The Konnarock Retreat House Board of Directors
Jean Shepherd Hamm, Chairperson
Jean, a native of Southwest Virginia, received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Radford University and her doctorate from Virginia Tech. She taught high school English for thirty-one years, then taught at East Tennessee State University for four years, and is presently an assistant professor of English Education at her alma mater Radford University.
Jean’s mother and aunt graduated from Konnarock Training School and two other aunts and other relatives attended the school, so it has always been a part of her life. Jean’s doctoral dissertation is a collection of oral histories of women who attended or taught at Konnarock. She has been working with the Konnarock Retreat House since 2003. Her husband, Robert, has been active in the restoration of the building. Jean and Robert have two adult daughters. She is a life-long Lutheran whose pastor for many years was Kenneth Killinger, the minister who convinced the Women’s Missionary Society to begin the work at Konnarock.
Jean is the author of Term Paper Resource Guide to the Middle Ages, is a major contributor to the three-volume World Monarchies and Dynasties, and has contributed to Bloom’s Literary Themes, The Borderlands: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Politics on the U.S.-Mexico Divide, Encyclopedia of World History, Facts on File Companion to World Poetry: 1900 to the Present, The Encyclopedia of the Caribbean, The Encyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Middle Ages, Women in American History: An Encyclopedia and other reference volumes. She has also authored pedagogical articles and is a peer reviewer for scholarly publications. She has made more than thirty professional presentations at state, regional, and national conferences.
Peggie Wingler Baldwin, Vice-Chair
Peggie Baldwin is a graduate of Konnarock Lutheran School who has long been devoted to civil projects. After retiring from her job at the American Chemical Society in Washington, DC, Peggie and her husband returned to Southwest Virginia to make their home where she is owner and president of Whitetop Beauty Shop. Peggie worked with the US Forest Service and Congressman Rick Boucher to successfully rebuild Whitetop Train Station, one of the favorite stopping places along the Creeper Trail. Baldwin continues to serve as president of the supporting organization.
In addition, Peggie is vice-president of Whitetop Library and was instrumental in convincing the Wythe-Grayson Library to open a branch there. She also spends time volunteering at Mt. Rogers School on fundraising activities and worked with Mt. Rogers Fire and Rescue Squad. She served on the board of directors of the O. Winston Link 10-K Race. All of these activities involve Peggie in fundraising from selling items to writing and administering grants.
Peggie is also actively involved in the Grayson County Red Cross organization and is an officer of the Electoral Board of the Mt. Rogers precinct of Grayson County. She presently serves as vice-president of Konnarock Retreat House, Inc.
Monroe Herring
Monroe Herring brings the “Spirit of the Appalachia” to Konnarock Retreat House (KRH). Lifetime residents of Kingsport and neighboring Blountville Tennessee, Monroe, along with his wife, Carolyn (Harr) Herring, enjoy family and community life. Monroe enlisted in the Army in 1956 with active duty and reserves for six years entered an apprenticeship program for plant maintenance with the Eastman Kodak Company. He was promoted and served in the Power and Services Division, retiring in 1994. He and his wife have two sons and a daughter, and their spouses, as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. An active member in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), Monroe has served in numerous positions throughout the greater Church. At his home church, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Blountville, TN. Monroe’s’ talents and service have included Sunday school teacher, various standing committees, lay and visiting minister, Church Council and Church Council President. He serves Meals on Wheels, and provides assistance to many local volunteer organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, the Children’s Advocacy Center and the and the Kingsport Rescue Squad (life member and past board member). Monroe has been to the Gulf Coast on numerous trips providing disaster relief to Katrina victims. In addition to continuing his work there, Monroe also devotes time to mission work throughout the greater Appalachia region. He is actively involved in the Tennessee Virginia Lutheran Area Planning Committee, which helps to identify and assist key areas of local needs to serve the greater community, including HELP House in Bristol, VA. Regionally, for the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, Monroe has served numerous capacities, including Synod Council, planning and task force committees and election to Executive Council. Nationally, Monroe has been elected to serve as a council member for the Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia (ELCMA), a coalition of sixteen synods, two church wide units and numerous congregations and individuals joined together for mission in the Appalachian region. Additionally, Monroe was elected to represent the greater church for the ELCA on the Board of the Commission for Religion in Appalachia (CORA). ELCMA’s mission “TO CONNECT AND EQUIP GOD’S PEOPLE FOR CHRIST’S MISSION IN APPALACHIA” served as the founding organization for the Konnarock Retreat House, when the property transferred back to the church in 2007. Monroe currently serves as the ELCMA representative to the Konnarock Retreart House and as Property Chairperson for Konnarock Retreat House. He works with the architect in the renovation and update of the retreat house and its adjacent buildings. “Preserving the Past, Teaching to Enrich the Present and Building for Future” best describes his personal motto with his work on Konnarock. He actively works with the young and “young-at-heart” with a vision of bringing the region’s rich historic past into the current restoration phase of KRH. Monroe's quest is to inspire volunteers to “Catch the Spirit” of volunteering for service in the Appalachian Region and beyond! Konnarock Retreat House is looking for your talents, support and prayers! Monroe can be contacted at: mherring9@aol.com for your “Opportunity to Volunteer!”… CATCH THE ‘VOLUNTEER ‘SPIRIT’!
Mary Ann Shealy
Mary Ann was born in Greeneville, Tennessee; reared primarily in Virginia; and married a South Carolinian. Her undergraduate degree is from James Madison University, her masters and doctorate from the University of South Carolina. A public school teacher and administrator for 18 years, Shealy was Director of Development and served on the faculty of the Department of Leadership and Policy in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. In 2006 she completed ten years as Vice President of Development and Seminary Relations at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina.
In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Shealy was elected to the Advisory Committee of "The Lutheran" and later to the Division for Higher Education and Schools where she served as chair during her term. She is a frequent speaker having served as keynoter for several national events. An accomplished musician, she has served as President of the South Carolina Music Educators - Elementary Division. Accompanying groups and composing are two of her favorite musical activities.
Shealy was the first woman elected to the Executive Board of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCA), having previously served as President of the Lutheran Women of South Carolina. With the emergence of the ELCA, she was elected the first Vice president of the Lutheran Synod of South Carolina and served for nine years. Shealy has served as President of the South Carolina Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary sorority for outstanding Women Educators, and has served that organization as chair of the International Fine Arts Board. In 2003, Shealy was invited and participated in the prestigious Oxford Round Table in Oxford, England.
She resides in Gilbert, South Carolina, with her husband, Jim. They are the parents of two grown married sons and the grandparents of five. Currently Shealy is serving as organist/choir director of Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church in Newberry, South Carolina.
Neil Richards
Certified Public Accountant, BSed – Social Studies Concentration (1972) and BBA - Accounting Concentration (1975) from Ohio University. Past employment includes Cost Accountant for a B.F. Goodrich plant in Marietta, Ohio; Division Controller for Pattin Manufacturing, Marietta, Ohio; Assistant Controller and Controller for AMF Bakery Systems, Richmond, Virginia; Assistant Controller for Holliston Mills, Church Hill, Tennessee; Corporate Controller and currently CFO for Electro-Mechanical Corporation in Bristol, Virginia. Originally from Cadiz, Ohio, Neil is now a resident of Kingsport, Tennessee. He is married 30 years to Penny Arvidson Richards, with one son. Neil is a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and an Associate member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kingsport, Tennessee. He holds membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Society of Accountants. Neil is fifty-eight years old.
Sue Brown Pickett
Sue, a native of Danville, Virginia and a graduate of the College of William and Mary, is an active lay person in the Virginia Synod of the Lutheran Church. She has been an elementary school teacher as well as a small business owner.
During her term on the Board of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, in 2003, she chaired the task force to study the feasibility of partnering with the Konnarock School Renewal Project and thus began her Konnarock journey. Living in the "neighborhood" of three great former presidents and observing the work of preserving places of historical importance, she feels there is a compelling reason to renew the Konnarock School for the expressed purpose of interpreting the valuable Appalachian history and culture as well as offering a place for retreat in an ever encompassing culture of ceaseless activity and stressful life concerns.
Sue has held leadership positions in the local and state Church Women United movement as well as Charlottesville community groups serving as President of the University of Virginia Hospital Auxiliary and other outreach organizations. She chaired the founding Leadership Team estalishing a new Lutheran mission congregation, Grace and Glory, in Fluvanna County and currently serves as a Lay Chaplain at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women.
Her family includes husband, Robert Pickett, six adult children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandson.
Herbert Chambers
Herbert was born in Konnarock, VA, approximately one-half mile from Konnarock Lutheran School (KLS). At that time it was called Konnarock Training School. He graduated from KLS in June, 1953 as a day student. In December, 1955, he and Patsy Ann Campbell, also a former KLS student, were married in the chapel at KLS.
Mr. Chambers began employment with the Virginia Department of Highways on a highway survey party. After approximately two years with the Virginia Department of Highways, he was employed for the next seven years at various civil engineering firms in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. In 1963, Herbert was employed by the Virginia State Police as a Trooper. After training in Richmond, he was assigned to Smyth County, VA for six years. In 1970 he was promoted to Investigator and assigned to the Appomattox, VA Headquarters. He attended Criminal Justice courses at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, VA. in the late 1970’s. Herbert attended the Virginia Forensic Academy in Richmond in 1976 and the Backster School of Lie Detection in San Diego, CA in 1984. Upon completion of these schools, he conducted both crime scene investigations and polygraph examinations.
Herbert retired in 1994 and returned to Smyth County in 2007 and now resides in the Chilhowie, VA area, approximately twelve miles north of KLS.
Our Nonprofit Status
The Konnarock Retreat House is a nonprofit entity incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and has been granted 501(c)3 nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions made to the Konnarock Retreat House are fully tax deductable to the extent permitted by current Internal Revenue Service Tax Codes.