The Very Reverend Alan Kim Webster

The Very Reverend Alan Kim Webster is a graduate of Lynchburg College with a BA Degree in Theatre and History. A diploma graduate of Lynchburg General Hospital School of Nursing and is currently licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse. He was called to ordained ministry in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, Virginia and is a proud graduate with a Masters of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. His ministry included service as chaplain at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, Virginia, Vicar at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Altavista, Virginia, and as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Waynesboro, Virginia for 13 ½ years. He arrived in Charleston, West Virginia the second Sunday in January 2017. The Very Reverend Webster is married to the former Carol Jean Weidner since November 1980. They have two sons, two daughters in laws and one grandson, Michael Sean Webster and his wife Kestrel Joy Elliott of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Matthew Scott Webster, his wife Rachel Webster, and their son Felix Randolph Webster of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Susan Ferguson, Parish Administrator, and her family have been members of St. Matthews for over 10 years. She and her husband Rob were married in 1999 and have one son Adam. She is a CPA and a graduate of Marshall University and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. Susan worked in accounting until her son Adam was born and was home full time for several fun filled years. Susan returned to work part-time and began in her most recent job as Parish Administrator in 2017.

Karen Morris, our organist, is a cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has been the organist at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church since 1997. Currently, she is also the music teacher at Mountaineer Montessori School. Previously, she taught Kindermusik at St. Matthew’s, where her studio program received Maestro status, a distinction reserved for the top five percent of Kindermusik programs worldwide. She has also taught music at YMCA preschool and been the music clinician at several summer music camps, including Creative Capers and the Charleston Stage Company’s Summer Art’s Camp. She has accompanied many musical groups, including WomanSong Chorale and Mountain Laurel Ensemble. She is co-chair of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association-Charleston District and current treasurer of the Kanawha Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and often performs in AGO member recitals. Karen is most proud of her private piano and organ studio. Several of her students have received music awards and scholarships to attend summer workshops and college.

John Marshall has been the Director of the Adult Choir and Handbell Choirs at St. Matthews for the past twenty-two years. Before that, he was Director of Choirs at the First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston from 1975-1995. An honors graduate of Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston), John taught vocal music, band, and theatre for Kanawha County Schools before his retirement in 2013. He has been Musical Director and Orchestra Conductor for the Charleston Light Opera Guild since the 1980’s and has either performed in or musically directed over 100 productions for that organization. In 1998 John was the recipient of the Outstanding Individual Artist Award for the Mayor’s Award for the Arts, is a former nominee for the Governor’s Arts Award in 2014, and will be honored by his alma mater in the spring of 2017 with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in the Fine Arts.

Teresa Carmen Whitt, Director of Family Ministry, is a graduate of the Victoria University of Manchester, England, with a Master’s Degree in Art Gallery & Museum Studies, and the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History, and a Certified Educator in Early Childhood Education with over seven years of teaching experience from PreK to middle school. Teresa was a Museum Director/Curator for ten years, including programming, public relations and exhibitions. She has also served as a City Chief of International Relations for the City’s Sister Cities International Committee. She has been a guest lecturer and speaker for numerous organizations and events. Teresa is also in charge of social media for St. Matthew’s. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets and travelling in her spare time.

Mickey Compton, Nursery Director, is from Birch River, Nicholas County. She attended school at Nicholas County High School and West Virginia State College. She has three daughters, Shamelle, Rebecca and Melissa Kelley, as well as six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She ran a personal care home for thirty-two years and did child care for the state of West Virginia for six years. She has been at St. Matthew’s since 2013.

Kristi Harvey is our Nursery Aid. She and her husband Brandon were married in 2018. They have two daughters. She grew up in Poca, WV and attended Putnam Career and Technical Center while attending Poca High School followed by Bridge Valley Community and Technical College. She worked as a Registered Dental Assistant with five Expanded Function Certifications for over 13 years. She recently started working as a Dental Sales Associate for Dental Professionals. She has her Basic Life Support Certification for Infant and Adults in addition to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. She enjoys spending time with her family and always looking for a DIY project.