Meet The Staff
Mary Beth Blinn, Pastor
marybeth.blinn@providenceumc.net
Growing up in Kentucky, the child of a United Methodist pastor dad and a homemaking mom, Mary Beth was active in the life of the church. At Emory & Henry College, she met her husband, Bob, with whom she has been a partner in ministry. They are the parents of two adult children, Anna Blinn Cole and Christopher Blinn. She received a MDiv degree at The Divinity School at Vanderbilt University. Her ministry has included Cedar Hill UMC, Cedar Hill, Tennessee; three churches of the Christiansburg (VA) Parish; pastoring in the Red Bird Missionary Conference in Harlan County, Ky.; Kernstown UMC, and most recently as District Superintendent of the Danville District. Currently, her husband, Bob, is the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Disputanta, VA. They live in Richmond.
Charlotte Cervarich, Preschool Director
Charlotte came to Providence in February, 2011. She received a BA in Education and an MEd. in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Her experience includes many years in corporate training at several large companies in the Richmond area. She has also spent 3 years at a local elementary school working with children in Special Education, and 10 years as a preschool teacher and assistant preschool director in Bon Air. She lives in Midlothian with her husband Bob, her daughter and her dogs and cats.
Susan Clark, Youth Director
susan.clark@providenceumc.net
Susan Clark has a passion for crazy teens and youth ministry. Originally from Chesapeake, VA, she earned her degree from VCU. Susan enjoys games without concrete rules, Friendly Franks from Friendly’s, and anything from the 80′s. She and her husband, Ted, have two daughters and live in Henrico County.
Isabelle Sullivan, Director of Christian Education
isabelle.sullivan@providenceumc.net
Isabelle has been a member of Providence church since 2003. She came on staff in 2007. Isabelle has a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors in Psychology. Coordinating opportunities for her brothers and sisters in Christ to learn what HE has in store for them is one of her favorite things to do. She is married to her husband Joe, and has two daughters.
Beverley Edwards, Director of Music Ministries
Beverley Edwards, our Director or Music Ministries, is a native North Carolinian and grew up in the military town of Goldsboro, NC. She has been active in music since middle school as a trumpet player and soon serving as volunteer pianist at her childhood church. She received a degree in Music Education from Barton College in Wilson, NC. Her proficiency was piano, and after graduation she served in the NC public school system as a director at both the middle and high school levels. After several years of public education, Beverly returned to graduate school where she studied piano performance, church music, and organ. She received her Master of Music degree from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Beverley has served churches throughout eastern and coastal North Carolina, most recently First Presbyterian Church in Dunn, NC where she directed a very active music program that included an accomplished adult choir, adult handbell choir, youth choir, children’s choir and handbells and MusikGarten in the preschool program.
Beverley is married to Michael, who is minister of May Memorial Baptist Church in Powhatan and has three children, Anna, Sophie, and Laura.
Kathy Smith, Office Manager
kathy.smith@providenceumc.net
Kathy began her office ministry at Providence Church in August of 1988. She is a member of the Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS). She and her husband, Wayne, have been married since 1969. They enjoy listening to music and watching movies together at home. Both Kathy and Wayne have completed all four phases of Disciple and Jesus in the Gospels. They also love sharing time with their families.
Linda Collins, Office Assistant
linda.collins@providenceumc.net
Linda joined the Providence office staff in November, 2009. Having retired from Philip Morris USA in 2007, Linda brings to Providence 33 years of administrative experience. She has been married to her husband, Al, since 1976. They have two children: Jennifer is in the US Navy currently stationed in Pensacola, FL, and Jason who lives at home and works. Linda is also the Organist at St. Luke’s UMC. Her interests include working on her computer at home, crocheting, reading, volunteering and playing the piano for several organizations in which she is a member.
April Basham
april.basham@providenceumc.net
April Basham works in our nursery on Sundays. She is first-aid and CPR certified and has worked with children, as well as children and adults with disabilities for many years. April also teaches two-year olds in pre-school full time.
April grew up in Chesterfield County and graduated from L. C. Bird High School. She has been a cheerleader for 19 years for some of the top all-star teams in the Richmond area. In her spare time, April enjoys traveling to Europe, cheering for CHEER CHALLENGE ALL-STARS parent team, babysitting, and road trips with family and friends. April currently lives in Powhatan, VA.
