Distinguished Women

Lisa Towle

Diocese of North Carolina

The ECW of the Diocese of North Carolina is pleased to name Lisa H. Towle as its Distinguished Woman for Triennial Meeting 2022.

Lisa served as President of the Board of National Episcopal Church Women from 2015-2018.

Before that, from 2012-2015, she was Secretary of the National ECW Board. Prior to that, she led the church women of the Diocese of NC as President for 12 years and head of Christian Social Ministries for 3 years. Lisa has also been a proven leader in her home community.

Brenda Davis Hawkins

Province IV – Diocese of Mississippi

Brenda Davis Hawkins, Church of the Holy Trinity, Vicksburg, MS is the Diocese of Mississippi’s Distinguished Woman nominee. Married for 54 years to Russell Edward Hawkins, they have 3 married children and 5 grands.

She has served as President: Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary, Library Board, and Mental Health Association. Chairman of the Board: City of Vicksburg Zoning, Family Development, and Haven House Family Shelter receiving the United Way of West Central Mississippi’s Volunteer of the Year award and Leadership award.

Serving on Diocese of MS. ECW Board for 24 years, she’s been ECW President, Secretary, Convocation Coordinator, and Delegate to three Triennials.  Currently Brenda is UTO Coordinator for the Diocese.

At Holy Trinity, Brenda is in ECW, Daughters of the King, Lector, Pastoral Care and Docent Chair welcoming visitors, sharing history, architecture, and beautiful stained-glass windows. Brenda loves her Church and takes great pride in sharing its beauty and Good News of God’s Love.

Judy Weber

Province IV – Diocese of Louisiana

Judy Weber has been a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Morgan City, LA for over 50 years, having taught Sunday School, sponsored the youth group with her husband, served as president of Trinity Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and in various other offices.

Before COVID she was a Lay Eucharistic Minister, still serves on the Altar Guild and sings in the choir.  Because the church is presently without a rector, she leads Morning Prayer some Sundays when a supply priest is not available.

On the diocesan level, Judy served on the Executive Board of the Diocese of Louisiana as well as the Executive Board of ECW and as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention. On the ECW executive board she was Southwest Deanery chair and Church Periodical Club Chair.  A delegate to Triennial in 2012 and 2015, in 2018 she attended the CPC meetings in Austin.

After retiring from teaching, Judy became a listener for children at a local elementary school, volunteered for an after-school program for high school students where she tutored, taught baking, introduced them to classical artists, and taught them to play canasta. She also served on the board for the program.

Rev. June Johnson

Province IV – Diocese of Georgia

The Reverend June Johnson is a native Georgian, born in Albany and currently living on Tybee Island on the coast from Savannah.  A graduate of the University of Georgia and Candler School of Theology at Emory University, she was ordained a priest in 2009. Married to Kent Failing, they will celebrate their 32^nd wedding anniversary in May.

June has served three churches in the Diocese of Georgia: St. John’s in Bainbridge, Holy Nativity on St. Simons Island and now serves All Saints on Tybee Island (her home church).  She says that these are the three best churches in the Diocese and is so blessed to have served in each.

In addition to her parish work, she serves as a Trainer for LWG, a member of RJGA (Racial Justice Georgia) and is currently the Chaplain for the Diocesan DOK.  She devotes time to the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization, Forever Tybee (a group working for transparency in city government) and the Ethics Commission for the City of Tybee.

She is active in the Tybee Island Ministers Association.  This year Tybee is returning to its traditional Easter Sunrise Service on the Pier – Hallelujah!

Lydia Bush

Province IV – Diocese of Florida

Lydia, a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Live Oak, FL, is involved in many ministries.  She has served as lay reader, altar guild member, acolyte, youth group leader, and adult Sunday school instructor.

She attended Cursillo, worked on many teams and served as Rector. She attended two DOK Triennials.  Lydia serves as the liaison to our companion church in Cuba and has made several mission trips there.  She coordinated the committee that built the Labyrinth behind our church.  Her calling to become a Deacon was affirmed by St. Luke’s parish.

After retirement from the State of Florida, she led the parish in establishing Shepherd’s Hands, a free charitable clinic for our community.  She was appointed administrator of the clinic and led it to expand to other locations. Lydia was ordained Deacon in January 2020.  When the pandemic hit, Lydia served a crucial role, holding our parish together.

Our rector retired and in-person services ended.  She organized communication avenues, formed a committee to reach out to shut-ins, arranged to hold services on Facebook, led studies and meetings on Zoom and truly kept us connected.  Lydia is an outstanding leader, servant and humble follower of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Dale Dreps

Province IV – Diocese of Central Florida

Ms. Dale Dreps has served in many leadership positions in her parish.  They have included VP of the Women’s Guild at St. George and President of ECW plus sponsoring a diaper drive for local mothers.

As an avid golfer Dale sponsors an annual charity golf tournament, fashion show, Christmas tour, yard sales and other events.

Her leadership has taken St. George to the next level. She looks forward to serving whenever and wherever needed.

Kay Williams

Province IV – Diocese of Alabama

Kay Williams serves as deacon of Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn, Alabama, a community of predominately African American and Hispanic residents, many who are low income and homeless.  GraceWorks, founded by Kay in 2013, recognized the need to serve inner-city youth.

She established a summer program for children and teenagers ages 11-14,  designed to help reinforce academic success, develop positive character traits, teach life lessons and skills, discover personal strengths and talents, and grow spiritually.

The ministry includes developing rain catchments in the grounds, a “Food Forest Garden” with fruits and vegetables, and refurbishing an adjacent building (known as Grace Place) to provide a free laundry service, a warming station, food pantry, and chapel.

Additionally, Kay has been instrumental in organizing all of the necessary supplies, funding, meals, and volunteers for GraceWorks and Grace Place, raising awareness for the program by involving whole congregations at the other Episcopal parishes in the Birmingham area, recently hosting our Birmingham ECW Convocation meeting. GraceWorks shares Christ’s love with those that are less fortunate, blessed by the hard work and dedication of Kay with a lasting impact on those who serve and live in the Woodlawn community.

MaryRose Chappelle

Province III – Diocese of Washington D.C.

MaryRose Chappelle has been an active member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Washington since 1956. She has served as Vestry member, Chair of St. Ann’s Guild, Advisor to the Youth Committee, Church School teacher, Church School Superintendent, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Bereavement Officer, and President of the Episcopal Church Women and Girls of Calvary.

At the diocesan level, MaryRose served as convention delegate, member of the DC Chapter of Union of Black Episcopalians(UBE), Chair of the Annual Absalom Jones Celebration, and member of the Committee on Racism.

MaryRose has been recognized for her service in her church, community and the District of Columbia. These recognitions include Resolutions from the Council of the District of Columbia, the Outstanding District of Columbia Employee Award, the District of Columbia Public School’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Girl Scout Thanks Badge Award, the highest adult honor attainable for service with the Girl Scouts, USA.

MaryRose was the first African American to receive the Knox Award, the highest adult honor in the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, the Outstanding Church Woman of the Year Award, the Martin Luther King Outstanding Community Service Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Union of Black Episcopalians.

Cynthia “Cindy” Helton

Province III – Diocese of Virginia

Cindy Helton enjoyed a career in public education, retiring after 35 years. She was received into the Episcopal Church in 1981.  Attending St. George’s Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia, she serves as a lay leader on church commissions, as a teacher and youth leader, a coordinator of the United Thank Offering, as a lay prayer minister, as warden and in various roles of leadership in the ECW. She has provided leadership as a member of the Commission on Racial Justice and Healing.

Appointed by the Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston in 2018, Cindy served as ECW President of the Diocese of Virginia for four years, keeping the organization functioning during the pandemic by serving one year beyond her term.  This ECW Board of Directors is dedicated to eliminating Human Trafficking and facilitating Racial Reconciliation. Cindy was recognized by the group as “a trailblazer in promoting diversity and furthering the work and creating beloved community within the ECW and the Diocese of Virginia.”

Cindy feels that she has grown and been enriched through her work with the ECW, her church, and her community.

Dr. Angela M. Parker

Province III – Diocese of Southern Virginia

Angela has served on the Diocesan level as Diocesan ECW President, ECW First Vice-President, Special Stewardship Chairman and Convocation VIII Chairman.
She has served on the Ecclesiastical Court, Executive Board, and Standing Committee on the Diocesan level. She has served her community for 41 years in the Brunswick County Public Schools system. Angela also served as Adjunct Professor at the former Saint Paul’s college, Lawrenceville Virginia.

Angela is currently serving her church as Church Treasurer, music minister, President of the ECW, President of the Altar Guild, Eucharistic Minister, Visiting Eucharistic Minister, Worship Leader and Lay Preacher.

She has also chaired or is the coordinator of the following committees or activities: Easter Egg hunt, Vacation Bible School. Church Outing and Prayer Breakfast, Christmas Coat Drive, preparing Food Baskets for needy families in Brunswick County. Angela is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the Union of Black Episcopalians. Angela is currently the Board Chairman for the Brunswick County Teachers Federal Credit Union.