Meet the team

Hurley native and resident Lana Daffin serves as Gulf Islands Dentistry Dental Assistant and has a passion for facial aesthetics and cosmetic dentistry. A graduate of East Central High School, she holds an associate’s degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and is a graduate of the Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy. She has one furbaby, a maltipo named Benji, and loves spending time outdoors, on the boat or at the beach with family.

Kaleigh Eaker is another of the beautiful and friendly dental assistants at Gulf Islands Dentistry. A Grand Bay native and resident, Kaleigh is a graduate of Alma Bryant High School and married to her high school sweetheart Jake and they have one pet cat, Milo. She serves on the worship team at Forward Church and she and her husband are avid tennis player. Kaleigh enjoys spending time with family, weight training, daily exercise, and being active.

Gulf Islands Dentistry Treatment Coordinator Devin Gray is a graduate of Moss Point High School and the University of South Alabama. She lives in Pascagoula and has one son, Sorren, age 15. Devin’s favorite part of working at Gulf Islands is the opportunity to work with such a great group of people. In her spare time, she enjoys styling/repurposing thrifted clothing, painting, drawing, hiking, biking, and record collecting.

A native of Vancleave, Dental Hygienist Jessy Hammonds is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was on the cheer team and a member of Phi Mu sorority. She’s engaged to Logan Walters and they’re looking forward to their November wedding. Jessy is mom to a Yorkiepoo named Tucker and her favorite part of being a member of the Gulf Islands team is getting to know the patients and helping them improve their at-home oral care. She lives in Vancleave and enjoys time on the water and at the beach with family and friends.

Dental Hygienist Janet McLean is the longest-serving member of the Gulf Islands Dentistry team. She began working for our previous owner Dr. Willis in 1983 and has enjoyed helping our patients love their smiles ever since. She is a graduate of East Mississippi Junior College and earned a dental hygiene degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She and her husband Joey live in Mobile and have three grown children, Todd, Chris, and Carrie, and are proud grandparents of Melody, Marli, Mya Belle, Kayden, Noah, Thomas, and Vinny. Janet loves to spend time with her grandchildren, work in the yard, and travel.

Pascagoula native Kelly Myers is one of the beautiful and friendly faces greeting patients at our reception desk. Kelly serves as Scheduling Coordinator at Gulf Islands Dentistry and her favorite part of the job is getting to visit with patients and spending time with her work family. A graduate of Pascagoula High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, she resides in Pascagoula with her husband Roberts and dog Wrigley; they have one adult son, Zach. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, traveling, and being outdoors.

Dental Hygienist Tana Owens has been a member of the family at Gulf Islands Dentistry for 36 years! A native of Booneville, Miss., Tana resides in Mobile with her husband Greg and her maltipoo Sophie; she has two bonus daughters Kayla and Krista. Tana holds an associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene from Northeast Mississippi Community College and in her spare time loves cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Pascagoula native and resident Sheila Pennington serves as Insurance Coordinator at Gulf Islands Dentistry. A graduate of Pascagoula High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Sheila and her husband Steve have two grown children, Morgan and Miles, and one adorable granddaughter, Rae. She enjoys spending time with her family, walking, cooking, and is famous for her delicious cheese straws!

Gulf Islands Dentistry Dental Hygienist Andrea Poole is a native of Moss Point and currently resides in Grand Bay with her husband Sonny and sons Brody, 11, and Evan, 4. Andrea always tries to go the extra mile to make patients feel important and cared for. She’s a graduate of East Central High School and earned her dental hygiene degree from Pearl River Community College. In her spare time Andrea enjoys gardening (vegetables and flowers), spending time with family, working out, and traveling.