Meet Our Staff

Ashley comes to St. James’s with a background in church and nonprofit administration. Before moving to Richmond, she spent several years supporting her home church in Williamsburg in a variety of ways‚Äîcommunications, volunteer management, administrative operations, event planning, and lay ministry. In 2019, she married Bradley, and they relocated to Richmond. Since then, she has supported and affiliated with several local nonprofits and faith-based organizations as an employee, volunteer, or participant. She spent five years at Rise Richmond (formerly Church Hill Activities & Tutoring, or CHAT), where she wore many hats, including marketing, internal communications, Human Resources, finance, and operations.

Outside of work and family, she can’t pass up a chance to explore an antique shop, a quaint city street, or a new coffee shop.

Mary Brown joined the St. James’s staff in the fall of 2020 as the Executive Assistant to the Clergy. In addition to supporting our clergy, Mary works closely with our lay ministry, and assists in the planning and coordination of worship services and other priestly duties.

Mary has an extensive background in the not-for-profit sector, including in the areas of fundraising, engagement, and administrative coordination, among others. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Colorado College, and a J.D. from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law. The real loves of Mary’s life, however, are her wonderful husband and young son, as well as her two wild, but adorable young pups. |¬† ext. 313

Donna has been a member of St. James’s since the early 1990’s, and been on the staff in various positions since 2017. A lifelong Episcopalian, she grew up in Dallas. She graduated from Hollins University with a degree in computational sciences, and then moved to Richmond where she started her early work career as an actuary at an employee benefits consulting firm.

Donna has served in many volunteer roles at St. James’s, such as acolyte leader, Sunday School teacher, and front desk volunteer. While working as a front desk volunteer, she was given the opportunity to join the staff as Parish Secretary. Later she filled several interim roles related to parish administration, facilities and operations.

Outside of work, Donna enjoys spending time with her husband, Randy, and their three grown children as well as volunteering at the Richmond Animal Care and Control.

Claire was born and raised in the Richmond area. After getting her undergraduate degree from William & Mary, she moved back to Richmond in 2020 to get her master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies from the University of Richmond. She comes to St. James’s with a background in development and finance at a local nonprofit Rise Richmond for four years.

Outside of work, Claire loves spending time with her cat, Spice. When not at home with Spice, you can find her at the movie theater, farmer’s market, or a local coffee shop on the hunt for Richmond’s best iced oat milk latte. | ext. 317

Prior to coming to St. James’s, John worked at the Diocese of Virginia, where he was Mayo House’s sexton for seven years. Prior to that, he was with St. Thomas and Emmanuel Brook Hill churches. A native of Spain, John and his family came to the United States about 12 years ago as a construction manager for a Spanish company. He received a BS in Business Administration and an engineering degree in Spain. He is an enthusiastic hiker.

Betsy joined the St. James’s staff as the Stewardship Manager in August of 2023. Previously, she worked for the Foundation at Westminster Canterbury Richmond and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. A native (Northern) Virginian, she graduated with a degree in Business Education from James Madison University – Go Dukes! – and then earned a Masters in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Georgia – Go Dawgs! In 2005, after a 15-year stint in Georgia, she moved to Richmond with her husband, Jeff, and their three sons – Jake, Chris and Bobby. When not at work, she enjoys the beach, meeting friends for brunch, playing golf, watching movies and SEC football. |¬† ext. 335

Ashlee Ligon has been the Director of Children’s Ministry since 2021. Ashlee started attending St. James’s in 2007 and was confirmed in 2008 after taking Pilgrim’s Path. She has been active ever since – in the youth and young adults ministries, West Gallery Choir, and Wine, Women & Wonder bible study, among other activities. She is currently enrolled in EfM (Education for Ministry). She met her husband, Grey, through St. James’s, and they were married here in 2014. They have three children, all of whom were baptized at St. James’s.

Ashlee graduated from Hollins University. She has worked as a litigation paralegal and in a non-profit/educational setting, where she was school office manager and capital campaign manager. In her current role, Ashlee is responsible for coordinating baptisms, Sunday school, and all other children’s ministry programs. She is thrilled to be on staff and to support the children and families of St. James’s |¬† ext. 314

Charles was born into a musical family; his mother and aunt were church organists. Before starting kindergarten, he knew he wanted to play the organ and direct church choirs like his mother. At age thirteen, he began substituting for his aunt at his home church, and shortly thereafter was hired as an organist for a small Anglican church. He went on to serve Branch’s Baptist Church at age sixteen, and upon graduation from the University of Richmond, became organist and choirmaster at St Martin’s Episcopal, in Richmond’s West End. A few years later, he began a long tenure as organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal (Bristol Parish), Petersburg. There, Charles led a comprehensive music program comprising an adult choir of professionals, scholarship students, and volunteers; a handbell choir; a children’s choir; and a chorister program for youth. Charles has served as a pianist for the voice and string departments at Virginia Commonwealth University for many years.

Additionally, he is a harpsichordist for RVA Baroque, teaches piano and organ, and does vocal coaching and voice lessons. He recorded a CD with an eclectic mix of organ music on the St. Paul’s organ titled On a Slow Boat with Bach. He is a preferred recital artist of the Allen Organ Company for performing local organ dedicatory concerts. He has studied with notable choral directors, organ improvisation experts, and vocal coaches/piano accompanists.

Before joining the St. James’s staff in 2022, Katie worked in secondary education for fourteen years, beginning as a high school history teacher and later moving into administration, first as a Dean of Students and then as an Assistant Principal.¬† Katie and her family moved from Boston to Richmond seven years ago and began attending St. James’s soon after. For the past six years, Katie has served as a leader for Junior Youth Fellowship and loves spending time with these youth, watching them grow. Katie is married to Darryl, and together they have three children: Luke, Grant, and Nora. Luke was born in Boston, while Grant and Nora were both born in Richmond and baptized at St. James’s. In her spare time, Katie loves running, reading, and taking Luke, Grant, and Nora to the playground. |¬† ext. 334

Laura has been an active member of¬† St. James’s since joining in 1992. She has taught Sunday School since 1995, been involved in leading many Wednesday NIght cooking teams, has assisted with music hospitality, and contributed significantly to many of our Mardi Gras events. Along with her husband Mark she has chaired our CARITAS efforts on three separate occasions and helped launch Womankind.¬†¬†

Outside of the church, Laura worked at Kellogg Collection from 1990 to 2001, then as an associate agent for Tom Baker at Northwestern Mutual Life insurance for two years. From there, she joined Sur La Table in 2003 as floor manager and head designer. In 2012 she was named Facilities Coordinator, which she did until 2020. In 2021 she joined Flourish Spaces, an interior design business. She has also been on the Senior Board of Children’s Hospital of Richmond since 2004.¬†¬†

Poconna is in charge of St. James’s payables and receivables with the guidance of the Treasurer. |¬† ext. 311

Dr. Whitmire has been Director of Music at St. James’s Church since 1995. In addition to training the choristers of the Cherub Choir and Children’s Choir, he directs the Parish Choir which is made up of 25 parishioners and 10 professional singers. The Choir has sung in England, France and Italy, including Gloucester Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, Worcester Cathedral, St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome), St. Mark’s Basilica (Venice), and Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris). Dr. Whitmire attended Abilene Christian University (BMed), the University of Texas (MM), and the University of Maryland (DMA), where he was a student of James McDonald and George Shirley. He has received numerous grants and awards, including a scholarship for post-graduate studies at the Britten-Pears School in England (where he studied with Sir Peter Pears), and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for research and writing on the music of Benjamin Britten. Dr. Whitmire served as Adjunct Professor of Music and Liturgy at Virginia Theological Seminary for 28 years, until his retirement in 2017.¬†|¬† ext. 323

Virginia recently celebrated her 25^th year as Organist and Choirmaster at St. James’s Church. In addition to playing for weekly services, she directs the West Gallery Choir that sings at the 9 am service and the Youth Choir, made up of young people grades 6 -12. She oversees the church’s 61-stop C. B. Fisk pipe organ and the Organ Recital Series. She has previously served churches in Texas, Maryland, and most recently was organist at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria, VA-the parish church of Virginia Theological Seminary. She studied organ with Dr. Bess Hieronymus at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Donald Sutherland, Professor of Organ at Peabody Conservatory, and piano with Dr. Ronald Rathbun at Abilene Christian University and Dr. Michael Guiltinan at UTSA.¬†|¬† ext. 324

Diahann began as a teacher here at St. James’s and has never looked back. She believes in the importance of providing a high-quality Early Childhood Education program for children, regardless of their socioeconomic standing, race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or family dynamic.¬† Before coming to the Children’s Center, she was a teacher in her local school district for 5 years and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate.

Diahann is committed to preparing young hearts and minds for life. She is honored to support the teachers and staff who actively provide our young learners with a high-quality, supportive, and nurturing environment filled with active learning opportunities.