Meet the Staff

Rev. Susie Thomas

Lead Pastor

Susie began her ministry at Farmville UMC in 2020. Ordained in 2012, she came to Virginia from the Louisiana Conference, where she served for 12 years. Her spiritual gifts lie in the areas of preaching, teaching, and getting to know people over coffee in local coffee shops. Susie has a strong orientation towards connecting the unconnected and towards making the Gospel known in new ways in a rapidly-changing landscape. She is married to Britt Thomas, an intellectual property consultant. Their daughters Olivia and Katherine live in Baltimore and Charlottesville, respectively.

Deloris Jones

Office Manager

Deloris is Semi-retired, but not ready to stay home. She and her husband Joe have lived in Charlotte Court House for the last 20+ years. They have two daughters; LaTonya Jones-Boyce (Woodbridge, VA) and Samantha Jones (San Diego, CA). Their daughter LaTonya blessed her parents with two grandchildren Tyson Boyce (6yrs) and Jaidyn Boyce (4yrs). Deloris comes to us from the Virginia Legal Aid Society and Southern Virginia Higher Education Center. She has an Associate Business Management from Southside Virginia Community college.

Elizabeth Ji

Director of Children's Ministry and Education

Director of Children’s Ministry and Education

Elizabeth is our Director of Children’s Ministry and Education, hired in 2024. She and her husband, Preston, recently moved to Virginia from Wisconsin, where Elizabeth was completing her master’s degree at Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Elizabeth is excited for the next stage of her ministry, and also works as a writer for Summit Ministries, headquartered in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In her spare time, she sings, crochets, and spends lots of time with her cat, 雪墨 (Inky).

Andrew Bentley

Music Director

Dr. Gordon Ring

Organist

Rev. Justin Hicks

Director of Wesley Foundation

Bennie Walker

Custodian