Good Shepherd Staff
Our Mission:
We are a bold community of leaders who offer a simple, abundant, sustaining message for friend and stranger to experience the power of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We welcomed our Interim Rector, The Rev. Betty M. Glover, in early December 2012. Mother Betty comes to us from the Diocese of Kansas where she served as Rector for 5 1/2 years for two small churches.
The Rev. Juliana Lindenberg, Assistant Rector
Juliana graduated from The College of Wooster in Ohio with a double major in Spanish and Religious Studies. Following her graduation, she worked in a homeless shelter through Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Minneapolis where she met her future husband, David, who was director of the local food pantry. In 1998 Juliana moved to Atlanta to pursue a joint Master's in Law and Divinity at Emory University. However, discerning God's call and plan for her life, she decided to drop her law studies to concentrate on her divinity degree. Juliana and David married in 2000 and in 2001 she completed her Master's of Divinity. Juliana and David moved to Yuma, Arizona, where she served as a hospital chaplain and later the family moved to Memphis where she worked in Alzheimer's research for the University of Tennessee. Again allowing God to wield his design for her life, in 2006 she accepted a position as Chaplain and Director of Student Life for students in kindergarten through fifth grades at St. George's Independent School. She was ordained a deacon in June 2010 and began working part time at St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church shortly thereafter. Juliana and David are the parents of two sons, Noah and Gabriel. They enjoy board games, long walks with their dogs and most of all being closer to their family!
Lawrence Goering, Organist and Choir Director
Lawrence Goering, a native of eastern North Carolina, began organ study while in high school in Kinston, NC. At East Carolina University, he studied organ with E. Robert Irwin, Mark Gansor, and Janette Fishell. After graduating from East Carolina University with a B.M. in organ performance and sacred music, he remained as a staff member in the music library for ten years. During this time he took further organ lessons with Janette Fishell. He has played recitals at several churches in eastern NC and in Reykjavik, Iceland. Prior to coming to Good Shepherd in 1991, he served Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Disciples of Christ congregations in eastern NC. In addition to his ministry at Good Shepherd, he maintains a private studio of piano, organ and voice students. Recently, he served as a consultant for a new pipe organ project at another church. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists (past Dean of the East Carolina Chapter), the rocky Mount Piano Teachers' Association, and the board of the Tar River Orchestra and Chorus. He regularly attends the annual East Carolina Religious Arts Festival and the Sewanee Church Music Conference. When not making, directing, or teaching music, Lawrence enjoys walking, hiking, cooking, reading, and art.
Paulette Pridgen, Communications Director
Paulette Pridgen joined the church staff in 2011 as our Communications Director. She earned her Bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her Master's from Duke University. Previously she wrote proposals and budgets for academic and contract research organizations which conducted clinical drug trials for pharmaceutical and medical device companies worldwide. Paulette's hobbies are walking, collecting rocks, camping, reading science fiction and mysteries, and making jewelry.
Tom Parker, Receptionist
Tom Parker joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2011 as receptionist.Tom is a native of Rocky Mount and a graduate of NC Wesleyan College with a degree in music/organ performance. He comes to Good Shepherd office with several years of church office administration and banking experience. He has served several churches in the Rocky Mount area as organist and is currently the music director and organist at Enfield Baptist Church in Enfield, North Carolina . In his spare time, he enjoys teaching private piano lessons.
Virginia Turner, Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper Virginia has many years of office and bookkeeping experience including a position at a church. Virginia's contact information is vturner@goodshepherdrmt.org and 442-1134 x223. At Good Shepherd Virginia is responsible for all bookkeeping functions including receiving and recording pledge contributions to the church, tuition payments to the Day School, making reports to the Vestry, overseeing payroll for the church and Day School, accounts payable and more. If you have any questions about your contributions to Good Shepherd please give Virginia a call. If she doesn't know the answer immediately she will find it out and get back with you. Thank you Virginia!
Shawanda Jordan, Interim Day School Director
We are pleased that Ms. Shawanda Jordan has accepted the position of Interim Director of the Good Shepherd Day School. Ms. Jordan, a Rocky Mount native, has been a teacher with the Good Shepherd Day School since August 2009. She has an AAS from Edgecombe Community College and is currently pursuing her B.A. at NC Wesleyan College. Ms. Jordan is the mother of two children, and in her spare time enjoys poetry and skating. Ms. Jordan said, "I've enjoyed four prosperous years here at Good Shepherd Day School where we take pride in positively influencing the Early Childhood profession."
Lora Benz, Sexton
Born on Long Island, New York, Lora moved to North Carolina in 1996,where she attended Nash Community College. Lora possesses both Childhood Certificates I and II and is a state-certified phlebotomist as well. Lora began her challenging, yet rewarding career as the caretaker/housekeeping engineer at the Good Shepherd in September. Lora has been married to Eric Benz for 23 years and they have four beautiful sons: Daniel, 14; Phillip, 19 (who attends ECU); Matthew, 29; and Jonny, 32. She's the proud grandma of three: Danny, Samantha and Anna. Lora's motto is, "whatever you do in life, keep on striving for excellence and challenge yourself in all you do."
Mary Alston, Nursery Attendant
Mary was born in Nashville but has lived in Rocky Mount since 1993. She has been working with children for over 15 years and received her associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Edgecombe Community College in 2000. She joined the Good Shepherd Day School staff in 2002 as Lead Teacher in the Preschool classroom. She has been the Toddler Teacher for three years. Mary is the mother of two wonderful children, Desmond (25) and Jaletta (23) and grandmother of four: Ryan (4), Jania (2), Ke'Moria (2) and Da'Shaia (1). When she isn't spending time with her family and friends, Mary enjoys singing, dancing, reading and shopping. Her philosophy is simple: treat each child as an individual and with love and respect.
