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Ministry & Worship Team

Ashlee Ligon
Director of Children’s Ministries

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

Email Ashlee |  ext. 314

Katie Ricard
Director of Youth Ministries

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 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 Ricard 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.  In her spare time, Katie loves running, reading, and taking Luke, Grant, and Nora to the playground.

Email Katie |  ext. 334

Dr. Mark Whitmire
Director of  Music

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.
Email Mark  |  ext. 323

Virginia Ewing Whitmire
Organist and Choirmaster

Virginia recently celebrated her 25th 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.
Email Virginia  |  ext. 324

Diahann Whittington
Executive Director – St. James’s Children’s Center

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.

Operations & Leadership Team

Grace Barrett
Director of Stewardship

A Richmond native and daughter of a priest, Grace grew up in the Episcopal church attending St. Catherine’s and St. Stephen’s Church. She graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South and joined Teach for America where she taught in the inner city of New Orleans. She moved back to Richmond in 2012, and taught Kindergarten at St. Andrew’s School for 3 years before beginning a career in fundraising. She earned her Masters in Nonprofit Studies from the University of Richmond and has worked in development for some amazing nonprofits here in town, including Make -A-Wish Greater VA, Richmond Habitat for Humanity, Sportable, and most recently World Pediatric Project. Grace lives in Hanover with her husband Ted and their 3 dogs Buster, Boomer, and Mowgli. She is excited to be a part of the St. James’s community of doers and to help continue the church’s inspiring legacy of giving.

Email Grace | ext. 317

Jay Sandusky
Director of Communications

Jay is a former journalist, one-time cartoonist, occasional cyclist, and a long-time copywriter and creative director at ad agencies in New York City. He moved to Richmond in 2012, and he and his family quickly joined St. James’s. Since then, he’s been a LEM, a member of the communications advisory team, a student in EfM, a contributor to our stewardship marketing efforts, and the lay leader of SelfStarters. He joined the St. James’s staff as director of communications in January 2021. He is responsible for overseeing—with the aid and wisdom of a terrific staff—everything from the eChimes and the website to our social media presence, live-streaming, and banners outside the church.

Email Jay | ext. 344

Poconna Thiel
Financial Manager

Poconna is in charge of payables and receivables with the guidance of the Treasurer. She reports to the Vestry.
Email Poconna   |  ext. 311

Administrative Team

Betsy Lee
Operations and Stewardship Manager

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.

Email Betsy  |  ext. 335

Weezie Beckley
Communications Coordinator

Weezie joined St. James’s staff in April 2019, after being a front desk volunteer for six months prior. She lived out of state for several years and welcomed the opportunity to come home to be a part of a vibrant church. As Communications Coordinator, Weezie works on St. James’s eChimes and parish-wide digital communication, social media platforms and various communication campaigns. She is always taking photos of church gatherings and around the church. You could say Weezie is the church paparazzo.

Professionally, Weezie might be called a-jack-of-all-trades, roll-up-her-sleeves, and dive-right-in gal. She holds a B.A. in art history/studio art, completed a two-year program in commercial photography after college; worked for a non-profit art organization; worked as a freelance project coordinator and stylist for photo shoots and catalogs; was a catalog coordinator for a major furniture company; has been a school portrait photographer and even an on-site inventory specialist for a national company. The most unusual jobs Weezie’s had are as a Senate proofreader during the Virginia General Assembly and project manager/inventory control for Exumas – a  privately owned Bahamas resort.
Email Weezie  |  ext. 312

Mary Brown
Executive Assistant to the Clergy

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.
Email Mary  |  ext. 313

Donna Ellis
Interim Director of Administration

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 hospitality. Now as the Interim Director of Administration, her main responsibilities include overseeing administration, facilities, and finance. She also produces the worship bulletins and coordinates funerals. 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.

Email Donna  |  ext. 307

Facilities Team

John Herrera
Facilities Manager

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.

Raymond McCoy
Facilities Team Leader

Sunil Dutt
Facilities Team Member

Cavalier Alston
Facilities Team Member

Antonio Stevens
Facilities Team Member

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