Nicole Puckett
Executive Director
Nicole is the mother of the 12 and Jajja to 7. As an adoptive mother, she has experienced firsthand the grief and trauma children carry through separation from their primary caregiver, and is deeply invested in helping young mothers keep their children whenever safely possible.
Nicole holds an MA in Nonprofit Management, an MAE in Advanced Teacher Education, an MAE P–12 Literacy certificate, and is a certified trainer in the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Approach. She is passionate about educating others on the effects of alcohol exposure on child development - as she is about placing beautiful books into the hands of children.
Nicole lives in the Tennessee Valley and travels to Uganda as often as possible.
Kristianna Walakira
Uganda Director
Kristianna first visited Uganda in 2012, and felt called to move indefinitely in 2016. Over the past 10 years she has worked in various NGOs and established Wildflowers International to address community development in a holistic way. In 2025 she earned her Master of Arts in Global Development & Justice.
She is married to Andrew and lives in Kampala with their adopted children.
Andrew Walakira
Program Manager
Andrew was born and raised in Kampala Uganda. He has worked in community development for 13+ years. He has skilled, trained and discipled hundreds of individuals living in extreme poverty.
Andrew has a heart for empowering individuals to live to the fullest of their God-given potential. He married Kristianna and joined Wildflowers in 2024.
Florence
Hairdressing Instructor
Florence, or Teacher Flo, is passionate about hairdressing and single mothers. She is an encourager and leads by example.
Joelle
Parenting Mentor & Childcare
Joelle cares for the teenage mothers and their babies throughout the day. She makes sure everyone has what they did and also offers parenting guidance.
Fred
Barbering Instructor & Mentor
Fred has been involved in youth ministry for 10+ years and is always encouraging young men. He is skilled in barbering and helps lead and mentor our young fathers.
Elaine Cain
Elaine is a pastor's wife, full-time accountant, and mother of two through adoption. She understands both the joys and challenges of building strong families and caring for vulnerable children. She and her family live on a farm in Maryland, where they raise Shetland and sheep and enjoy the blessings of rural life.
As Vice President of the board, Elaine combines her financial expertise with a heart for service to help provide thoughtful leadership and strong stewardship for the organization. Guided by her faith and deep compassion for children in need, she is committed to advancing the mission of preventing orphanhood, strengthening families, and bringing hope to children and caregivers.
Obie O'Bannan
Obie, and his beautiful wife of 46 years of, have 9 children and 49 grandchildren. In his youth, Obie was without God and without hope; he became a self-described determined drug addict and sociopath. Marvelously saved by Christ, Obie has now been involved in Christian ministries in various ways for over 50 years. His degrees and areas of education are: psychology, philosophy, sociology, mainframe computer programming, financial and Bible/ministerial studies.
Obie has been a discerning part of Wildflowers International since 2018.
Ashley Gray
Ashley Gray is a licensed clinical social worker with 22 years of experience working children and families through adoption, foster care and the school setting.
An adoptive mom herself, she is passionate about educating, encouraging and walking alongside families in every stage of the adoption process- beginning, middle and post placement.
Ashley has served as a board member since 2024.