Board of Directors
Shayna Miles is co-founder of The Levi Miles Foundation. She had the pleasure of being Levi’s mom and starting a non-profit organization in his name. Levi was the definition of resilience and showed everyone he encountered unconditional love. Shayna continues to Love Like Levi alongside her loving husband, David Miles. She lives with her stepdaughter McKennon Grace Miles and beagle dog Maclyn Rae Miles. Shayna always said Levi was a little angel, so she takes comfort in the fact that Levi lives in the Kingdom of Heaven and watches over her every day. She now applies her diverse leadership experiences and wealth of knowledge into the organization to advance missions and support through advocacy. She builds on children’s strengths and provides them with the necessary strategies, supports, and skills to become successful, confident, and independent individuals. She is most proud to work directly with students and families where she feels she can make the biggest impact.
David Miles, the father of Levi Michael Miles and McKennon Grace Miles, was born and raised in Paris, TN. David met his amazing and gorgeous wife, Shayna Miles, in 2017. After surrendering his life to Christ, David gained a heart of a servant, feeling the calling to care and provide for those he met. Levi, however, taught him even more: to persevere through everything in life by always trusting in Jesus and by providing a living example of unconditional love. David’s life will never be the same after experiencing his short time with Levi, but he strives to make it possible for others to experience Levi’s love through The Levi Miles Foundation. David and Shayna’s motto has always been, “It’s always an adventure.” Together, they strive to provide the support and resources to other children and their families so that they can experience the pure joys of their own adventure. It is an honor for him to be called Levi’s dad and co-founder of The Levi Miles Foundation.
Michelle Watson is originally from Paris, Tennessee and currently resides there with her husband, Lucas Watson, and two children, Marley and Finn. A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, she has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and ten years of nursing experience including long term care, home health in pediatrics, and acute hospital care. When the opportunity to assist Levi at school arose, Michelle was excited for the chance to help him with daily activities in his toddler classroom. One-on-one with Levi was a rewarding time in Michelle’s career. She was in charge of administering Levi’s medication, providing nutrition through a feeding tube, cuddling him through his pain, and fulfilling every other need of a typical kid. Michelle went above and beyond the role of Levi’s nurse and ended up filling the role of a second mom to him at school. Being able to be a part of Levi’s legacy is a true gift that she is honored to have. Throughout the all too short eight-month journey with Levi, she learned many things and was inspired to “Love Like Levi” every day. Levi’s dazzling smile will forever live on in Michelle’s memory.
Debbie Wichlan Jelks was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Paris, Tennessee. She is married to an incredibly supportive husband, Bill Jelks, of thirty-five years. They have four grown children, Will, Caitlyn, Andrew, and Ben. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for her undergraduate work and received her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in Memphis at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In 2000, She returned to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and received an Advanced Master’s degree in Pediatric and Adult neurological disorders. In 2007, she became a Pediatric Certified Specialist. She is currently the Director of Rehab Services at HCMC and works with children in the clinic and educational environment. She became a physical therapist so she could work with children. She feels it is the greatest honor and privilege given to a therapist when a parent trusts them enough to work with their child. Levi’s short life had an everlasting impact on everyone he met and she hopes to have the same impact for families served by the Foundation.
The Levi Miles Foundation Board
Debbie Jelks not pictured
Shayna Miles is co-founder of The Levi Miles Foundation. She had the pleasure of being Levi’s mom and starting a non-profit organization in his name. Levi was the definition of resilience and showed everyone he encountered unconditional love. Shayna continues to Love Like Levi alongside her loving husband, David Miles. She lives with her stepdaughter McKennon Grace Miles and beagle dog Maclyn Rae Miles. Shayna always said Levi was a little angel, so she takes comfort in the fact that Levi lives in the Kingdom of Heaven and watches over her every day. She now applies her diverse leadership experiences and wealth of knowledge into the organization to advance missions and support through advocacy. She builds on children’s strengths and provides them with the necessary strategies, supports, and skills to become successful, confident, and independent individuals. She is most proud to work directly with students and families where she feels she can make the biggest impact.
David Miles, the father of Levi Michael Miles and McKennon Grace Miles, was born and raised in Paris, TN. David met his amazing and gorgeous wife, Shayna Miles, in 2017. After surrendering his life to Christ, David gained a heart of a servant, feeling the calling to care and provide for those he met. Levi, however, taught him even more: to persevere through everything in life by always trusting in Jesus and by providing a living example of unconditional love. David’s life will never be the same after experiencing his short time with Levi, but he strives to make it possible for others to experience Levi’s love through The Levi Miles Foundation. David and Shayna’s motto has always been, “It’s always an adventure.” Together, they strive to provide the support and resources to other children and their families so that they can experience the pure joys of their own adventure. It is an honor for him to be called Levi’s dad and co-founder of The Levi Miles Foundation.
Michelle Watson is originally from Paris, Tennessee and currently resides there with her husband, Lucas Watson, and two children, Marley and Finn. A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, she has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and ten years of nursing experience including long term care, home health in pediatrics, and acute hospital care. When the opportunity to assist Levi at school arose, Michelle was excited for the chance to help him with daily activities in his toddler classroom. One-on-one with Levi was a rewarding time in Michelle’s career. She was in charge of administering Levi’s medication, providing nutrition through a feeding tube, cuddling him through his pain, and fulfilling every other need of a typical kid. Michelle went above and beyond the role of Levi’s nurse and ended up filling the role of a second mom to him at school. Being able to be a part of Levi’s legacy is a true gift that she is honored to have. Throughout the all too short eight-month journey with Levi, she learned many things and was inspired to “Love Like Levi” every day. Levi’s dazzling smile will forever live on in Michelle’s memory.
Lucas Watson is originally from Paris and lives with his beautiful wife, Michelle Watson, and two awesome kids, Marley and Finnegan. Lucas spent ten years serving in the United States Marine Corps, deploying abroad with multiple combat tours to Afghanistan, and other deployments under U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa. Lucas understands hardship, being the underdog, and sacrifice. Like Levi, he has the heart of a warrior. He was honored to have met the Miles family through his wife Michelle, who was Levi’s wonderful nurse. Lucas has a sense of service and desire to serve The Levi Miles Foundation board and community honorably as he did for his country. He currently works as a real estate agent at Moody Realty serving his local community. Lucas is humbled to be a part of this wonderful team to continue spreading awareness and growth of inclusiveness.
Debbie Wichlan Jelks was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Paris, Tennessee. She is married to an incredibly supportive husband, Bill Jelks, of thirty-five years. They have four grown children, Will, Caitlyn, Andrew, and Ben. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for her undergraduate work and received her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in Memphis at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In 2000, She returned to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and received an Advanced Master’s degree in Pediatric and Adult neurological disorders. In 2007, she became a Pediatric Certified Specialist. She is currently the Director of Rehab Services at HCMC and works with children in the clinic and educational environment. She became a physical therapist so she could work with children. She feels it is the greatest honor and privilege given to a therapist when a parent trusts them enough to work with their child. Levi’s short life had an everlasting impact on everyone he met and she hopes to have the same impact for families served by the Foundation.