Staff Photo: Spring 2025

Shirley Thames

Founder/Owner

Shirley D. Thames, LICSW, PIP, is the founder, owner, and director of Alabama Aegis. Shirley holds a Bachelor and Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She also attended The John Hopkins University School of Health Care Management.

Prior to founding Alabama Aegis, Shirley worked in case management, home care, hospice, and hospital settings. Shirley’s career has provided her with opportunities to work with elderly and disabled population, those going through lifestyle adjustments, and veterans. She was formerly the Director of Geriatric Evaluation at her local VA Medical Center. Shirley saw a need in her community to bridge a gap in healthcare, and thus, Alabama Ægis was formed. Shirley believes that “Social work considers all aspects of an issue and utilizes the identified strengths to formulate a solution.” Shirley believes in holistic care and that there solutions are always there–you just have to be creative to find them.

Outside of work, Shirley enjoys traveling anywhere she can. She spends her free time reading, attending music events, and spending time with her long time companion. Shirley also provides a royal life for her cat, Houdini.

Sherri Tooley

Practice Manager

As the Alabama Aegis practice manager, Sherri handles the day-to-day operations and keeps the business running smoothly.

Amanda Banta

Lead Clinician

Amanda Banta, LICSW-S is a clinical social worker with a decade of experience. She holds a BSW from Judson College and a MSW from UA in Tuscaloosa. During Amanda’s career, she has worked for the Area Agency on Aging, home health and hospice companies, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatry. Amanda is an Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners approved supervisor. She has specialized training in treating trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorders, identifying and preventing suicide, and working with the dementia population.

Amanda chose the field of social work to play an active role in being the change she wants to see in the world. Social work and therapy allows Amanda to be an advocate, listening ear, and partner for her clients and her community.

At Alabama Aegis, Amanda provides clinical social work services through the Case Management Program and Clinical Court Assessment Program. Amanda also provides psychotherapy to clients in both Homewood and Tuscaloosa.

Amanda has always been passionate about community service and volunteerism. She serves her local community of West Alabama by volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association and The Junior League.

Amanda is local to the Tuscaloosa community and enjoys spending time with her husband, Travis, and their three furbabies. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading and traveling.

Jayme Davidson

Social Work Consultant

Jayme Davidson, LMSW-S, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pyschology from UAB and both a Master’s in Counseling (UAB) and a Master’s in Social Work (UA). Jayme is also a board-approved supervisor from the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners. With over 30 years of experience, Jayme is knowledgeable in hospital care, long-term care, home care, and hospice.

Jayme pursued a career in social work so that she could give back to others. As a consultant for Alabama Aegis, Jayme provides social work supervision and auditing to various long-term care facilities in the state of Alabama. In this role, Jayme is able to provide guidance to community social workers, and as a result, Jayme is touching more lives than she could ever reach without supervising.

Jayme doesn’t have a lot of free time, because her job keeps her on the road, but she does enjoy spending her weekends with her family, especially her grandson. Jayme can also be found visiting Houdini at Shirley’s house.

Anna Clardy

Social Worker & Psychotherapist

Anna Clardy, LMSW graduated from the University of Alabama with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a Master degree of Social Work. Throughout her experience in social services, Anna has worked with both children/their families and adults in various areas including psychotherapy, behavioral counseling and education, medical social work, and forensic social work. Anna is trained as a certified Dementia Partner in Care and currently specializes in the area of chronic illnesses. 

Anna ultimately chose to pursue social work after originally working in the field of psychology where she realized how deeply broad gaps in resources and services often affected her client population. While working alongside other great social workers, she recognized that the discipline of social work employs values that are rare and unique to the social services field through its focus of meeting clients where they are and by emphasizing the role that client’s ecosystems play in their overall functioning. 

In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling and enjoying new experiences, and wrangling her 4 dogs (who range from a 4-pound poodle mix to a 90-pound catalouha hound). Anna also enjoys volunteering in the community with her church and other organizations, such as local animal rescues, which help to improve the community of Tuscaloosa as a whole.

Ricia Neura

Case Management

Ricia Neura holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is a trained artist.

Ricia works with the Alabama Aegis case management program.

Aasia M. Goins

Recreational Consultant

Aasia M. Goins, CTRS holds a Bachelors of Science in Recreation Therapy and a Masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). Aasia has been licensed as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist since 2013.

With over 15 years of experience in Therapeutic Recreation, Aasia has dedicated her career to helping people heal, connect, and rediscover purpose—especially in challenging life circumstances. Her passion lies in serving geriatric populations, individuals navigating PTSD, homelessness, substance use, and the often-unsung heroes–caregivers.

Aasia believes that recreation isn’t just “fun”–it’s foundation to mental, emotional, and physical health. Aasia has been a consultant for Alabama Aegis for nearly a decade. As a consultant, she trains and mentors activity directors across the state. She focuses on empowering professionals with the tools and inspiration they need to deliver meaningful, person-centered care.

When Aasia is not working, you’ll find her indulging in a little window shopping, tackling DIY projects, staying active, learning the ropes of social media, or spending quality time with family, friends, and new places around the world.