Staff

Mary Hughes Lee

Co-director and Mental Health Educator at the Sid Lee Memorial Mental Health Association of Stokes County.

Mary Hughes Lee founded Sid’s House (mental health association) after her son Sid (brother to Georgia, Jack, and Kathryn and son to Jeff Lee) died by suicide at 27.

Because Sid’s life was cut short by bipolar depression, Mary (and Jeff, who died of a heart attack several months after losing Sid) decided to honor his short life by caring for others who need a refuge from the absolute but invisible despair serious mental illness causes. They wondered if peer support could have saved Sid’s life, so the non-profit works to prevent deaths of despair (suicide and overdose) by becoming a peer-run organization. The group also attends to families and friends whose loved ones learn from NAMI educational groups that mental illness is a set of medical diseases, some potentially fatal, with medical, social, environmental/cultural, and political solutions. When various groups within the community work together to understand how to address overwhelming illnesses, the critically ill can be healthy again and can live to offer help to others.

Leon Fulp

Director of Transportation and Peer Support Specialist

Leon Fulp is native to Stokes County and has worked at Sid’s House since it opened in early 2019. He knows grief intimately and finds purpose working with others who experience loss and any mental health challenge. He is our transportation coordinator and a certified peer support specialist. Leon loves the outdoors – fishing, walking, hiking – and enjoys cooking, anything Batman, and good conversation.

Georgia Lee

Peer support specialist and an outreach coordinator.

Georgia is Sid’s older sister and helped form the MHA as a peer support specialist. Her joy involves working with older women whose isolation can cause loneliness and depression. Georgia lives in Winston-Salem but grew up in Stokes County.

Erica Smith

Erica Smith, 3 years sober, helps others with mental health and addiction recovery through peer support at Sid’s. She currently co-leads support and educational groups. She enjoys being outside and working on DIY projects.

Nicole Carlton, Certified Peer Support Specialist

Nicole Carlton is a certified peer support specialist who works with Sid’s House Mental Health Assn. Because of her own history with depression and anxiety, she appreciates alternative healing modalities that helped her recover: Reiki (licensed practitioner), meditation, guided imagery, sound and music therapy, aromatherapy, and more. She also works as a traditional peer support specialist and partners with Faith First Christian Counseling’s therapists to determine best practices for each client.

Russ Richardson

Russ Richardson lives in Walnut Cove with his 11-year-old son who is the joy of his life. Russ co-leads support groups and will soon work with individual clients as a peer support specialist.

Zach Gordon

Zach Gordon hails from Winston-Salem, NC, and besides being a peer support specialist, is a sports fan, humor aficionado, master mechanic, father, and friend.

Carolyn Payne

Carolyn Payne is a horsewoman (Think equine therapy), songwriting guitarist, fundraiser, cat-lover, writer, gardener, and a dedicated mermaid. As a peer support specialist, Carolyn brings whimsy, new ideas, and insight to Sid’s. She lives in Germanton, NC.

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Please help this charity thrive. Every donation offers hope and help for those suffering from psychiatric illnesses.