2021

Ernest Rose

Ernie Rose grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. He has been attending First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte for 18 year. Ernie loves the friendly people, the beautiful building, and the music here. In his spare time, Ernie loves to play golf, ride his bicycle, and walk his dog – in addition to working around his Masonic Lodge and his home.

2022

Alzie Lee

Elder
Alzie is originally from Jamaica and Long Island, New York. She has been an active member here at First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte for ten year and loves the friendly people. She also likes the tremendous support the church offers the community. She is in her first year as a deacon and in addition to her church activities, Alzie enjoys gardening, reading, and crewel embroidery.

2023

Nancy Sharpless

Elder

Nancy’s parents moved to Punta Gorda in 1978 and joined First Presbyterian because many of their New Jersey friends were members here; in fact, some lived directly across the street. Whenever Nancy, who lived and taught in Miami at that time, visited her parents they would attend Sunday services at here.

Nancy enjoyed the excellent sermons of Rev. MacDonald and the friendly congregation. When Nancy moved from Miami, FL. To Punta Gorda in the summer of 2000 to help her parents, it was natural that she soon joined the church. Always interested in children and children’s programs, Nancy started volunteering for special events of Small World. She was also recruited to help man the information desk in the Narthex and for many years greeted people as they came for the Sunday service. Soon Nancy was not only volunteering for Small World but she was asked to be on the Small World School Board. This evolved into helping with Sunday School then teaching the elementary Sunday School. She was asked to be an Elder in 2013. Nancy has continued to be active with the Christian Education ministry, the Scholarship committee and the Food Pantry.

Elaine Woods

Elder

Having been born into a family of strong believers, Elaine has never known a day without the love and grace of Christ. She grew up with deep-faith family members and became actively engaged in the Methodist church at a very young age.

Being dedicated to “making a difference,” she has served in many capacities in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches over the years, working with the youth and adults alike. After being raised in different churches, Elaine and her husband, Ambrose, were led to the Presbyterian church where she has served in numerous capacities, including Liturgist. She currently serves as chair of the Worship Arts committee and Personnel committee and serves on several additional committees. She also is a member of the Presbytery Committee on Ministry. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13, “The Greatest Gift”. She is a firm believer that God leads each of us in his church to love, that love can conquer all, and that our faith is lived out by humbly serving others.

2021

Barbara Edwards

Deacon Originally from Calilfornia, Barbara Edwards has been attending First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte for four years. She loves the fellowship and ministry she experiences here. Barbara has served as a deacon for two years. In addition to her volunteering at the church, Barbara enjoys gardening, crafts, and going to concerts. Since becoming a FPCPC member, Barbara has been a faithful choir member and sings solos during the summer months when the choir is on hiatus. She is serving her second year as a Deacon and leads as the Deacon Moderator at this year’s meetings. She also represents the Deacons at the Session meetings and is a member of the Personnel Committee. Other committee duties include serving on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Veterans’ Committee, and chair of the new First Friday Fellowship Committee. Barbara is one of Santa’s elves during the Santa Run, helps with most of the social events serving meals, and helps decorate the Sanctuary at Christmas time.

Jean Heim

Deacon What Jean Heim likes best about First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte are the people, the teachings, the Sunday worship services, and the church’s service to the community. Originally from Connecticut, Jean loves playing Mah Jongg, reading, and playing the organ (for personal entertainment.) She has been attending FPCPC for fifteen years and has served as a deacon for a little over a year.

Sandee Pellerin

Deacon Sandee has lived in this community for thirty-eight years, after being born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. God lead her to First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte about five years ago. She is active in our Food Pantry ministry. Sandee is the epitome of an extraordinary volunteer, a Christian through and through. If there is a social event with food, you will find Sandee in the kitchen cooking a delicious treat! She spends hours in the food pantry helping to bring meals to the tables of approximately 500 clients. She is also Santa’s chief elf! Eight years ago, she started a Santa Run for her neighbors’ children and it has grown to the entire Parkside neighborhood by bringing books, Santa stockings, and gifts to over 300 children. On January 2nd, she started planning improvements for the Christmas 2020 Santa Run.

2022

Veronica Walters

Originally from Jamaica, Veronica has been attending First Presbyterian Church Port Charlotte for 21 years and has been very active as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, Outreach and Christian Ed committee member, church librarian, and evangelism leader. She enjoys reading, cooking, and crocheting in her spare time. What she likes most about our church is its people.

2023

Norma Campbell

Deacon Norma Campbell is the third of nine children born to Osmond and Lillet McLennon in Jamaica, West Indies. She has four brothers and four sisters. Trained as a registered nurse in Jamaica, she migrated to the United States along with husband Howard and worked at Royal Hospital in Bronx, NY, in Neonatal ICU, surgical nursing, and critical care for thirty-three years. Her husband died in 1996, and Norma retired in 2013 after forty-six years. Norma has three adopted children: Rochelle and Yanique, who live in New York, and Jason, who died in 2012. She also has a step daughter who lives in Georgia. She has eleven grandchildren. At age 12, Norma became a member of the Presbyterian Church in Jamaica. Once in the U.S., she always found a Presbyterian church where she lived. She sang in the choir, was a member of the Women’s Circle, a member of the hospitality committee, and an ordained elder. At First Presbyterian Church in Port Charlotte, Norma found a new home, where she says the people are “warm and friendly.” She appreciates the “inspiring sermons” and is always available to members. Being at FPCPC, “just feels right!” Norma is now a newly-appointed deacon and sings in the church choir. In her spare time, she does gardening and baking. She has two pets, a dog named Jethro and a parrot named Spike.

onna Young

Sandy Asaro

Elder, Clerk of Session, Trustee

Sandy Asaro has been attending FPCPC since the age of 3 and has been an active participant in a variety of ministries over the years. In addition to the joy that she experiences from serving our church, she also loves teaching 6th grade Math at Punta Gorda Middle School. Her educational background includes attending public school from grades K-12 in Charlotte County, Edison Community College for her Associate’s Degree, and Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers for her degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership. She is currently pursuing a M.A.C.E. (Master of Arts in Christian Education) degree through Union Presbyterian Seminary’s online program to learn more about her passion for Christian Education. With Sandy’s deep interests in education and serving the Lord, she really loves having an active role in leading the children and youth programs at our church. Using her leadership skills to serve FPCPC in the roles of Clerk of Session and Christian Education Chairperson is something that Sandy would also say brings her a deep sense of joy and enthusiasm. She sums up her church service by saying that God placed a statement on her heart one day, “I don’t have the time to serve but I have the heart to serve,” and this deep commitment has made a difference in allowing God the time and space to work in and through Sandy.

Ambrose Woods

Church Treasurer, Trustee

Ambrose was born in Louisville, Kentucky where he lived until attending Indiana University where he received a degree in Finance and Accounting. Upon graduation he had a thirty-five year career as a CPA and Chief Financial Officer for a large corporation.

As the son of a Pentecostal pastor, the teachings of Christ were instilled in him as a young boy. As an adult, his faith journey led him to the Baptist church where his commitment to serving others began. When he and his wife, Elaine, married thirty-five years ago, they felt called to the Presbyterian church. Over the years, Ambrose has served in numerous capacities and currently serves as an Elder and Treasurer of FPCPC, however, his most cherished service is greeting and welcoming everyone to worship services where a sincere smile, a warm handshake, and a few kind words can touch many lives.

Nancy Sharpless

Elder

Nancy’s parents moved to Punta Gorda in 1978 and joined First Presbyterian because many of their New Jersey friends were members here; in fact, some lived directly across the street. Whenever Nancy, who lived and taught in Miami at that time, visited her parents they would attend Sunday services at here.

Nancy enjoyed the excellent sermons of Rev. MacDonald and the friendly congregation. When Nancy moved from Miami, FL. To Punta Gorda in the summer of 2000 to help her parents, it was natural that she soon joined the church. Always interested in children and children’s programs, Nancy started volunteering for special events of Small World. She was also recruited to help man the information desk in the Narthex and for many years greeted people as they came for the Sunday service. Soon Nancy was not only volunteering for Small World but she was asked to be on the Small World School Board. This evolved into helping with Sunday School then teaching the elementary Sunday School. She was asked to be an Elder in 2013. Nancy has continued to be active with the Christian Education ministry, the Scholarship committee and the Food Pantry.

Dottie Gamble

Deacon

“I am a well blessed Christian with lots of love and happiness to share with the world.” She was raised by two wonderful parents who made sure she and her siblings went to church each Sunday “whether we wanted to or not.” And she raised her own children the same way. They had to worship God on Sunday and the only reason they could miss church was if sick. She moved to Port Charlotte 48 years ago from Bridgeport, Connecticut and starting coming to the First Presbyterian Church. Later, Dottie joined the church and became very active. Dottie says, “I am still working for the grace of God. My prayer is when we bring God into something, it will turn out well blessed in the end.”