, & O Henry's), Amis Mill, the Park (Fireworks and exercise adventures), and of course 2 a.m. Wal-Mart trips. Ellen and Emily have spent 4 Easters in a row together, a tradition they never hope to break. Their friendship is full of laughter, funny memes, and references from the TV Show "Friends." Sharing a sense of humor, Ellen can always count on Emily to understand why she is the only one in the room laughing at something or someone!

Kodi Mann

Ellen met Kodi in French class through her friend Greg. Kodi and Greg said Ellen spoke "Country French," and Ellen found out later they would ask her questions they already knew the answers to just to hear her speak Country French. Kodi invited Ellen over to her apartment for a get together, and they have been friends ever since, even becoming roommates later. The Adventures of Ellen and Kodi are unparalleled. From stories about the angry guy that lived below them to getting fish (yes, fish) thrown up onto their balcony by Brandon and Clay after a fishing trip, midnight rides to the middle of nowhere, to hiding in wait in the bed of Kodi's truck waiting for unsuspecting friends to walk by, we know the adventures are far from over.

Karrianne McPheron

Karrianne and Ellen have been friends since before they were born! Seriously, their Moms were pregnant friends while working at Hawkins County Memorial Hospital. Their friendship is one of many stories- including a joint 13th birthday party where the legend of the traveling socks was born and several consecutive birthday party injuries Ellen would rather not speak of. They attended Kindergarten through 12th grade together and have been on countless travel adventures outside of the usual school and choir trips. In 11th grade, they were roommates for a trip to Italy, France, and Monaco, and then in 2015 took a "no sleep" bus trip to New York City, where they had a blast! The main thing they learned from that trip, however, was that one should carefully research any city bus tours you plan to take while in the city, and purchase tickets *prior* to your arrival in New York.

Laura Pearson

This "Bridesmaid Biography" is a very special one, because it would be here even if it wasn't her brother I was marrying. Laura and I became friends at church choir practice and got to know each other during the Young Adult group activities. We quickly realized we enjoyed many of the same things and have been "partners in crime" as it relates to our hobbies ever since. We have sang together at countless church services, community functions, funerals, and enjoyed lots of evenings just talking about our lives. Throw in some shopping trips and a valiant attempt at cake decorating classes, and you've got our story! I love it when God shows up BIG and does something only He could do. Like... letting you find the love of your life and giving you the sister you always wanted, who happened to already be one of your closest friends.

Rachel Williams

Rachel is Ellen's first cousin on her Mom's side. Ellen always wanted a little sister but never had one, so when Rachel came along, Ellen was over the moon! She used to dress her up in full makeup with LOTS of hairspray when she was barely old enough to walk and talk. (P.S. Who was supposed to be supervising them?!) They used to spend every New Years Eve together at their grandmother (Grammie's) house. It was always lots of fun until the year Ellen decided to tell Rachel and her brother Grant that if the ball didn't drop they would have to start the year all over again and repeat the school year. They cried so loud that they woke Grammie up and Ellen got in trouble. (Again...who was supervising) Having a little cousin to spend every family holiday, birthday, and funeral with has always been and will always be a special thing. I guess she's not so little anymore. She's graduating from UT in May!

Sarah Winstead

Sarah and Ellen were introduced at ETSU through mutual friends, so when Sarah and her husband Nick moved to Rogersville for jobs, Ellen was very excited! Sarah and Ellen (and many times Nick) took very regular trips to El Paraiso and the RCS and RMS walking tracks. Their favorite times, however, were their routine Kingsport adventures that, on a good day included Target or Ulta and either Chick-Fil-A or Panera. On a VERY good day, it was all four! You know, Chick-Fil-A does have ice cream! One of their most memorable weekends together was a trip to Jellico, TN, where they provided music for a womens' retreat and met Jason Crabb at a Fazolis in LaFollette.

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About the Men

I was born on the last day of 1985...December 31, 1985. I told Ellen one time that I was the last "REAL MAN" that was ever made and they quit making them in 1985. These men listed here are some of the REALEST MEN I know. John Wayne nor Andy Griffith could have raised them any better. Almost all of them were born in 1985 or before too...just saying. LOL! They are all my best men.

Ben Bradley

I met Ben when I guess we were both still in diapers. Mom said we used to play together at church when we could barely walk. Here we are years later still playing together. Ben has the gift of gab. He can talk to anybody about anything. He has a lot of "sayings" that are really funny, but also can contain some great wisdom from time to time. There is nobody that can take life's complications and make them simple like Ben Bradley.

Jordan Combs

I first met Jordan in college at The University of Tennessee. He and Ben Bradley had met previously and knew a lot of the same people. Jordan and Ben became room mates and so I got to know him because we all hung out together. It didn't take me long to figure out that Jordan was a pretty smart man. He always knew what he was talking about and I always have had a great respect for anyone who did. He is a great friend and will never lead you wrong if you ask for advice.

Sawyer Combs

Ring Bearer

Sawyer is Jordan's oldest son. He's full of spunk and energy and him and Holden are a barrel of fun. They both remind me of me when I was about their age. Sawyer recently showed me all of his toy trucks and tractors while Holden was busy trying on his dad's boots. When I was about their age, I was really proud of my toy trucks and tractors and trains as well and I spent a lot of time trying on my Dad's boots and wishing I were big enough to wear boots like that and do all the things my dad did. I'm sure they will grow up to be fine men if they take after their dad.

Damon Drinnon

I guess I first learned who Damon was in high school, though I never really knew him until college. I just knew who he was and knew he was a good guy. Damon was at Maryville college when me and Ben and Eric and Jordan went down to UT in Knoxville. Damon got his undergrad and then joined us at UT for his master's. Damon is another one like Jordan. It didn't take me long to realize he was pretty smart and he won't lead you wrong if you ask for advice. Damon is always a lot of fun to be around and he always has a good story or two to tell.

Eric Goan

I got to know Eric in high school. We were both in Ag. classes together and we both had typing together. We were typing partners and I remember our typing teacher used to let us off the hook pretty easy. I guess he figured we didn't need much typing on the farm. Ironically, I bet Eric and I have both ended up typing more than anybody else in that class. We were out on the town one night and I met up with Ben and Eric and some more. I didn't even know they were going down to UT at the time, but I had applied and was going. We were talking about where we were going to stay and all that and I had applied for a dorm room because that was the rule at UT. If you were a freshmen, you were supposed to live in a dorm. They had sent me a letter that pretty much said they didn't have a dorm room for me yet, but they were counting on people to cancel so they would probably find me one. Eric said some thing like, "Why don't you just tell them you are commuting and we'll get an apartment together?" That's how it all started folks. Eric and I roomed together every year in college and even took in some others from time to time. We had a lot of fun and a lot of good memories from our college years. Eric is a friend for life.

Travis Lipe

Travis is my first cousin. He is a couple years older than me so all my teachers growing up used to call me Travis all the time because we looked a little similar in that we were both tall and lanky and also they were used to his name and not mine. It didn't bother me any because I always looked up to him anyway...and still do in a lot of ways. He's another one that is really smart and won't lead you wrong if you ask for advice. We have had a lot of fun over the years and I'll always have a tremendous amount of respect for Travis. He's as good as they come.

Alex Pearson

Wow! I just realized in typing all these introductions that I have succeeded in surrounding myself with smart people who won't lead you wrong if you ask for advice. Alex is another one of those. He's my brother-in-law. I always kind of knew who Alex was, but he was a lot older than me in school so I didn't know him all that well until he started dating my sister. It didn't take me long to know I liked him though (How can you not like a guy with that name?). Alex and I have a similar approach and point-of-view to about everything. Plus we both really love tractors and equipment and that sort of stuff. I think we make a good team. He's got all the mechanical details covered and I've got all the electrical. Alex is as good of a guy as they come and I will always have a tremendous amount of respect for him as well.

Shane Suthers

I first met Shane when he started dating my cousin Amber. It didn't take long to know that he was as good of a guy as they come as well. He's another one of those men that is smart and won't lead you wrong with advice. We always have fun no matter what project we are taking on, whether it is grill shopping or wiring up something. I have a lot of respect for Shane and I am always glad to get to see him. He always has a good story to tell as well.

Grant Williams