Meet the Stauffer family—Clay, Megan, and their three kids—who truly value community and connecting with people. With deep roots in faith and a heart for serving others, they’re all about making a positive impact. Whether through their work or everyday life, the Stauffers love building meaningful relationships and being part of something bigger than themselves. They are a beautiful part of our community and we are thrilled to introduce them to you this month. 

We are Drs. Clay and Megan Stauffer, and have three children. Our daughter Montgomery, 15, is a freshman at Harpeth Hall. Our son Clayton, 13, is an eighth grader at Montgomery Bell Academy, and our youngest, Wade, is 9  and in third grade at Oak Hill.

We have a beloved Golden Retriever named Bear. He is a very sweet dog who loves attention!  He loves to fetch, welcome people to the house, and sit out by the pool.

I am from Memphis, TN and Megan is from Waynesboro, VA, near Charlottesville. We both moved here in the summer of 2007. I came from Memphis to take the Senior Minister position at Woodmont Christian and Megan moved here from Augusta, GA to be in private practice as an allergist.  We met at a fundraiser at Belle Meade plantation about a month later with an 80’s band rocking in the background.

We moved onto Lynnwood Boulevard in March of 2016, right before Wade, our third child, was born.

Clay attended Texas Christian University (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and  University of the South (D. Min).

Megan attended University of Virginia (BS), East Virginia Medical School (MD), Johns Hopkins University (Pediatrics Residency), and Medical College of Georgia (Allergy Fellowship).

What are your profession(s) and where do you work?
I’ve served as the Senior Minister of Woodmont Christian Church in Green Hills since 2007, and for the past six years, I’ve also been the Professor of Moral Leadership at Vanderbilt University.  I have also done a lot of work around the intersection of faith and politics. I recently published a new book with Abingdon Press titled “What the World Needs Now: Virtue and Character in an age of Chaos.”

Megan is a partner at the Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center of Middle Tennessee, a new practice she helped launch just this past year.  She sees both adults and children in her practice which has multiple offices.

We met at a fundraiser at the old Belle Meade Plantation.  We were introduced by a mutual friend that we both knew who is now a doctor in Atlanta.  Megan didn't believe I was a minister; I didn't believe she was a doctor.  We were both wrong.  We went on our first date the following week.  Megan even said, "If you are going to lie about your profession, why would you pick that?"  I said, "Exactly, why would I pick that?”  I was telling the truth.

Montgomery loves musical theatre, dance, voice and all things music. Our boys love sports! Clayton plays football, basketball, baseball, and golf. Wade also loves football, basketball, baseball and golf.  Our children are also very involved at Woodmont.

We have a home in Sewanee, Tennessee that we love spending time together at. We also enjoy visiting our family beach house in Corolla, North Carolina, in the Outer Banks. Every other Sunday night, we gather for family dinners with our extended family—a tradition we cherish.  Montgomery attended Camp Greystone in North Carolina and the boys have attended Camp Rockmont.  We have also had some great memories at The Homestead in Virginia, which is where we got engaged in 2008.

We love spending time outdoors, whether we’re swimming in our pool, walking through the neighborhood, or enjoying the trails at Percy Warner Park. Our backyard even has its own putting green, which makes for plenty of fun and friendly competition. We enjoy opening our home to others, often hosting church gatherings and community events that bring together friends from all walks of life and many different circles.

A few of our favorites are Ginza, J Alexanders, Chuy's, Bricktop's, 5th and Taylor, and The Henry.

We love to stay active and enjoy a variety of hobbies from reading, golfing, and playing tennis to swimming and skiing. We also enjoy traveling, especially to Sewanee and the Outer Banks where we have made tons of family memories over the years. Whenever we get the chance, we love catching live concerts and soaking in great music together.

It’s hard to choose just one! Some of our favorite vacation spots include Deer Valley, Cabo, and Vail, and of course Sewanee and the Outer Banks as we mentioned. Whether we’re soaking up the sun on the beach or enjoying fresh mountain air, we love being outdoors and spending time together in beautiful places.

We love that Nashville is rooted in strong faith traditions and being in the heart of the Bible Belt is something we truly appreciate. Living in Music City, surrounded by so many incredible artists and songwriters, is something we don’t take for granted. We also find Nashville’s rich Civil War and Civil Rights history fascinating—it’s a city with deep stories and meaningful layers.  Since we have been here 18 years now, we have seen this city grow and change so much!

We're very involved at Woodmont and have a deep commitment to giving back to the community. Over the years, our family has supported and been involved with organizations such as Safer TN, the Nashville Food Project, Faith Family Medical Center, United Way, the Blake McMeans Foundation, JDRF, Vanderbilt University, and Belmont University (where I serve on the board). We are also active in our children's schools: Oak Hill, MBA, and Harpeth Hall. 

Something people might not guess about our family is just how unique each of our children are—each with their own distinct personality and life path. Another interesting fact is that I am a fourth-generation minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a legacy that holds deep meaning for our family.

We love the people and we feel so grateful to be surrounded by close friends. We also love the beauty of the area, from the charming streets to the historic homes. 

I love how it highlights the character and background of the families; it encourages people to get to know and love their neighbor and brings the community together.  

Belle Meade is filled with fascinating, kind, and accomplished people. Our advice for anyone new to the neighborhood is to make a genuine effort to get to know your neighbors, whether that’s by hosting a party at your house, organizing a block gathering, or simply being the friend you hope to find.