Mary Ellen never expected a global pandemic to be the turning point in her life, but after getting stranded abroad during COVID, she knew it was time for a change. Retiring from the oil industry after a globe-spanning career, she set her sights on finding a safe, family-friendly place that offered cultural richness, educational opportunities, and plenty of outdoor activities. Williamsburg turned out to be just the spot.

Originally from Wilkes-Barre in northeastern Pennsylvania, Mary Ellen holds a B.S. in Accounting from Bloomsburg University and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of New Orleans. Her professional journey took her around the world—including expatriate assignments in Qatar, Indonesia, and Chad—but now she’s enjoying life closer to home.

You’ll often find her walking the trails at Veterans Park, shooting hoops, or diving into her new favorite pastime: beginner pickleball. She also loves camping, hiking, fishing, and exploring craft and music festivals. Her Coca-Cola memorabilia collection is almost as impressive as her seashell stash, both of which reflect her love for collecting the unique and meaningful.

Mary Ellen brings a global perspective and a detail-oriented mindset to her role as Finance Manager at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Her background in corporate finance and international operations, paired with her love of structure and numbers, helps ensure WUMC’s resources are managed with care, integrity, and purpose.

Meet Our Kid's Morning Out Director Kathleen Jones

I am excited to serve as the Director of Kid's Morning Out! You may already recognize me from my time as the KMO Assistant Director, from substituting in every classroom, or as a fellow KMO parent. It has been a joy getting to know our children, families, and staff, and I look forward to building even stronger relationships in the year ahead.

Originally from northern New Jersey, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and German Language and Literature from The George Washington University and later received my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the University of Virginia. Before transitioning into education, I spent ten years working for the Department of Defense with the Defense Human Resources Activity. I also previously served as the Director of a Mother's Morning Out program in Birmingham, Alabama, an experience that deepened my passion for creating nurturing, engaging environments for young children and their families.

My husband and I stay busy cheering on our four children at a variety of sporting events around town. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Kid's Morning Out and look forward to partnering with our families as we help our children learn and grow in God's love together.

Stacey moved to Williamsburg from Connecticut to be closer to family. She has two grown sons; Ben, who is on active duty with the US Coast Guard, and Cameron, who lives on Cape Cod and teaches Spanish at Cape Cod Academy. She also has two crazy YorkiePoos, Abby and Grover.  While Stacey has spent the bulk of her career in education, both in the classroom and in administrative roles, she has also owned a tearoom and a kitchen store. Stacey brings leadership, marketing experience, and creativity to WUMC.

Stacey’s passion lies telling the stories of the church, its activities, and its missions to the greater Williamsburg community, and to welcoming new individuals and families into the congregation. In her position, Stacey helps keep the church’s digital world running smoothly. She oversees email communications, the website, and core platforms, and manages the Church Management System (Realm), including the member database and online portal. She also supports digital forms and texting systems, making sure information is organized and accessible to staff, volunteers, and the congregation. Stacey partners with the church’s committees to help share their messages and promote events, ensuring the community stays informed and connected.

Stacey loves cooking, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her family and her dogs.  On weekends during warmer weather, you will find her at the beach with her granddaughters, Sija and Callie. Above all, Stacey loves meeting new people and listening to their stories.

To reach Stacey, email sgardner@williamsburgumc.org