Doris Custer
Director of parish operations
Being raised by a military dad and a German mother, Doris couldn’t help but be drawn to Organizational Management (her BS degree from Bluefield University in Virginia). She feels called to church administration and has been working for various churches/denominations for the past 25 years. Raised in the Roman Catholic faith tradition, she begrudgingly visited an Episcopal Church in 1990 and felt immediately at home. She continues to worship at an Episcopal Church. Doris is married to Dale and they have two children, one very perfect grandchild, and two not-so-perfect cats. She loves to spend her free time outdoors, visiting breweries, and reading…with a cat or two on her lap, of course. Doris asks that you not judge her organizational skills by the state of her desk.
Sarah Forti
ASSOCIATE MINISTER
Sarah grew up in the Richmond, Virginia area and attended VCU for Religious Studies. She has a Masters of Divinity from Portland Seminary and also attended Wesley Theological Seminary. Sarah teaches Contemplative Leadership and Group Spiritual Direction at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and began serving St. Michael’s in January 2023. Sarah directs our programming for missions and outreach, children’s ministry, youth ministry, spiritual formation, retreats, and the Art Gallery. Sarah assists in worship through preaching and leading music. She enjoys writing songs and sharing her music with the community, including writing music for St. Michael’s. Sarah lives in Ashland with her husband the Reverend Nicholas Forti, and their son Thomas.
How do I contact Sarah?
Grant Hellmers
Director of Liturgical Music & Organist
Grant Hellmers is Organist and Choirmaster at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Bon Air, VA. Prior to this position, he was Organist and Music Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA, where he directed the four choirs (three singing, one handbell). He has also directed the Richmond Renaissance Singers and then the Richmond Concert Chorale for many years. A native of Australia, Mr. Hellmers holds an honors degree in music (B.Mus.) from the Canberra School of Music and a graduate degree in education (M. Ed.) from the Canberra College of Advanced Education. In Europe, he studied organ with Anton Heiller in Vienna at the Hochschule für Musik, and with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris. Choral and church music studies were at the Royal School of Church Music in London, England. He participated in masterclasses with Anton Heiller and Daniel Roth at Haarlem (The Netherlands), with Jean Guillou in France, and with Hans Vollenweider in Zürich. In the U.S., he has played in masterclasses conducted by Gillian Weir, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet, and many others. He has given organ recitals in Vienna, Paris, for OHS Conventions, and in Richmond, Roanoke, Staunton, and elsewhere. Active in the Richmond AGO Chapter, Mr. Hellmers has been Dean and has served on various committees, including the Program Committees for the 1995 and 2017 Regional Conventions.
How do I contact Grant?
The Very Rev. Dr. Jeunée Godsey
Rector
A graduate of Georgetown University and Virginia Theological Seminary, she is passionate about helping each person experience the life-changing transformation that comes from a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. She believes that when we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” God takes us seriously. God uses the Church and each Christ follower to help build God’s kingdom here on earth through healing, outreach to those in need, justice, reconciliation and love. Rev. Jeunée has three adult children, enjoys hiking, traveling, playing the ukulele, and is often tempted by dark chocolate.
How do I contact Jeunée?