Board of Deacons

Our deacons provide care to all our members. Please contact Lynne in the church office or call her at (828) 274-0191 for more information about getting in touch with one our deacons.

Bill Carpenter (Class of 2027)

Bill is a lifelong Presbyterian and has served the church as an elder, deacon, and commissioner to the General Assembly. In addition to his service as a deacon at New Hope, he also serves on the Building and Grounds Committee and enjoys mowing the lawn! Born and raised in Greenville, S.C., Bill graduated from UNC Charlotte and remained in the Charlotte area for 40 years before he and his wife Terri retired to Asheville in 2015. Bill spent most of his career working in the criminal justice system, first as a deputy sheriff and then with the state probation and parole division. After retiring from state service he worked in mental health case management and in sales with outdoor retailer REI. Bil and Terri have one daughter. Bill enjoys writing, hiking, and Terri’s cooking. 

Shelia Chapman (Class of 2027)

​Shelia met her husband of 47 years, Frank Chapman, while she was in nursing school, and together they have one son, Joseph Chapman, who is 32, and who lives in Vermont. Shelia retired from Western Carolina University, where she was Associate Director of the School of Nursing and founder of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Her true vocation (and passion) is humanitarian relief, both internationally and in the US. Her most recent service was in the US Peace Corps, where she helped start the first nurse educator program in Eswatini (Swaziland).

Elizabeth Costlow (Class of 2026)

Elizabeth has lived in many places throughout her life but spent most of her school years in Ohio. She attended and was baptized in the Baptist church but has also attended regular worship services over the years at Methodist, Unitarian Universalist, Congregational, and Quaker churches. After majoring in Sociology & Anthropology with a minor in Biology, Elizabeth worked in health care for 30 years. Her interests have long been in social justice, animal rights, and the care of the earth. Elizabeth enjoys being with friends and family, hiking, dancing, gardening, needlework, baking, and more!

Tom Fife (Class of 2026)

Tom and his wife Jan made New Hope their home in 2016 after moving from New York to Asheville to be near their 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 and then as a school bus driver, but he never lost his love of traveling and learning about other cultures. Tom has served the PC (USA) at both the local and Presbytery levels, and his interests include camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. 

Jean Harley (Class of 2028)

Jean was born and grew up in Kingsport, TN, and was active in the First Presbyterian Church there until leaving for college at Wake Forest University. Jean earned a BA in elementary education and then a master’s in education with an emphasis on school counseling, which she worked in for 30 years while raising 3 children who are now adults—a dermatologist, a chef (retired) turned contractor, and a lawyer at the DOJ. Jean loves her family, her book clubs, her volunteer work, and travel. She is passionate about social justice and serves on our Justice & Reconciliation Committee in addition to her work as a deacon.

Ann Moorefield (Class of 2027)

Ann is a lifelong Presbyterian and a graduate of Wells College and the University of Michigan. In 2019, Ann moved to Asheville from Clinton, SC, where she had taught English and Women’s Studies at Presbyterian College and raised four amazing children in full cooperation with her beloved husband, David, a Presbyterian minister, who also taught at PC. In Clinton she was also active in the church and in the community, especially in areas affecting women (Girl Scouts, League of Women Voters, feminist book club, etc.). One of Ann's great passions was serving as a Stephen Leader within Stephen Ministry. A resident of Deerfield Retirement Community, Ann enjoys participating in a variety of activities and making new friends, both at Deerfield and New Hope.

Jean Moxley (Class of 2028)

Jean spent her early years in Commerce, Georgia, where the Presbyterian Church was a big part of her life. In her first marriage she lived and taught in New Orleans and Okinawa where she met people who expanded her view of the world and God’s love. She moved to Greensboro, NC where she was active at First Presbyterian Church. Teaching at the elementary level was her calling. After 9 years of raising two daughters alone, she met and married Russ and added 4 step-daughters to her family. She and Russ enjoy living in Asheville and visiting 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild in Texas and NYC. Jean spends her time hiking, doing yoga, and learning new music to share with her harp.

Cal Reid, Moderator (Class of 2026)

​Cal Reid was raised in North Carolina and belonged to an historic Presbyterian Church outside of Charlotte, where several generations of his family had worshiped. He met his wife, Elsie, while attending college, and they both moved to the Washington, D.C. area to continue studies and work. In late 2014 Cal retired from a privately held engineering and construction firm as a senior principal engineer. Just before leaving Maryland, Elsie and Cal celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. For forty years they were members of Potomac Presbyterian Church, where Cal served as Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister. He continues to participate in science and religion discussions and the men’s book club with his friends from Potomac. Interspersed with travels to see the grandchildren in California, Cal is currently struggling to teach himself fingerstyle guitar. 

Karen Ward (Class of 2028)

Karen was born and raised in Dayton, OH, and was very active in her Methodist church there. She went to nursing school in Cincinnati and worked there after graduation. After living in Miami for 2 years, she took off for the west coast, living in San Francisco for 43 years. There she became active in the Presbyterian Church for 37 years, singing in the choir, serving as a deacon and an elder, assisting in monthly wholeness and healing services, and taking communion to the homebound. Karen traveled to Europe on tours with her church choir, and to many other countries on her own. While in SF she also completed a full-time, one-year intensive to be certified as a Hospital Chaplain. Her nursing career was mainly in the Operating Room, which gave her the experience to be part of five medical trips to a village in Guatemala. She moved to Asheville in 2012 and lives at Givens Estates. She is so grateful to have found a home at New Hope Presbyterian Church.