Meet Jennifer Henson Decker

Jennifer Decker is the executive director of Operation Care, a Christian non-profit that provides crisis services for local people through a transitional housing program for homeless women and children; a medical/dental program for people who live in poverty and are uninsured; and a program that provides food, clothing, and household furnishings for people in crisis situations who are financially disadvantaged. She was a member of the board of directors and a volunteer at Operation Care before stepping in to lead the organization. One of her volunteer roles was to lead a weekly Bible study with sheltered women.

Over the years, Jennifer has also been involved with many other community groups in Shelby County.  She has been a member of the Shelbyville Rotary Club; Whitney M. Young Community Liaison Council; Cattlemen’s Association; and Centenary United Methodist Church, where she was Chairman of the Board and where she has led a Sunday school class for 20 years. Jennifer also served on the local Jewish Hospital board, and she was elected 9 times to represent parents on site-based councils in her children’s schools. She served as the president of both the PTA and the local Project Graduation Corporation during the years her children attended Shelby County High School.

Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she graduated with honors, Order of the Coif. She also holds both an undergraduate and a graduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University, graduating with highest distinction with each degree. Jennifer practiced law in the area of federal tax litigation for nearly 20 years, and she has provided pro bono and volunteer legal services for the nearly 38 years. Jennifer was named the Shelby County Woman of Achievement (2010) and an EKU Distinguished Alumnus (2001). In 2015, Shelby County’s local newspaper, The Sentinel-News, named Jennifer as one of Shelby County’s 2015 “Fabulous 5.”

Jennifer is the former Chair of the Shelby County Republican Party, and she was U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s field representative for 9 Kentucky counties. She resigned both positions in order to assume her current leadership role with Operation Care.

Jennifer and her husband own and operate a sheep and cattle operation, Decker Quality Stock Farm, which is located in Waddy, Kentucky. They have lived in Shelby County for 34 years and have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Both of their children grew up in Shelby County and attended public school here. Their daughter Jessica is married to Danny Schmidt and has 2 children, and their son Will is married to Amanda Benitez Decker. Jennifer is the daughter of Frances Hawkins Henson and the late Rev. Harold Henson.