The Weakley County Mayor's OFFICE TEAM
Jake Bynum, County Mayor
In August 2014, Jake was elected Weakley County Mayor. At the age of 30, he is the youngest Mayor to serve in Weakley County. He was re-elected again in 2018 and 2022. A life-long resident of Weakley County, Bynum graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After college, Bynum worked in banking with First State Bank as a Business Development Specialist. In 2020, Bynum earned a Masters of Art in Leadership and Public Service from Lipscomb University. Bynum graduated from The Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program with a certificate in Authentic Leadership in 2022. The position of being County Mayor has allowed Bynum to be involved in a number of organizations and opportunities. He is a member of the TN County Services Association, board member of Northwest Tennessee Development District, West Tennessee River Basin Authority, Everett-Stewart Regional Airport and the Regional Workforce Development Board. In 2019, Bynum was elected to the board for the Tennessee Association of County Mayors where he currently serves as 1st Vice-President. Bynum has been a member of the Delta Leadership Network since 2020 and was appointed as the 2022 Chairman.
With a heart for service and helping others, Jake has worked tirelessly to make the community a better place. Jake has been honored to serve as President of the Dresden Rotary Club, President of Weakley County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Dresden Business Association, Commissioner of Dresden Cal Ripken Youth League Baseball, Chairman of the Tennessee Iris Festival, Chairman of the Weakley County Reading Railroad, and Trustee for WestStar Leadership. Bynum has served on a number of boards including the Reelfoot Bank board of directors, West Tennessee and Weakley County United Way, Weakley and Obion County Carl Perkins, Volunteer Community Hospital, Weakley County Office on Aging, and Dresden Elks Lodge. In 2020, Bynum was appointed by Governor Lee to the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy as the consumer member. Bynum became a member of the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation Board in 2022. Bynum has been honored as the recipient of the 2016 Jackson Sun 40 Under 40, 2016 Tennessee Iris Festival Citizen of the Year, and 2017 Weakley Countian of the Year. Jake was elected in 2017 and 2020 by the Tennessee Baptist Convention to serve on the Union University Board of Trustees. Bynum is a graduate of WestStar Leadership, Delta Regional Authority Leadership Institute, and Leadership Tennessee.
Jake and his family are members of Dresden First Baptist Church where he serves as chairman of the deacon board. One of Jake’s proudest accomplishments is being a founding member of the Weakley County Backpack Program, an initiative to ensure that children in food insecure homes have food over the weekend. Since the implementation of the program, over 350 Weakley County students have received services from the program.
Jake considers himself the luckiest man in Dresden, but not because of the many opportunities he has been afforded. Bynum is blessed to have had a loving family and supportive group of friends. Most importantly, Bynum met and married the love of his life, Alyssa Bynum, who is a public school teacher. Jake and Alyssa are raising their two children, Ella (12) and Nash (10), as a team, and they support Jake and his many endeavors.
With a heart for service and helping others, Jake has worked tirelessly to make the community a better place. Jake has been honored to serve as President of the Dresden Rotary Club, President of Weakley County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Dresden Business Association, Commissioner of Dresden Cal Ripken Youth League Baseball, Chairman of the Tennessee Iris Festival, Chairman of the Weakley County Reading Railroad, and Trustee for WestStar Leadership. Bynum has served on a number of boards including the Reelfoot Bank board of directors, West Tennessee and Weakley County United Way, Weakley and Obion County Carl Perkins, Volunteer Community Hospital, Weakley County Office on Aging, and Dresden Elks Lodge. In 2020, Bynum was appointed by Governor Lee to the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy as the consumer member. Bynum became a member of the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation Board in 2022. Bynum has been honored as the recipient of the 2016 Jackson Sun 40 Under 40, 2016 Tennessee Iris Festival Citizen of the Year, and 2017 Weakley Countian of the Year. Jake was elected in 2017 and 2020 by the Tennessee Baptist Convention to serve on the Union University Board of Trustees. Bynum is a graduate of WestStar Leadership, Delta Regional Authority Leadership Institute, and Leadership Tennessee.
Jake and his family are members of Dresden First Baptist Church where he serves as chairman of the deacon board. One of Jake’s proudest accomplishments is being a founding member of the Weakley County Backpack Program, an initiative to ensure that children in food insecure homes have food over the weekend. Since the implementation of the program, over 350 Weakley County students have received services from the program.
Jake considers himself the luckiest man in Dresden, but not because of the many opportunities he has been afforded. Bynum is blessed to have had a loving family and supportive group of friends. Most importantly, Bynum met and married the love of his life, Alyssa Bynum, who is a public school teacher. Jake and Alyssa are raising their two children, Ella (12) and Nash (10), as a team, and they support Jake and his many endeavors.
Lauren Rush Griffin, Communications Director & Executive Assistant to the Mayor
Lauren Griffin has worked for the County Mayor's office since November of 2021. She was first hired as the courthouse receptionist and then moved into her current position as Communications Director and Executive Assistant to the Mayor soon after on December 9, 2021. Her duties include managing the county website, Facebook Page, Instagram, and any other marketing materials. She serves as administrative assistant to Mayor Jake Bynum and to the Weakley County Commission.
Lauren is the daughter of Jeff and Nancy Rush of Greenfield. She is proud to have received all of her education in Weakley County as a graduate of Greenfield High School in 2014 and the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2017 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science. Lauren has been a member of the Weakley County Young Professionals since 2021 and is currently serving as Secretary to the board. She also sits on the 2023 Weakley County Bicentennial Steering Committee for the celebration of the County's 200th anniversary. She is a 2012 graduate of Youth Leadership Weakley County and a 2023 graduate of Leadership Weakley County.
Lauren is married to Chase Griffin, a farmer from Gleason where the two reside with their two-year-old chocolate lab. Lauren and Chase attend Long Heights Baptist Church in McKenzie.
Lauren is the daughter of Jeff and Nancy Rush of Greenfield. She is proud to have received all of her education in Weakley County as a graduate of Greenfield High School in 2014 and the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2017 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science. Lauren has been a member of the Weakley County Young Professionals since 2021 and is currently serving as Secretary to the board. She also sits on the 2023 Weakley County Bicentennial Steering Committee for the celebration of the County's 200th anniversary. She is a 2012 graduate of Youth Leadership Weakley County and a 2023 graduate of Leadership Weakley County.
Lauren is married to Chase Griffin, a farmer from Gleason where the two reside with their two-year-old chocolate lab. Lauren and Chase attend Long Heights Baptist Church in McKenzie.
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Weakley County Mayor
Jake Bynum
116 West Main Street, Room 106
Dresden, TN 38225
731-364-5414 (p) • 731-364-5414 (fax)
countymayor@weakleycountytn.gov
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, M - F
Jake Bynum
116 West Main Street, Room 106
Dresden, TN 38225
731-364-5414 (p) • 731-364-5414 (fax)
countymayor@weakleycountytn.gov
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, M - F