Patsy Hayes
Patsy Hayes was born in Okinawa, Japan and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina just outside the Fort Bragg Army Base. Her love for the theater began in middle and high school winning awards in Forensics for Dramatic Interpretation and has motivated her to find ways to contribute to community theater. After two of her children performed in Thalian Association Youth Theater shows, she wanted to find ways to show her support so more children could find their confidence while performing for the community on stage. In 1990, she was awarded a North Carolina Teaching Fellow Scholarship and graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 1994. For 10 years, she worked as a middle school teacher here in the New Hanover County School System. Patsy earned a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology from UNC Wilmington. She served as the Director of e-Learning and became an integral part of online course and program development at UNCW. After 11 years at UNCW, she moved on to Global Client Success at Blackboard, Inc. Education Technology. She and her husband Tom, are now local entrepreneurs and both enjoy promoting local theater performances and creative arts. Patsy is motivated and passionate about community theater and believes in the strong impact it makes on children and adults alike. She is also grateful for the chance to perform on stage when possible. Her latest ensemble roles include Thalian Association productions of A Christmas Story, Little Shop of Horrors, Elf the Musical Take 2, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
REV. DR. CLIFFORD D. BARNETT, SR.
Rev. Dr. Clifford D. Barnett, Sr. is a native of Rockville, Maryland. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Livingstone College, a Masters of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary both in Salisbury, N.C., and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in the Renewal of the Church for Mission from the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has pastored in A.M.E. Zion churches in Kingstree, Rock Hill, and Eastover, South Carolina, Indianapolis, Indiana, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Portsmouth, Virginia. He was appointed to Warner Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Wilmington, NC in October of 2009. During the 14 years he pastored at the Brighton Rock AME Zion Church in Portsmouth, VA, he built and sustains a number of partnership that benefit families throughout the Hampton Roads area and across the nation. He established the Portsmouth’s Grandparents as Parents Support Group at the church for grandparents and other kinship caregivers who were raising their relatives. With the support of school superintendents, principals, and guidance counselors, support groups were expanded from the church and held in many of the elementary, middle, and high schools in Portsmouth and Chesapeake. As a result of the church’s recognition and that of Brighton’s Solid Rock, Inc.’s, a nonprofit organization that he founded, Rev. Barnett had many opportunities to speak publicly at civic, state and national events. He has addressed the Senate in Washington, D.C. about grandparents raising grandchildren and the need for support of kinship care families. He has also spoken at the National Children’s Defense Fund’s Grand Rally held on the steps of the United States Capitol in support of kinship care. Other ministries established during his tenure included the Study Buddies/Kid’s Café Afterschool Homework Program and the Bus Stop Mentoring Ministry. The Bus Stop Program, a ministry for high school students who waited for the bus in the church’s vestibule, was an opportunity for church volunteers to mentor and encourage students who lived in the community. This ministry was recognized by General Colin Powell and included in his journal, “America’s Promise” which featured other programs across the United States catering to children and youth. In addition, he was also recognized in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC by President George W. Bush in 1999. Since being in Wilmington and pastoring Warner Temple Church, Dr. Barnett continues to be involved in the community. He serves as the Chairman of the Southeastern Dropout Prevention Coalition at UNC-Wilmington, Co-chair of the NHC Community Resilience Task Force, a member of the Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug Free – Tomorrow Committee, and was selected as a member of the D. C. Virgo Prep Academy Board of Advisors, where he also serves as a mentor to five boys weekly. He is also a member of Smart Start Board and the Boots on the Ground Ministry. He has been an integral part for the push of the First 2000 Days Initiative in New Hanover County. This thrust brings to light the effect of … » Continue Reading
Linda Stinson
Linda is an owner/partner in RLS Focused Solutions, a business coaching firm established in 2003. She has successfully completed programs in individual and organizational development and is part of continuing educational programs in those areas. Linda has worked with for-profit and non-profit organizations throughout the Carolinas in planning and business development and has conducted presentations at annual conferences/meetings for various organizations and associations. She has been a speaker at business forums and those presentations have included programs for the North Carolina Center for Non-Profits, The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life, and the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina. Linda has also presented programs for the Small Business Centers at Brunswick Community College and Southeastern Community College. Linda is a graduate of Leadership Wilmington and has served on the Board of Directors of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, acting as chairperson for two years, and the Board of Directors of DREAMS. Linda’s past experience includes 10 years with Ted Bates & Company, an international advertising and marketing firm and 15 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry serving individuals, groups of varying sizes, and corporate clientele.”
Wayne Roberts
Wayne Roberts was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. He is a graduate of Oak Ridge Military Institute and UNC -Chapel Hill. After graduation in 1965, Wayne settled in Greensboro N.C. with his wife, Diane. In 1971, he started Roberts Insurances Services Inc which over the next 37 years, became a regional leader in transportation insurance coverages. Wayne sold his company in 2008 and retired to Wilmington to a home he has had for over 10 years. He and Diane have two daughters and seven grandchildren four of whom also live in Wilmington. Wayne is a member of Wrightsville United Methodist Church and Wilmington East Rotary club. He also serves on the Landfall Architectural Review Committee. He looks forward to being part of Thalian Association Community Theatre.”
Thomas Plummer
Thomas Plummer was born and raised in Danbury, CT. He credits his love for the theatre to his grandmother, Diane Thorpe, who would bring Thomas and his cousins to see a play every Fourth of July weekend when they visited their grandparents in Westerly, RI. Thomas graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC in 2010 and has worked with his family owned business, Infinity Payment Systems, since 2011. Joining the Thalian Association Board of Directors in 2019, Thomas looks to bring awareness and support to the Thalian Association and their mission. Thomas is married to his beautiful wife, Colleen. They have two children; Camille, born in 2018, and James, born in 2020.
Emma Jackson
Emma Jackson the current New Hanover County Schools Federal Programs Director. Emma is a native of Belize. Except for a four-year period in the late 1960’s, where she served as a lecturer at Belize Teachers College, she has spent all of her professional life in the New Hanover County School System as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Executive Director of Instructional Services. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in New York and attended Washington University in St. Louis, New York University, and is a graduate of Fayetteville State and East Carolina Universities. Among the numerous state and local education committees on which she has served are her two terms on the NC Annual Testing Commission, where she chaired the Writing Sub-Committee, the NC Commission on Education for Economic Growth, the NC Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center, the NHCS Senior Quality Council and the Redistricting Committee. Emma has held leadership positions in many organizations. She has served as the Treasurer, and the President of the Churchwomen and the Sr. Warden of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the National Vice-President of Jack & Jill of America, Inc., local President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. She has also been a Board Member of the Cameron Art Museum and TACT. She is married for over fifty years to Russell Jackson and they have two daughters and a granddaughter.
