Retired Priest Associate
Lois was a teacher for 20 years in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She had grown up in the church, begging her mother at an early age to teach her to read so that she could join the junior choir.
“My mother always said someday they’re going to charge you rent at church. It was my second home.”
She remembers a crucial message from the rector of that church. “If only every teen could hear it: ‘you are who you are and who you are is good.’”
Lois was widowed at 44, one month before her husband was to be ordained to the permanent Diaconate. Six years later, she entered Virginia Theological Seminary seeking ordination to the priesthood.
She moved to North Carolina in 1999 to be near family in her retirement. George knew she was ordained and asked her to “help out a little bit.”
“St. Paul’s is very welcoming. It’s the ethos of the place. People work at it. They care about it. They want it to be that way.”
Five Fast Facts:
Mountains or beach – Beach
Duke, State or UNC – Duke (because her husband graduated from there), “But I like what UNC stands for.”
Final meal would be – Thai shrimp
Favorite hymn and non-hymn – “The Church’s One Foundation,” “Breathe on me Breath of God” and probably something by Bach
Something folks at St. Paul’s would be surprised to learn – She’s a poker player who even managed to last three games with the serious players in Las Vegas once. “I went home swaggering.”