Tiger’s and my appointment to South Portland’s Thornton Heights UMC began July 1, 2016. We are actively engaged in many ministries, to include providing space for Building Blocks Learning Center (BBLC), a preschool and daycare open year around; God Time, a weekly engagement with the four year olds from as we teach them about God’s love for all people; Vacation Bible Camp, children four years old through sixth grade are invited to participate in a week long “Day Camp” as they learn about Jesus Christ; monthly Communion at the South Portland Nursing Home; Re-Run Shoes, a gathering of gently used shoes which are eventually shipped overseas to provide footwear for people unable to buy new ones; support for the local food pantry and a number of other ministries.
I was born and raised in the land of Blues and the home of the King of Rock and Roll, Memphis, Tennessee. I received my BS in Agriculture from The University of Tennessee at Martin and my DVM from the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. From Veterinary School, I went on active duty as a United States Army Veterinarian, serving for 4 years active duty before transferring to the reserve forces. I was mobilized twice, once in support of Operation Desert Storm and once in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I completed my Master of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology in 2007 and retired from the Army Reserve in the fall of that same year. My first appointment was to the Livermore/Livermore Falls Charge where we worked to provide a home and support to the Livermore Falls Food Cupboard, had a youth puppet ministry that invited the community into our building twice each year. After the closing of the Livermore Church, I was appointed to Wilton UMC where we provided space for the local Boy Scout Troop and participated in the annual Blueberry Festival.
I was reappointed to the Boothbay Region United Methodist Cooperative Parish in 2010 where I coordinated and led worship in the three churches that are members of that parish. We began a Halloween celebration for the children participating in the annual Halloween parade, supported numerous local mission projects and housed the local Free Clothing Cupboard behind the Boothbay Harbor 1st UMC.
I was partnered with Tiger, my Service Dog for Ministry, Easter 2011. We work together to bring comfort to people in crisis, visit people in nursing homes and hospitals and provide general support to the congregation. Trained as a general “Service Dog,” Tiger has many talents. He opens doors, can turn on and off light switches, pickup things from the floor, help me get up when I get down on the floor with the children and has been known to take my socks off after a long day and put them in the laundry hamper (no, he doesn’t take things from the dryer and put them away, oh well nothing is perfect). He only goes with me to people’s homes when he is invited, but does love to visit people.
