Vestry Bios
Sharon Scott-Smith, SecretaryMy name is Sharon Scott-Smith and I live in Manassas with my husband Larry and our unruly Golden Retriever Lucy, or should I say my husband is the unruly one (lol). We are blessed to be parents of three, grandparents of four and great grandparents of one. Prior to living in Manassas, we owned a Bed and Breakfast in the Shenandoah Valley for nine years and also lived three years each in Stone Mountain, Georgia and Walnut Creek, California. I'm a retired teacher. In addition to serving on the Trinity Vestry Secretary, I'm involved in local politics as well as serve as an election official for the City of Manassas during federal, state and local elections.
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Matt Snyder, Treasurer
I’m currently employed with VCA SouthPaws Emergency and Referral Center as a veterinary assistant in the Internal Medicine department. I’ve been with SouthPaws for almost four years, and have been in veterinary medicine since 2015. I’m a native of Virginia, born and raised in Burke. I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and the College of William and Mary. I have lived in Manassas with my wife, Stephanie, and my stepson, Evan, since 2018. Our house is also home to a collection of fish and other aquatic critters, one sleepy dog, and four troublesome cats. In my free time, I enjoy weight-lifting, gardening, outdoor projects, and working on my Lego collection. I’m excited to be joining Trinity in a more active capacity and looking forward to what we can all accomplish together.
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Jerry Pankey, Assistant Treasurer
Jerry first visited Trinity with the Manassas Chorale and over time found Trinity as his home to worship and serve. He served as Trinity’s Treasurer from August 2021 until February 2023. Jerry is a member of the adult choir and hand bell choir. He also serves as a reader, altar assistant, and member of the Lay Ministry Team. He previously served on the Vestry as a member and Junior Warden.
Jerry is a native Virginian and graduated from The University of Virginia. In 2017 he retired from a career in financial management for small businesses in banking, manufacturing, construction, and telecommunications. He also served as treasurer for several churches and their preschools, the Prince William County Fair, Virginia Association of Fairs, and the PWC-GM Chamber of Commerce. Jerry met his wife, Sue, in a church choir room, and they have two sons, Jonathan and Joshua, a daughter-in-law, Anna, grandson, Elijah, and a Jack Russell, Carly. |
Vestry Class of 2024
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Virginia Cantu, Senior Warden
Virginia is a retired federal employee and a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. She spent all her working years as a communication specialist, starting out as a high school reporter. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Communication from the American University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Purdue
University. She also served as an adjunct professor on faculty of the George Washington University Center for Professional Development. She is a native of Los Angeles, Calif., and resides in Manassas, Virginia. She has been married for 23 years to her spouse Lee, and has one boy dachshund, and two cats, Lily and Dixie. |
Erin Bahring
My name is Erin Bahring, and I have been married to my soulmate for almost 10 years and we have 3 beautiful children. I have a background as a Behavioral Health Clinician; however, I am currently working in quality management for a Managed Care Organization. I enjoy watching or reading a good psychological thriller, crocheting, taking walks and spending time with my crazy kids. I have been a parishioner of Trinity for 6 years and a vestry member for over a year. Every time I walk through the doors of Trinity I feel the presence of God, Love, Peace, Inclusion and the true gospel of Jesus.
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Stephen Bailey
I have been a member of the Episcopal Church for all of my life, moving to Trinity in 2001. My two daughters grew up in Trinity and are off on their own now. Prior to joining the Vestry, I served as a Lay reader, having participated in and taught Lay reader prep courses at Trinity in the past. These days, my wife Brenda and I are learning to live as empty-nesters, spending our time traveling, hiking, and visiting our daughters.
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Carrie Rainoff
I enjoy my current volunteer work with Trinity Church and look to expand upon my service. I'm 51, married to Matthew since 2001, have a son, daughter and one year old grandson. I have been attending Trinity since 2013 and confirmed February 2014. I currently attend the 11 am service. I graduated in May of 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia. My husband and I own a "mom & pop" small IT company based out of Fairfax City, which he founded in 1993. We are currently the only two employees. My primary job is that of web developer designing e-commerce registration systems for associations and their conventions and meetings. I work with the Food Ministry and also help as a greeter. I've helped out with the Altar of Hope the past two years.
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Joanne GeorgI have been a member of Trinity for many years and have volunteered in many different aspects of the life of the church and have served on prior vestries. I would like to continue to serve Trinity as a vestry person during this exciting time of change. I retired from the education field several years ago. I began my teaching career in special education in Maryland and moved to Virginia after I got married. I worked as an educational diagnostician for Manassas City and Manassas Park City School divisions. I finished my career as Director of Special Education with Manassas Park City Schools. As a member of Trinity for many years, I have served as Christian Education director, teacher, junior warden, usher, altar guild and chalicist/altar assistant. As altar assistant I assist at all three services depending on the schedule. I enjoy working with different people and the challenge of helping Trinity become the best version of all of us who are part of this caring and inclusive church family.
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Vestry Class of 2025
Ralph Allison, Junior Warden
Ralph and his wife, Jane, have been coming to Trinity for 30+ years. Coming to Trinity is a family affair for the Allison family - Ralph and Jane's two children aged out of acolyting at Trinity, and Ralph's parents still attend. Ralph works for the government as a software engineer.
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Amy Verner
Amy Verner is a Manassas native who grew up in the Baptist church, where she was very active in the music and youth ministries. She and her husband Chris Magee (and their cat, Gus) live in Manassas Park and have attended Trinity's 11 AM worship service for the past several years. Amy sings in the choir and has served on the Vestry since January of this year. Amy has her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Elementary Education from The College of William and Mary, and her M. Ed. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Virginia. In addition, she earned her ESOL Certification in 2016. She has taught 4th grade for over 20 years at Signal Hill Elementary in the Manassas area. There, she has held various leadership roles, including Team Lead, Mentor for several new teachers, Accompanist for the school chorus, and Math Lead Teacher. She is also active in the local educator's union, the Prince William Education Association, having served on their Board of Directors from 2016-2020 and as Government Relations Committee Chair during the same time period. She has also held leadership roles on the state-level Communications Committee, and as delegate to both the VEA (Virginia Education Association) Convention and the NEA (National Education Association) Representative Assemblies. She is humbled and grateful to serve on the Vestry and to be chosen to be on the Discernment Committee.
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Joanna Ward
I grew up in upstate New York and was very active with the youth and music programs at the catholic church my family attended. I have a bachelor’s degree in music from East Carolina University, where I met my husband, Mike. My husband and I settled Virginia in 2006 and lived in Burke and Woodbridge before recently moving to Bristow. About 12 years ago, my husband and I felt we wanted to try a different spiritual path and “auditioned” several churches in the area. We knew we found what we were looking for during the first service we attended at Trinity. We took the opportunity to attend a Fresh Connect lunch with our then three-year-old daughter hosted by Vinnie and Stuart, and the next year, our baby son was baptized by the two of them. During my time with Trinity, I have been involved with the Sunday school program and recently became a member of the church choir. I have worked for Prince William Public Libraries for the last fourteen years and currently work at the Lake Ridge branch.
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Jean Duray
My husband, Nick, and I moved to Manassas in 1988 and began attending Trinity. Both of our children were baptized here, Elizabeth by the interim minister before Stuart and Michelle by Stuart. Both were confirmed at Trinity and were each acolytes. In the years we have been at Trinity I have served as: Lay Reader, Usher, Chalice Bearer, Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, Christian Ed Director, Bible Circle member, and participated in many other ministries and groups. This is my third time serving on the vestry. I have worked for Prince William County Public Libraries for 28 years, currently I work at the Haymarket Gainesville Branch.
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Gene Molinelli
Gene Molinelli was born to first generation Italian American parents in northern New Jersey and raised in southern New York, a suburb of New York City, where he became a Yankee fan like his dad. At the University of Notre Dame, Gene majored in physics, and was Editor-in-Chief of the ND Science Quarterly in his sophomore year because no one else would do it. He contributed fiction based on campus life to the student newspaper and science fiction to the Quarterly; and, graduated summa cum laude. After junior year, he won a summer appointment at Argonne National Laboratory, where he entangled his future wife, Judith Evans. They went to Columbia University, got married, had two daughters, Elise and Noel, and earned Ph.D.s in Ocean Physics and Neurobiology, respectively. Gene and Judi moved to Fairfax County in 1979 where Gene worked as scientist and eventually deputy director for companies providing services to the US. Navy. The couple’s son, Evan, entered the family then. Gene served as Chief Scientist on airborne surveys north of the Arctic Circle, was named among technology trailblazers in the state, and patented an oceanographic data process. Gene followed Judi to George Mason Law School at night while running his own consulting firm by day; and, became a patent attorney. He is now a partner at Wolter VanDyke Davis PLLC, a patent law firm headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Judi is retired but keeps busy managing the home and some investment properties and trying to preserve historic Manassas. Gene continues to prosecute high tech patents for numerous clients. Gene has been a mentor for Special Olympics bowlers and is still an outfielder in the Northern Virginia Senior Softball league. Gene and Judi discovered the welcoming inclusive spirit of Trinity Episcopal Church shortly after we moved to Manassas in 2013, so we left the confines of the Roman Catholic Church to be part of this wonderful community.
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Vestry Class of 2026
Anne Burns
I am excited about Trinity’s future. I believe I have the experience and energy that will be helpful as we chart our new course. My husband John and I attend the 8:30 a.m., service. I am on the flower guild and serve as a reader. My background is in media and public relations. In my early career I worked as an assistant press secretary to a NJ governor. Later I was a public relations specialist for a small lobbying public affairs firm. I served as a vestry member at Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ. I also served as junior and senior warden during a four-year transition period retirement of rector, interim priest, and calling of new rector). I was responsible for running the stewardship campaign for four years ($1.1 million budget). Also served as co-chair for $3.5 million capital campaign. I have extensive volunteer experience. Served seven years on Princeton Board of Education (four years as president or vice president). Served as facilities chair during $84 million capital campaign.
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Christian Cobb
I would like to contribute more to this community which has become very important to me. I have a Bachelors of Health Science from the University of Florida (Physical Therapist) and have worked on and off in the 30 years since graduation in a variety of settings. My favorite patient population is definitely the elderly. Our children are young adults ranging from 20 to 27 years of age. We have one child who identifies as non-binary, two daughters, and one son. I now work from home as a chart coder for Hartford Healthcare system. I was raised in the Roman Catholic church and remained active and committed to that faith until 2020, when we transitioned to the Episcopal Church. I enjoy meeting new people and warmly encouraging engagement in activities that I am passionate about. I have some leadership history in my volunteer life. I served as PTO president and treasurer for a few years while my children were in grade school. I have served as a greeter and door opener for Trinity.
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Craig DaviesI enjoy being of service in the community. I work as an IT software engineer in Virginia. From the ages of 8-18, I sang in the cathedral choir in St. Asaph, North Wales, UK. I have a BEng degree in Engineering in the UK. In 2002 I moved to Virginia and still live here. For the past 15 years I have attended Trinity church weekly at the 8:30 and 11 a.m., services. I am committed to my Christian faith. I choose to be baptized as a teenager by the first female minister in the parish of Mold in North Wales. I believe in the teachings and values of the Episcopal Church. I enjoyed reading at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service and have been an usher for many years. On Monday nights I make a pot of coffee and setup chairs for weekly church meetings on Vint Hill in Nokesville.
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Carol McCracken
Having served in many varied Episcopal churches over the years, I believe I can offer some new ideas and support the transition into Trinity's next journey with Rev Talk. I am an Army spouse of a retired service member and have spent 40 years traveling the globe before settling in Woodbridge. My husband and I have five grown children who live nearby and are raising their young families now. I retired from Prince William County Schools to offer my services full time as a professional grandmother/babysitter to our family (that has currently grown to include 11 grandchildren!). We have been members of Trinity for 13 years and have been fortunate to have our children married in this church, and grandchildren baptized here. We attend the 11 a.m. service. I am both energetic and dependable, and eager to help in any way I am called to assist Trinity as we grow into the future with our new priest in charge. I was received into the Episcopal church 35 years ago (raised Catholic) and have served as a parish Treasurer, Hospitality chair, Youth Group leader and Meals on Wheels.
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Marian Patey
I have been attending Trinity since 2017. I am a member of the choir and volunteer, every month, with the Worship Ministry. I donate online every month and provide requested food items to the Food Ministry twice a month. Also, I am a volunteer for the "Altar of Hope" and the "Welcoming Committee." I would like to see Trinity grow, especially with new congregants who are willing to be actively involved by bringing their own special talents to light! I would like to see Trinity become more involved with other denominations in the area, especially in the sphere of a Social Justice Ministry. I am an active member of VOICE, "Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Events." I think I could bring my talents to the table so that Trinity becomes a more viable member of the community, not only physically but most importantly, spiritually. Furthermore, I am pretty good at fundraising! :). I have lots of energy, I enjoy meeting new people, and my glass is always "half-full."
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Trinity Episcopal Church 9325 West Street Manassas, VA 20110 Phone: 703-368-4231 info@trinityepiscopalchurch.org Office Hours Mondays thru Thursday : 9:00am-1:00pm Food Pantry Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the Month 11am - 1pm Priest-in-Charge Rev. John G. Talk, IV - jtalk@trinityepiscopalchurch.org Director of Church Operations Jennifer "JJ" Cooper - jjcooper@trinityepiscopalchurch.org |