Meet The HygienistS
Heather Edwards, Registered Dental Hygienist
Heather was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina and then moved to Mount Olive in middle school. She graduated from Southern Wayne High School in 2008 and then began the Dental Hygiene Program at Wayne Community College. She graduated in 2011 as a Registered Dental Hygienist. Heather began working at Mitchell Family Dentistry in 2020 with 10 years of hygiene experience under her belt. Admirably, she has volunteered on Fridays and weekends to provide dental treatment to members of the Army Reserve, which is indicative of her giving spirits and selfness heart.
Heather has three beautiful nieces that keep her busy and entertained. Not to be overshadowed, her two spoiled puppies, Titan and Cooper, command a lot of her attention, too. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. Her favorite place to be is in the sunshine at the beach! Heather’s favorite part about being a dental hygienist is meeting and getting to know all of her wonderful patients!
Caitlyn Grady, Registered Dental Hygienist, Certified Dental Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Allison Moody, Registered Dental Hygienist
Allison was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina. She graduated with an Associates Degree in Art in 2019 from Lenoir Community College in the Early College High School Program. Soon after graduating, Allison decided to pursue her dream of becoming a dental hygienist. She attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene.
Although she loved her time in Chapel Hill, Allison know it was time to return home to Kinston. While she was still in school, she received a phone call from Dr. Courtney Mitchell IV, inquiring about her plans after graduation. Allison says she immediately knew what her next step would be! Just a few weeks after graduating she started working with Mitchell Family Dentistry after being a patient of the practice since she was three years old!
Her biggest supporters are God, her family, friends and boyfriend, on whom she leans for guidance and support. Allison says she would not be who she is today without all their love and admiration. Allison spends her nights and weekends with her fur babies, Sullie and Sophie.
It is telling of her jovial personality when people ask her why she became a dental hygienist. Allison always remarks, “I wanted to become a dental hygienist to help people with their teeth or with a good therapy session while they are in my chair. I never want a patient to leave my chair without a smile on their face.”
Barbara Phillips, Registered Dental Hygienist, Hygiene Support Specialist
Bio Coming Soon!
Lynn Whaley, Registered Dental Hygienist, OSHA Officer
Lynn knew she wanted to be a dental hygienist at the age of sixteen. However, she recalls she had to make a few thousand biscuits before that would happen! Lynn worked at her family’s restaurant, Byrd’s Takeout and Catering, for eight years before attending college. Lynn completed the Dental Hygiene program at Wayne Community College from which she graduated from in 1992. She earned the Academic Achievement Award for her graduating class. Lynn found her “dental home” in 1996 at Mitchell Family Dentistry when she began working with Dr. Courtney Mitchell III.
Lynn has supported the profession of dental hygiene at both the local and state level. She has been a delegate for the North Carolina Dental Hygiene Association (NCDHA) at the House of Delegates meetings. At the local level, she has served the Southeastern Dental Hygiene Component as a Trustee, Secretary, and Treasurer. Lynn currently serves on the NCDHA as a Trustee for District Four.
Lynn is married to Joey Whaley and they have a daughter, Lindsay. Her greatest accomplishment to date “is raising her beautiful daughter to love the Lord and to get a good education that allows her to be independently successful.” Lynn is a member of Wheat Swamp Christian Church where she teaches Sunday school and is a Youth Leader. During her time working with the youth at church, she received the Mentor Pin from Brian Hardy during his Eagle Scout Ceremony. Lynn very much enjoys serving in her church and community.
Lynn reflects, “I absolutely love my job and the fact that I am supported professionally and personally by Mitchell Family Dentistry. Every day I work with a dental team whose main objective is to provide the best oral care possible to the patients we serve.” We are grateful to work alongside someone with that mindset.