She is married and has three grown children. She graduated from Virginia Tech University in 1983 and in 1997 from the Northern Illinois University College of Law, magna cum laude, and was assistant editor for the NIUCOL law review. She was admitted to practice in the State of Tennessee and the Western District of Tennessee in October of 1997 and admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois and the Northern District of Illinois in November and December of 1997, respectively. She is licensed to practice law in both Tennessee and Illinois, and is a licensed title insurance agent for Mississippi and Tennessee.