Leoma Gilley 

I was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA as an only child. I inherited the gift of storytelling from my dad. I obtained a B.S. in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee and worked for several years as a speech therapist. I studied for my M.A. and worked in a speech and hearing clinic in Macon, GA.

Linguistics fascinated me, and in 1979 I felt called to join Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International. These affiliations led to more adventure than I ever expected! I lived most of my adult life in Africa and spent 20 years in the Sudan. I have traveled widely and enjoyed discovering new languages and cultures. After 37 years, I retired and settled in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Retirement looks different for different people. I have published one devotional book, three books of prayers, and two book about my adventures in Africa in the Not How I Planned It series. Book One, Launching into the Unknown describes the significant changes I encountered upon moving from the US to Africa. Book Two, Life in a Tumble Dryer, describes life and work in Khartoum, the world’s hottest capital. I love to tell stories and am available to speak on a variety of topics.