Kay grew up on a dairy farm in Kokomo, MS and received a B.S. degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Southern Mississippi. In 1989, Kay graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). While in seminary, she worked at Brantley Baptist Center in New Orleans. In January 1990, she was appointed as a missionary with the Home Mission Board at the Brantley Center. In 1997 she moved to the Baptist Friendship House as Director as a missionary with the North American Mission Board. Kay's training is in the areas of counseling, life skills counseling, vocational evaluation, and literacy. Kay is also certified to begin and lead a Christian Woman's Job Corps program. Kay received a Doctor of Ministry degree in Counseling Psychology from NOBTS in 2008. The title of her project in ministry was Equipping Staff Members of Baptist Friendship House to Minister to Abused Women Post-Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from the FBI Citizen's Academy in April 2014. Dr. Bennett travels speaking and educating on issues regarding poverty, homeless, domestic violence, substance abuse, and human trafficking.