Staff Bios
Danny Hampton, Executive Director
Danny has been serving in ministry leadership positions since his college days in 1982. During his years of ministry he has served in many different ministerial arenas including youth ministry, music/worship ministry, counseling, education, family ministry, and senior pastoral ministry. Danny has had the privilege to serve in ministry fields ranging from Orlando, Florida, to Endicott, New York and many places in-between.Â
Educationally, Danny earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Mars Hill University and a Masters of Divinity Degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.Â
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In 2010, Danny and his family felt called to leave his pastorate in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and move back to his extended family’s homeland here in McDowell County. Shortly after arriving in Marion, Danny became Chaplain of the Marion Minimum Security Unit and an Assistant Chaplain at the Marion Correctional Institution. Â
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It was during his time of serving as a prison chaplain that God birthed the vision for Freedom Life Ministries. Danny has served as Chaplain and Executive Director of Freedom Life Ministries since its inception in November of 2012. His hobbies include music, writing, sports of all kinds, golf, and hiking.
Erin Cordero, Associate Reentry Coordinator
Erin Cordero is the Reentry Coordinator/Case Manager/Certified Peer Support Specialist for Freedom Life Ministries in Yancey County. She combines lived experience with professional insight to guide and support individuals navigating reentry and recovery. As a case manager, she works directly with clients to create actionable plans for their reintegration, while also leading support groups in Yancey Co. jail every week. Known for her compassion, dedication, and trailblazing approach, she is building pathways of hope and empowerment for people seeking a fresh start.
Shayna Turner, Client Care Case Manager
Shayna Turner is a native of Yancey County with a powerful testimony of transformation and recovery. After spending 10 years in active addiction, her life changed on December 23, 2023, when God led her into recovery. Shayna is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist and serves as a Case Manager with Freedom Life Yancey. Through her lived experience and faith, she is passionate about helping justice-involved individuals find hope, healing, and a new path forward in the same community she once struggled in.