Eleven people who have completed the first two orientation sessions or transferred from another UU congregation have become new WUU members since January 2020. Please reach out to welcome each of them to our community!
Elizabeth Ashby retired in 2015 as a finance advisor at the University of Phoenix in Phoenix to become her grandson’s nanny. She lived in Orange and Manassas, VA until coming to Williamsburg in February 2019. The Arbors at Towne Park was a great choice for a retirement community. WUU has been a gift to her. She looks forward to being a part of this loving community.
Clay Blanton
Susan Childs relocated from Connecticut when her late husband was transferred with Siemens Automotive to their Newport News location. She earned her AS degree in Business from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT while working in various positions at AT&T (formerly Southern New England Telephone). She retired a second time after working with Kingsmill Realty as an Administrative Asst. She and her late husband enjoyed traveling both internationally and here in the US. Susan enjoys cycling, reading, working out and attending the mediation groups with the Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha. She lives with Lester, her 8 year old Chinese Crested Powder Puff. Susan was seeking a community of open minded, compassionate people and has found a home at WUU where she can continue to grow spiritually.
Steven Dominguez’s life journey started in Jersey City, NJ. Steven enjoys doing art and cooking. His wife Rachael comes from Atlanta, GA and grew up in UUMANE. Their paths crossed in New York City and became one. Their journey through life took them to Athens, GA where they welcomed their two sons, Aden (who is now seven) and Jackson (who is now five). They have been enjoying their lives and Williamsburg for the past 3 years where Rachael works for the post office and Steven is a homemaker. They’re looking forward to getting to know everyone in the WUU family better.
Louise Hamilton is a native Virginian, born in D. C. so as northern Virginians know, local news was politics which seems to insert it into the bloodstream. When her career Navy husband got orders to Superintendent of Shipbuilding in Newport News, the family came to the peninsula and fell in love with the area. That was late ‘60’s, and the love of Williamsburg has never lessened. Retirement from NASA has allowed her to more fully participate in the community, now having volunteered for CW for 20 years and facilitating a long-running writers group. She has attended WUU since the days of Randy Becker and appreciates the kind people here with values that coincide with her own.
Jonathan Alexander Newby is a native Virginian, raised in Chesterfield, VA with his younger brother, Braxton, by his mother, Regina, and late father, Jonathan. He currently attends the College of William & Mary, studying American Studies and Film & Media Studies, and has a passion for new media. Jonathan has a vast and varied record of involvement in the community, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Unitarian Universalist Circle campus ministry, as well as Vice Chair of the WATA Riders Advisory Committee, Executive Producer of Underground (a multimedia student publication centering marginalized voices), and many others. Further, Jonathan is involved with the Membership and Communications Teams at WUU, where he can put his passion for UU evangelizing to work. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys worldbuilding, writing poetry, and spending time with friends deep into the late hours of night.
Paula R Scruggs was born and raised in Washington DC. She lived in Alexandria and Fredericksburg before coming to Williamsburg, VA, five years ago.
She retired from her first job, after 30 years in 2000 and went to work for GEICO until 2004 until she decided to retire permanently and enjoy life. The first job provided her with a life long pension and medical benefits – much to be grateful for.
She likes cooking, cooking shows, detective mysteries and reading. She loves the outdoors and laments that she can’t run all the time like she did when she was younger. She loves classic cars and classic music. A lifelong fan of the Redskins, she wants to love them again, too. Appreciating everyday above ground, she is grateful that her spirit guide led her to WUU, where she feels welcomed and useful. She lives with her partner, Joanna, Beau – Airedale Terrier and two cats, Binky and Chewy in the City of Williamsburg. She misses the energy of face to face meetings and is hopeful for a positive outcome of the current spiritual challenge we are all facing.
Amber Spicer and Spicer Crew: Amber and her husband Hanes Spicer grew up in Williamsburg, VA. They both attended the same middle and high school, but began their relationship in college and were married shortly after. Amber received her BA in American Studies and Elementary Education from William and Mary. Hanes received his BA in Business and Marketing from Christopher Newport University. After finishing college, both Amber and Hanes worked in the Richmond/Henrico area and then in Virginia Beach for a few years before returning to Williamsburg after the birth of their second child. Currently, Amber is a school counselor for the WJCC School System and Hanes is a project manager for Streamline Roofing. They enjoy the hustle and bustle of the many convenient opportunities of Williamsburg life with their 3 children, Brynn (11), Benji (9) and Bowen (6). While running carpools to soccer, swimming, boat club, and lacrosse, the Spicers also enjoy cookouts with friends, boat rides on the Chickahominy, playing with their dog Bruno, traveling to meet family, and sharing peaceful and reflective moments together at WUU. It is over a year ago that Amber and her children began coming regularly to WUU. And, since then, each visit has led to moments that are truly meaningful, heartwarming, “cup-filling,” soul-searching, and enlightening. They are very thankful to be able to join in the membership at WUU and look forward to many continued moments together.
Kathy Sturgeon has been a Williamsburg resident since 1997. Having grown up and gone to college in Dallas, she moved to Los Angeles, where she did a Ph.D. in chemical physics at UCLA. She moved to Chicago for her post-doc but decided science wasn’t answering her questions. She went back to school in art, finally finishing an MFA in photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Kathy worked as a graphic designer at the Virginia Gazette for 14 years and is now happily designing for Liz Moore & Associates. She and her husband, Donald Ferguson, have one son, George. She is delighted to become part of WUU and looks forward to spiritual exploration.
Dave Welch moved to Virginia from Alaska 8 years ago and was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks (UUFF). He was a lay-leader, board member, and choral singer of that fellowship and has very fond memories of that beautiful congregation, and looks forward to making fond memories with the gorgeous congregation at WUU! Dave has worked for defense contractors since he got out of the Navy in 1995. He got his BS in management studies from the University of Maryland Global Campus after moving to Virginia. He currently is a Business Development Manager for an Alaska Native Corporation and writes proposals and capabilities statements to win government contracts. He is 1st Vice President of a local Lions Club and runs the annual Bland Music Competition for that organization. As you can see, Dave loves music, and looks forward to sharing his vocal pipes with the WUU choir!
Not pictured: Kerry Byers
We warmly welcome all of our new members. We are so glad you are here!