Meet Our Staff
Lawrenceburg, TN

Lisa Chapman, LPN
Managing Director

Lisa Chapman, LPN comes to the Cottage family with over 18 years of nursing experience, and a big heart for caring for and helping the elderly in her community. Before coming to Country Cottage, she worked at NHC Home Care. “I have always enjoyed working with seniors, and the Cottage is a wonderfully close family atmosphere!”

Lisa grew up in Winter Haven, Florida. When she was 12, her family moved to Lawrenceburg, TN and she has lived there ever since. She earned her nursing license from Pulaski Vocational Technical School.

When she’s at home, she enjoys sports and outdoor activities. Most of her time is spent enjoying her family. She has been married for over 20 years, and she and her husband, James, take care of their twins, Alex and Alicia.

Carol Howell
Resident Services Director

“As a child growing up, I always hung around the older generation. I grew up with my grandparents on a farm because my mom had to work to support us kids. I enjoyed playing bingo with the senior citizens in town, and doing activities with them. My grandmother had congestive heart failure and my grandfather had skin cancer. We went to school, came home, did our chores and then helped take care of our grandparents as they got older.

I’ve always done the best I could in taking care of my family, even when I got married and had my two boys. I still take care of my mom, and my husband’s health started going down hill several years ago. My youngest son was born with health problems and I’ve been helping care for all of them. I’m very thankful that the Lord has given me the strength and the heart for caring. I truly enjoy taking care of anyone who needs me, and carry that into my work as Resident Services Director.

I work at the Cottage because it is rewarding to me – very fulfilling. Just thinking that someone needs me or wants me is so wonderful. To be honest, I feel like I need to be here. It makes me feel like the Lord has let me live for this purpose. I truly respect and appreciate Country Cottage and all it has to offer. I am so blessed and so thankful to have this opportunity!”

Mary Sue Troup
Information Director

Born and raised in Sheffield, Alabama, Mary Sue Troup has always had a heart for helping people so it was no surprise when she decided at an early age to focus her college and career on social work. In the summer of 1976, she was chosen with 5 other college student across the nation to work in the mountains doing community work within the small towns, and was named Social Worker of the Year in 1977. Her hard work and dedication earned her the job of President of Social Work Organization in 1977-78.

After graduating from UNA in 1978 with a degree in Social Work, Mary Sue moved to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to work at Elm Nursing home. She later worked for the State of Tennessee in the Department of Human Services as an Eligibility Counselor. After marrying the love of her life, Doug Troup, on April 18, 1981, Mary Sue joined National Health Care as a social worker, first in Lawrenceburg and then at NHC Scott. During that time, she also did some Regional Social Work for the company.

On May 19, 1999, Mary Sue joined the Country Cottage family and has never looked back. She began as Resident Services Director and was promoted to Managing Director in April of 2000. Then, in November of 2008 she switched roles again, this time to Information Director. “The Cottage is my home away from home,” says Mary Sue. “My residents mean the world to me and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”

In her spare time, Mary Sue enjoys listening to music from the 60's & 70's, and taking care of her home. She also enjoys spending time out and about in the community and is a favorite guest on the WLX morning show, and is pictured above with local celebrity “Snowbird.” Mary Sue’s husband, Doug, is the Fire Chief of Loretto and has worked for the Thacher Company for 26 yrs.

Michelle Anderson
Regional Information Director

Michelle Anderson understands the importance of family. She has been married for over ten years and shares two beautiful children with her husband, Tony. Every fall they join the rest of Michelle’s family in watching Alabama Football games with their season tickets, a family tradition started by Michelle’s father before he passed away. Her closeness with her own family carries over into her job at the Cottage.

“When families come in, they are at a crisis point. While the situations can be tender, I believe that we can make a positive difference in people’s lives. I consider it a privilege to server as the Information Director and truly help families navigate their way through the assisted living process and make the best possible choices for their loved ones.”

Michelle has worked in healthcare since 1989, paying special attention to seniors and their families. She graduated from the University of North Alabama in Florence and worked for SouthernCare Hospice, Hearthstone Assisted Living and Huntsville Hospital before joining the Cottage family.

“I simply love people,” Michelle says. “I believe the Cottage staff feels the same way. Every caregiver at the Cottage has a genuine love for the Residents, and it shows! The first time I stepped in the Cottage I could feel the warmth of the care staff, and when I stepped into the country kitchen, I felt like I had walked right into my grandmother’s kitchen. It smelled delicious! I felt so at home. We give our Residents a place to call home, and we give their families a peace of mind. It means so much to me to work for a company that puts their philosophy into practice.”

When Michelle isn’t taking care of the Residents at Country Cottage, she enjoys spending time with her own family. She loves reading, cooking and outdoor sports. Michelle and her family are members of Willowbrook Baptist Church, and she is very involved in Women’s Ministry and teaches third grade Sunday School.