Mary Culp

Mary Culp has been a member of Trinity Presbyterian for one year.  Mary is retired after a career in nursing, initially in a hospital, then visiting nurse and nursing home settings.  Later she worked almost three decades as a school nurse.  Mary is a lifelong Presbyterian, serving as an elder, a deacon and as Sunday School Superintendent in her prior churches.  She participated in the local mission activities of churches in the St. Louis and Atlanta areas.  Mary and her husband Steve live in Cummings Cove.  They have three grown daughters, and their families include five grandchildren.

Linda Dillon - Class of 2021

We have been members of Trinity for four years.  We lived in Flat Rock for 17 years before moving to Hendersonville.  During that time we were members of First United Methodist Church prior to joining Trinity.  For 25 years we were members of Waverely Road Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, TN where I served as a Deacon.

My hobbies are traveling, spending time with children and grandchildren, exercising and going to the fitness center.  Brian and I have both been active at the Flat Rock Playhouse and we both have served on the board.

Mary Louise Forsythe

Mary Louise Forsythe is currently Moderator of Deacons and is being nominated for a second term.  She and her husband Bob have two daughters (one is Kathryn, Clerk of Session at Trinity).  They have been members at Trinity for 11 years, previously living in Ohio where Mary Louise served as an Elder and on the Eastminster Presbytery Mission Committee.  She is on the WNC PW Guatemala Microloan Task Force, takes turns teaching Sunday School at Trinity, and is active in PW and Feed the Kids.  She is an avid reader and stamp collector and loves these beautiful mountains.

Carolyn George - Class of 2022

I was born in Youngstown, Ohio to a very supportive fanily.  I was blessed to have known both sets of my grandparents.  At age 15 my dad's work was transferred to Philadelphia. Where I graduated from high school and college.  But the “travel bug” bit and I became a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines.  Marriage to a career  Marine ended in divorce after 10 years of marriage. My parents lived in Birmingham, Michigan and my daughters and I moved there to be closer to family and their support.

I worked in a hospital chemistry laboratory while my girls were growing up.  At age 50 I earned a second degree from Oakland University.  The combination of medical experience and my degree led me to the World Medical Relief (WMR) in Detroit, MI as CEO.  Through my 13 years I traveled to various countries to evaluate how WMR could provide services to hospitals and medical personnel in El Salvador, the Phillipines, Zaire, West Africa, China and Lithuania.  I also participated in medical missions.

Since 2001 I have lived in Hendersonville and worked for various non-profits (Council on Aging, IAM, Mainstay and DSS as a Social Worker).  After retiring I have volunteered at the Flaat Rock Playhouse, Visitors Center, Pardee Hospital, COA Thrift Store and AARP Tax Aid. 

Church has always been an important part of my life, mainly in the Presbyterian USA denomination.  I have been in the church choir for many years, I am an ordained Stephens Minister, and I joined Trinity when Myrl Jean Hughes asked me to be her bridge partner.  Life is good, even in these trying times and God has blessed me greatly with my family, friends and Trinity family!

Billie Hicklin

Billie Hicklin has been a member at Trinity for 2.5 years. She and her husband Harry moved to Hendersonville from Blowing Rock, NC, in 2016 when they retired from careers in education. Billie was a teacher, principal, curriculum administrator and an instructional coach across her 44 year career. They enjoy life in Henderson County with their dogs Charley and Chloe.

A lifelong Presbyterian, Billie follows in the footsteps of her dad and mom,  brothers and their families in being involved in church activities. She was ordained as a ruling elder in 2013 at Rumple Presbyterian Church {PCUSA) in Blowing Rock, NC, where she served as Clerk of Session. Billie is Co-Moderator of the Rebekah Circle, Historian for the Trinity Presbyterian Women, and Facilitator of the Trinity Book Group. She looks forward to serving in the role of Deacon for Trinity Presbyterian Church as we continue to reach out to all people and include them in the Trinity famlly.

Anne Kirkley

I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and completed my elementary and secondary education there.  I married Dr. S.E. Kirkley on April 1, 1968, graduated from Edinburgh Medical School on July 17, 1968, and immigrated to the U.S. on July 19, 1968.  We lived in Louisiana and Laos, SE Asia.  We moved to Hendersonville in 1976 and I worked at the Health Department and in private practice until my retirement in 2015.

My father was a Presbyterian minister and I was involved in a variety of church activities. I moved my church membership from Dunblane Cathedral in Scotland  to Trinity Presbyterian Church around 1978. I taught Sunday school for a couple of years during that time and presently I am part of Esther Circle. I've also worked in a couple of World Council of Church work camps in the past. I'm looking forward to being involved in more service in the future.                   

Nancy Sheffield

My husband and I moved to North Carolina in June, 2015, and became members of Trinity within a few months.  Besides Trinity’s mission and beliefs, the friendliness and caring of the congregation assured us that we had made the right choice.  Trinity activities in which I am or have been involved include:  Deborah Circle (currently co-moderator), Wednesday Night Live crew, Esther Circle, and serving on the PW coordinating Team.  In addition, it has been my pleasure to serve as a Deacon these past almost 3 years.  Reaching out to and getting to know those in my parish has been such a blessing for me, and I want to continue serving in that capacity.

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In my past life (before retirement), I spent most of my career in education - teaching at the elementary and university level.  What I most enjoyed, however, was working with children with special needs.

Jocelyn Tolleson

My name is Jocelyn Clayton Tolleson.  I grew up just down the mountain in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.  I went away to college in Boone, North Carolina at Appalachian State University and met my future husband, Robin Tolleson.  I moved to San Francisco, California right after college to be with Robin.  We married and started  raising two children, Millie and James, in San Francisco and San Rafael, California for 21 years.  In San Rafael, we joined First Presbyterian Church where Robin served as an elder.  During these years, Robin worked as a musician and writer and I taught ESL in San Francisco and San Rafael high schools.

In 1999, we moved back to North Carolina to Hendersonville. Robin continued playing music and writing for music magazines and I continued teaching ESL in local elementary schools.  We joined Trinity in about 2003.  Robin served as an elder again, brought amazing special musicians into the church, and played drums himself for  services and special programs. I have been the Trinity board representative for the Henderson County Hunger Coalition for about 8 years, work on translating Spanish letters for the Guatemala Scholarship program, and have taught children’s Learning Hour classes.  Trinity has been wonderful for me and our family, especially when I tragically lost Robin in June of 2019.  I love Trinity and I look forward to serving as a deacon to its amazing, loving members.

Steve Culp

Steve Culp and his wife Mary joined Trinity Presbyterian Church when they moved to Hendersonville last year.  They live in Cummings Cove.  Both Steve and Mary are retired.  Steve’s career was in finance.  Steve and Mary have three daughters, and their families include five grandchildren.  At Trinity, Steve sings in the choir and is a member of the Finance/Stewardship Committee.  He has been a Presbyterian for 40 years.  At previous churches he was a deacon and an elder, serving as moderator of the diaconate and clerk of session.  He was a member of nominating committees, a building committee and was a church treasurer.

Pat Dienst

The first 20 years of my life were spent in Maine where I was born and grew up. Following 2 years at Bates College, I transferred to the School of Nursing at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in NY. At the completion of the program, I graduated with a B.S. degree from Columbia University.

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Upon returning to Maine as a new graduate, I worked in ICU for 2 years before accepting a teaching position at the Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing in Hanover, NH. After 3 years, I returned to ME where I met my husband, Dr. stanley Dienst and was married in 1964. Two children later, we moved to Michigan.  There, we were active in First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, MI where I was ordained as an elder.

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In 1988, after moving to Bismarck, ND, we joined First Presbyterian Church and became an elder there. During our time there, I was active in a number of community activities including Habitat for Humanity, boards of a women's shelter and the Mental Health Association.  Toward the latter part of our 13 year stay, I became a library trustee during a building expansion.

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The family undertook to open the One World Coffeehouse.  Musical programs and discussions on peace and social justice issues were a common theme for activities every weekend for ten years.

After Stan's retirement, we decided to move to Hendersonville to be nearer family and have been here almost 20 years.

Dan Donovan

Dan was born and raised in a suburb north of Boston.  After receiving a BA from St. Michaels College in Winooski VT, he was awarded  an advanced degree in Mathematics from Lowell Technological Institute.  Dan worked as an IT consultant and employee for established as well as growing/startup companies focusing on database technologies.

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Dan and Pat suffered through many Boston winters until Dan took a position in Atlanta. They spent 3 years there then transferred to Charlotte NC. 

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Dan and Pat spent 17 years in Waxhaw a suburb of Charlotte before Dan retired in 2015. They had a house built in Carriage Park and intend to enjoy life and partake in festivities surrounding Hendersonville.

Leslie Nissen

Andy and I moved to Hendersonville from Savannah, Georgia in 2018, and we both immediately loved this town. During our subsequent hunt for a new church home, we found that we immediately loved Trinity as well!  What a blessing to feel such a strong pull toward this genuinely caring church family. (I especially love how that care is evidenced, consistently, through action.) I have learned much about Presbyterianism over the last two years, after coming from a Methodist and Episcopalian background. I know I'll always be learning more.

Besides being married to the coolest Chicago guy I've ever known, I'm the proud grandma of two-year-old baby girl, mom of a son in New York, and stepmom of a daughter in Cincinnati. During my career I was an educator who spent two decades in the classroom, then another decade as a gifted education specialist and teacher trainer. Late in the game I earned my doctorate, with a plan to work in a university after retiring from public schools. However, that idea was nixed by a run-in with cancer and subsequent, permanent issues. As it turns out, retirement isn't a bad gig! Plus, I'm on Year 10 as a very grateful cancer survivor. (Answered prayers!)

Before Covid, my main volunteer jobs were at Dandelion Cafe for Safelight, and the Sammy Williams Center for the Council on Aging. I'm still not "back to work” yet, but I’m hoping to return soon. I miss my community connections, but what a gift that our church ties have remained strong all these months. Thank you, Lord, for modern technology and caring hearts. 

Mark Slaughter

I was born and baptized into the fellowship of 76th Street Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama where my dad’s family were among the earliest members back in the 1900s. During my developing years, my dad was a Deacon, Elder, Clerk of Session and finally Elder Emeritus, so I learned a lot about leadership in the Presbyterian church. I was elected Deacon in my 20s and was then elected to serve as an Elder in this church of about 300 members during the difficult period in which the old “Southern” and “Northern” church re-united to form the PCUSA as we now know it.

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When I was in my early 30s, my wife, Denise, and I relocated to Atlanta and joined the United Methodist Church (the United Methodist Church was her background). At the Marietta First United Methodist Church (with a congregation of about 5000) I was elected to serve on the Parrish Relations Committee which coordinated between all of the pastoral and administrative staff of about 12 and the congregation.

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In addition to these roles of governance, I have also served in various capacities over the years including a Boy Scout leader, a choir member, a leader of adult Sunday school classes, and a number of church committees. Denise and I also directed a children’s choir for 4-year-olds.   

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Denise and I are the proud parents of two grown children: Justin, who is a Financial Analyst for AT&T in Atlanta; and Emily, who teaches piano at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC. We also have one grandchild, 7-year-old Matthew in Atlanta.

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Professionally, I am retired from real estate and home building. Over the course of my career I was part of a management team that built over 10,000 homes in Atlanta, Greenville, Charlotte, and Raleigh. Denise is a Registered Nurse and still works part time for united Health Care as a case manager for high risk pregnancies. We enjoy life with our 18-year-old Maine Coon cat, Marbleade.

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We moved to Hendersonville in 2015 and found our new church home here at Trinity Presbyterian Church. I have just completed my first term as an Elder, and if re-elected, I will be honored continue in my service to Trinity.