Meet Our Team
Samantha Brinson
Founder & Executive Director
Samantha Brinson is the Founder and Executive Director of Hugs For Harrison, a nonprofit ministry created out of both deep heartbreak and unshakable hope. Rooted in her love for Jesus and her family, Samantha’s life and work reflect a calling to walk alongside grieving parents and remind them they are never alone.
A former elementary school teacher, Samantha has always carried a heart for nurturing, teaching, and connecting—especially with mothers. After experiencing the profound loss of her son, the Lord used that season to birth a ministry that now provides faith-based support, resources, and community for families navigating pregnancy and infant loss. What began as one family’s story has grown into a mission touching countless lives.
Samantha is a published author, speaker, and advocate who shares openly about grief, faith, and the redemptive power of God’s love. Whether speaking at churches, women’s gatherings, or support events, she brings a message that is honest, hope-filled, and grounded in the Gospel.
When she’s not leading Hugs For Harrison, Samantha loves spending time with her family, cooking for the people she loves, and sitting across the table from moms—listening, encouraging, and offering a safe place to be known. She believes in the power of presence, prayer, and a simple hug to change everything.
Above all, Samantha’s greatest joy is pointing others to Jesus and creating spaces where broken hearts can find comfort, truth, and hope again.
Mattie Geary
Communications Director & Mentor Mom
Mattie Geary and her husband, Joe, are the parents of angel baby Ellie Jo Geary. Ellie was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 early in the pregnancy. She was born sleeping in the arms of Jesus on September 20, 2023, at 30 weeks.
Mattie and Joe were introduced to Hugs for Harrison and were honored to meet Samantha Brinson at the hospital the day Ellie was born. That started a relationship that has continued through the years. Hugs for Harrison played a major role in their grief journey with therapy, Hug Groups, friendship, and hope in Jesus Christ. They have been blessed to have been able to plan the Fly Fishing for Dad’s trip with Hugs and look forward to many more.
Mattie always said that Ellie’s life would make an impact. The unimaginable and heartbreaking loss of their daughter has strengthened their relationship with Christ and made their faith unshakable. They have faith knowing that Ellie never knew a day of suffering or pain and only knew the love of her parents and will forever know the love of Jesus.
Mattie is originally from Alabama and has a background in Communications. She is looking forward to using her skills, knowledge, and her own loss to spread the message of hope and love through her Savior. She is so blessed to give back to Hugs for Harrison, a ministry that continues to help guide her on her own journey.
Ashley Waters
Mentor Moms Director
Ashley Waters is married to her husband, Brandon, and is the proud mama of Cameryn on earth and Daniel in heaven. After the unexpected loss of their son at 38.5 weeks, Ashley and her family found healing, therapy, and community through Hugs for Harrison—support that became foundational to their grief journey and continues to shape her calling today.
As Ashley walked through her own healing—participating in her church’s Restore Program, receiving grief therapy through Hugs for Harrison, and participating in community events—she felt deeply led to help expand what meaningful, peer-led support for bereaved mothers could look like. Through early conversations and shared vision, Ashley helped develop and now serves as the Director of the Mentor Moms Program, overseeing the training, support, and care of mentor moms who walk alongside grieving mothers during some of their most vulnerable seasons.
Ashley holds a Trauma-Informed Grief Coach certification, equipping her to support others not only from lived experience but with a deep understanding of how the body and brain receive, hold, and heal from trauma. She is passionate about creating safe, sacred spaces where grieving mothers feel seen, supported, and never alone—and about ensuring that no family is left without access to compassionate care.
Alongside her work with Hugs for Harrison, Ashley hosts an annual Daniel's Drive golf tournament to give back and help ensure vital resources, like those provided through Hugs for Harrison, remain available to families navigating perinatal loss.
Mallory Smith
Volunteer Coordinator & Mentor Mom
Hi, I’m Mallory Smith. My husband Adam and I have been married for 10 years and are parents to a daughter, two sons on earth, and one precious son in heaven.
Twins are deeply meaningful in our family—Adam is a twin, I have twin brothers, and we saw it as a beautiful gift from God when we learned we were expecting identical twin boys in 2022. At 17 weeks, we lost one of our sons, Maddux. I carried him for the remainder of my pregnancy and birthed both babies. Major was born healthy by God’s grace.
Maddux’s life, though brief, was purposeful. He is part of our family forever, and we trust he is safely held in heaven. One year later, God blessed us with another son, McCoy, a reminder that He is faithful even in grief.
This journey revealed how isolating pregnancy and infant loss can be. Our mission is to walk alongside grieving families, offering faith, hope, and the reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted—and no baby is ever forgotten.
Sarah Johnson
Connection Team & Mentor Mom
Sarah and her husband, Jonah, lost their first child, Bear Jones Johnson, during childbirth after lovingly carrying him for nearly 41 weeks. The reasons were unexplained, and their world changed forever. For the past three years, they have walked closely with Hug4Harrison—a community that has helped them navigate deep grief with the hope of Jesus Christ as their anchor. Through Hugs, they have received counseling, companionship, and tools that have helped them move forward while honoring Bear’s life and legacy.
Sarah’s eyes are turned toward Heaven with new longing, trusting in the day she will hold her precious Bear again. Through her own journey, she has learned that God moves powerfully in our pain and never intends for us to walk through suffering alone.
In February 2025, Jonah and Sarah welcomed their second baby boy, Brody—a daily reminder of God’s goodness in every season. His life has brought healing, joy, and renewed gratitude, even as the ache of loss remains.
Sarah sees her work with Hug4Harrison as a sacred calling. It is her heart and privilege to walk alongside other mothers, helping them learn to grieve well, cling to hope, and find community in even the darkest valleys.
Kayla Lampert
Connection Team & Mentor Mom
Kayla Lampert is a registered nurse who lives in Gainesville, Georgia, with her husband of seven years, Matt, and their sweet son, Oliver.
She was connected with Hugs for Harrison when Sam entered their hospital room after she and Matt lost their first child, Evelyn, at 33 weeks. In the midst of incredible pain, Sam brought a warm embrace, a thoughtful hug basket, and a beautiful prayer. That moment changed the trajectory of Kayla’s grief journey.
Through that interaction, Kayla was introduced to a community of loving mamas who knew exactly how she was feeling and were willing to hold her pain with her. In them, and in her loving Father, she found the reassurance that she wasn’t alone.
Kayla feels deeply honored and blessed to be able to give back, in some small way, to a community that has given her so much.
Christin Edwards
Connection Team & Mentor Mom
I am part of the Connection Team and serve as a mentor mom with Hugs for Harrison. I love Jesus deeply and cherish my family—my husband, our son and daughter—and I hold close the hope of one sweet baby now in the arms of Jesus. My heart is rooted in faith, connection, and walking alongside others with compassion and love.
Mentor Moms
Devin Pulliam
Emily Zehner
Katie Smith
Katrina Potter
Lindsay Gibbons