Board of Deacons

Joy Lee Eppes

Joy Lee was born and raised in Charlotte, where she attended Sardis Presbyterian Church. In 1960, she married Bill, and together they have one son, Ryan, who lives in Plainville, Massachusetts. Joy Lee can best be described as a “professional volunteer,” having served on the Board of Directors of the Mansfield Massachusetts Council on Aging and the United Way. She was also a member of the School Superintendent Search Committee and the Mansfield Town Manager Search Committee, delivered Meals on Wheels, and is an advocate for parents and children. After living in New York, Massachusetts, and Maine, Joy Lee and Bill returned to North Carolina in 2006. Contact Joy Lee. 

Tom Fife

​Tom and his wife Jan made New Hope their home in 2016 after moving here from New York. They have been married for 37 years and have a daughter in Candler. After growing up on a dairy farm, Tom earned his BS in Agriculture Education at the University of Georgia and then served in the Peace Corps for seven years, first in Peru and then domestically as a recruiter. He later worked for Cornell University’s Quality Milk Program for over 26 years, but he never lost his love for traveling and other cultures. Before retiring to Asheville, Tom enjoyed driving a school bus and getting to know the students. He has served the PC(USA) at the local and Presbytery levels, and his interests include camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. Contact Tom at tomwfife@gmail.com. 

Mary Jo Limbird

A South Carolinian by birth, Mary Jo enjoyed a long career in California as a special education teacher after receiving her Masters in Special Education from George Peabody College for Teachers. She met her husband Glenn in Orange County, California, and they later lived in the Sacramento area, as well as in Loomis, California. After retiring in 1999, she and Glenn moved to Fairview, North Carolina and made New Hope their church home. Mary Jo has served on the Session, taught children’s classes, worked with Vacation Bible School, and has been active on various committees. In addition to serving as a deacon, she also sings in the choir. Contact Mary Jo.