Distinguished Women

Amy Lancaster

Province III – Diocese of Pennsylvania

In 1997, while serving as superintendent of Sunday Church School, Amy was notified she was appointed Representative of the Bucks Deanery to the Board of the Episcopal Church women (ECW) of the Diocese. Thus began a journey, a ministry, and an adventure.

Amy had taught school in three dioceses in Virginia, and was aware of the Historic Black Colleges (HBC) there. At her first Board meeting, she was not bashful raising questions and starting a discussion about an endowed grant award that was going to North Carolina, revealed in the detailed treasurer’s report.

Bylaws and other changes were made to have only committees of Worship, Fellowship, Mission, and Advocacy, along with United Thank Offering (UTO) and Finance. Through the years, Amy served on several of these committees.

ECW remains a large part of Amy’s life. She has been president, immediate past president, and the UTO representative. With the support and help of Bishop Bartlett and Bishop Turner, the UTO committee did all the screening (including mandatory site visits) and processing of UTO proposals. This practice continues. Today the ECW functions with a steering committee of at least five. Amy serves as treasure on that committee to this day.

Mary Parsons

Province III – Diocese of Delaware

Mary is a life-long member of the Episcopal Church. She served for many years on the ECW Board in Delaware.

She has served many years in her local parish, St. Mary’s, Bridgeville, DE.

Dottie Arthur

Province III – Diocese of Maryland

Dottie is a cradle Episcopalian and has been involved in many aspects of the church.

She has served as Vice President of Province III for three years, Province III Representative to the National Board of Episcopal Church Women for three years and was a member of the Province III ECW for 16 years and served on the nomination committee several times.

Dottie was a delegate to the Maryland Diocesan Convention for 10 years, served on the vestry for three 3-year terms and for 25 years was in the choir, served on the Altar Guild and was a reader and chalice server. Besides her involvement in the church, she is a wife, mother, grandmother and an active member in the community.

Alyce Peiffer

Province III – Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

Alyce has been a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in York, Pennsylvania since her teenage years.

She married her husband Don in 1972 at St. Andrews. She enjoys singing in the choir and has long been a member of the Altar Guild.

She has made various full sets of vestments for the church as well as altar linens. At a Diocesan ECW Annual Meeting we presented a stole that was designed by the board and sewn by Alyce to the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, Audrey Candy Scalan.

Joanne Hutchison

Province II – Diocese of New Jersey

Joanne Hutchison is a life-long Episcopalian and currently a member of Holy Trinity, Wenonah, in the Diocese of New Jersey. At Holy Trinity, Joanne is the directress of the Altar Guild.

She uses her talents as a seamstress to adorn the church with hand-sewn frontals and vestments. Joanne’s artistic vision and leadership have assisted her in leading the floral committee, and she decorates the church with beautiful flowers, often from her own gardens, during Christmas, Holy Week, Easter and other special occasions.

Joanne has received the Jubilee Ministry, Kitchen of Hope Community Service Award, and is active in several service organizations. She has served as the outstanding Secretary of the Diocesan ECW Board and also served on the Diocesan Altar Guild Board. She is married to Gerald, her husband of 54 years, has two daughters and three grandchildren. She is moved always by her love of God and her church.

Vernese Smith

Province II – Diocese of Long Island

Vernese became a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Long Island in 1997. She served the church in many key positions. Her former priest had this to say about her, “her service was accomplished with distinction.” For this she received the Bishop’s Cross. Vernese often reminds other sometimes discouraged ECW members that “when we do God’s work, we do it willingly.”

Vernese’s invitation to one 18-year-old member of the parish to attend an ECW meeting resulted in gaining 10 other new members from this group – an opportunity for these young people to see ECW at work.

She continues the work of building God’s kingdom without giving it a second thought. Because of her service to ECW and the church near and far, we are pleased to honor Vernese Smith as the Distinguished Woman from the Diocese of Long Island.

Elizabeth Crawley Higginbotham

Province I – Diocese of Rhode Island

I began working for the Episcopal Church in 1994 as a Parish Administrator of one of the Diocese of Rhode Island’s larger churches, St. John’s in Barrington.
It was my first entry into the Episcopal Church, having been raised a Roman Catholic. After 13 years, I became the Executive Assistant to the Bishop, the Right Rev. Geralyn Wolf for 5 years. Upon her retirement I served the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisley, remaining in that position until my retirement December 31, 2021.

I was blessed to have found this ministry in both my parish and the bishop’s office. Passionate about outreach and co-founder of Beyond Our Walls, a volunteer organization focused on a yearly Great Day of Service, uniting hundreds of volunteers to serve a variety of organizations in need, I also was instrumental in growing Loaves and Fishes, R.I., a mobile feeding ministry.

In my retirement I await that next outreach adventure. I married an Episcopal priest, the Rev. John Higginbotham, in November of 2020, have two adult children, 3 adult step-children and one step-grandson. I am humbled and grateful to receive this honor from the Episcopal Church Women.

Valzie Peterkin

Province I – Diocese of Connecticut

Valzie is a member of St. John’s Parish in Bridgeport. She has been a Sunday School Teacher and also elected to positions of leadership, serving as both Junior and Senior Warden.

She has served on the finance committee, worship committee and is a Liturgical Assistant. Valzie has served on the ECW Board of the Episcopal Church Women as the treasurer, Triennial delegate and both 2nd and 1st Vice President.

She was the Diocesan President 2012-2018, served on the CT BDEC Mission Council for the diocese and as sub-dean of the Bridgeport Deanery. On the Province level she served as Vice President. In the community she served as president of the Bridgeport Industrial Management Club, the West Indian American Association and the Bridgeport Council of Churches as recording secretary.

Valzie is married to Vinton Peterkin, is the mother of two, guardian of three and grandmother of four.