New executive director Bakir Coulter set to grow the nonprofit

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Gilead House has a new leader. Bakir Coulter, a career member of the U.S. Air Force, a teacher, and a small business owner, brings a breadth of knowledge to the organization along with a healthy dose of passion for the cause.

Coulter was appointed to the position of executive director in September, replacing Shari Spicer, who held the office in the wake of Gilead House founder Reba Harris’ passing in 2024.

“I’m a servant of God, a mother, daughter, wife, and just a happy person,” Coulter described herself. “I love this place, and I trust God. What I love about Gilead House is that the heart is here, the love is here. We truly want to see all of our ladies, whether they’re moms, sisters, daughters, aunts, be positive contributors to society.”

Gilead House was founded more than 25 years ago by Harris to minister to and assist women who have struggled with addiction and are recovering following incarceration. Hundreds of women and their families have been served by the organization, and that mission continues by providing temporary shelter, therapy, education, and hope.

The mission resonates with Coulter, who was introduced to Gilead House by Harris during a visit to Reach Church a few years ago.

“Miss Reba came to my church, and she told us about what she does,” said Coulter. “I was in awe of her. I decided, I’m going to go and introduce myself. So, I went in and got to talk to her and told her about my passion and what I love to do, which is mentoring, coaching, helping women, specifically, and girls.

“She asked me, would I be interested in volunteering? I said, absolutely. That volunteerism turned into teaching life skills classes. That was a little over four years ago.”

Coulter’s path to Gilead House wasn’t a direct one. She accepted a position at Grissom Air Reserve Base that limited her time to volunteer. It quickly became obvious to her that the position wasn’t a good fit.

“The Lord led me to resign that position, and I didn’t know what was next,” said Coulter. “I’m walking in obedience. And then I reconnected with Shari, whose grandchildren were a part of my youth program. That allowed me to come back and volunteer again with Gilead House.

“Long story short, Shari asked me if I was interested in the executive director position, and I said, absolutely! Miss Reba didn’t know when I was talking to her, it dropped into my spirit, like, one day she’s going to retire. I would love to be her successor.”

Though Coulter never told Harris what had been placed upon her spirit, Spicer saw the calling in her and recommended her to the board of directors.

Now in the leading role at an organization that has struggled to stay afloat for almost its entire existence, Coulter knows the challenge in front of her. With her faith and the assistance of the community, she sees the path forward.

“There is really just a freshness, a newness, at Gilead House,” Coulter said. “People need to know that we’re here and what we really do. We’re not a women’s shelter. We’re not all the things that they think we are.

“We are here to help women become what God intended them to be, without the distractions of any kind of substance abuse. Our goal is to remind them that who they are is not what they did.”

To that end, Coulter is asking the community to get to know Gilead House. She suggested that people follow the organization on social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram. And for those who know Gilead House’s mission and want it to succeed, she asks them to step forward.

“Donate your time, your prayers, and your finances as well,” said Coulter. “It’s a nonprofit, so we thrive off of the contributions and the giving hearts of other people.”