Looking Out For The Community’s Best Interests.

Pleased with the past, planning for the future.

The officers and members of the Board of Directors of the Westminster-Canterbury Foundation have faith in our mission, pride in our success, and confidence in our future. 

Mr. Scott P. Ayers

Mr. Ayers is President/Managing Broker at The Property Shoppe on Shore Drive and Vice Chairman of City of Virginia Beach’s Bay Front Advisory Commission. He has been a resident of Virginia Beach since a family military move in 1963. He received a business degree from the College of William and Mary in 1970. Just two years later he began his real estate career which now spans over 40 years. Scott enjoys a wealth of real estate knowledge and is often quoted in local newspapers. His business philosophy is quite simple. “Always make sure you and your employees use the most current tools available to your profession and treat your customers with the empathy of a good neighbor.” The Property Shoppe has been managing and leasing residential properties in South Hampton Roads for over 30 years. Scott also serves on the Shore Drive Commission.

Mrs. Helen Bernd

Helen received her BS and MS degrees in nursing from Old Dominion University as well as completing training as a Nurse Practitioner.  Work experiences were at the Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters, Norfolk General School of Nursing as an instructor and finally as a nurse practitioner for the Navy.

As a mother of three, Helen was very active in her children’s PTA’s at all levels.  Other volunteer work included The American Heart Association and Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters.  At CHKD she was on the hospital board and also chaired the Norfolk City Union of the Kings Daughters which was the founding organization of the hospital.  Helen was on the Old Dominion University Development Board and started the visiting health nurse program at her church.    

Mr. Donald Glenum

Don retired from Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) with more than 36 years of service.  His primary responsibility at NS was guiding the annual operating budget process.  He received his B.S. in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.  He serves as Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Chesapeake Bay Academy Board and Treasurer of the Chesapeake Bay Academy Educational Foundation Board.  

Dr. William Hedrick, Vice-Chair

Born and raised in Lewisburg, WV and graduated from Marshall University before attending graduate school at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA where he earned the B.D., Th.M. and D.Min. Degrees. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister and a member of the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia. Bill’s first pastoral experience was as Assistant Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach from 1969-1974. From 1974-2001 he was the Executive Director of Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services, one of three nationally accredited service and training centers of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. For nearly four decades, Bill has had the privilege of providing marriage and family counseling, as well as providing services to those with adult life transitions such as anxiety, depression or other life changing events. He was a Diplomat in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy before retiring in 2010. Bill continues to work one day a week as a service to the faith communities of Virginia Beach. 

Mr. Robert S. Herbert (Steve)

Steve Herbert is a former City Administrator, Economic Development professional, City Planner, and Naval Officer. He currently volunteers for profit and non- profit organizations including the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, Lynnhaven River Now and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Commonwealth of Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organization (JLC). He is also a member of the City’s Military Economic Development Advisory Committee (MEDAC). He is married to Sally Newton Herbert and they have two grown sons. Mr. Herbert is a former Vestry member and Senior Warden at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Va. He retired in November, 2013 as Deputy City Manager for the City of Virginia Beach. Prior to that he held positions as: City Manager for the City of Suffolk, Va.; Chief Plans and Policy Officer and Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Portsmouth, Va.; and Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Norfolk, Va. Steve has also worked in the private sector as a defense contractor for the firms of Booz Allen Hamilton and SAIC. Prior to that he served as an officer in the United States Navy, retiring from the Naval Reserve in 1999 with the rank of Captain. On active duty he served in Viet Nam and on warships in the Pacific and Atlantic. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds a Bachelor of City Planning degree. He also earned an MS degree in Administration from George Washington University.

Dr. Judy Jankowski

Dr. Jankowski began her tenure as Head of School at Chesapeake Bay Academy in Virginia Beach in 2013. She has over 30 years of experience in education, serving first as a special education teacher and later as an administrator in independent schools outside of Chicago and Washington, DC. Dr. Jankowski received her Doctorate in Education at National Louis University and completed post-graduate study in Leadership for Independent Schools at Johns Hopkins University. She is currently President of the Chesapeake Bay Academy Educational Foundation, serves on the Horizons Hampton Roads Board of Trustees and is a member of the CIVIC Institute. Judy is delighted to lend her expertise in education and non-profit governance to the Westminster Canterbury Foundation.

Dr. Terry Jenkins

Terry has been a resident of WC since 2016. She spent the majority of her career with the City of Virginia Beach and retired in 2008 as the Director of Human Services. Prior to that, Terry served as the Executive Director of the Community Services Board for Virginia Beach. She is also very active in the community and currently serves on the board of the South Hampton Roads Hospice House,  the Community Organization Allocation Committee for the City of Virginia Beach, the Deferred Compensation Board for the City of Virginia Beach and is Chairman of the Building Committee for the Virginia Beach United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Beth Ann Lawson

Beth Ann R. Lawson is a member attorney at Carrell Blanton Ferris & Associates, PLC. She assists seniors, baby boomers and families with estate planning, asset protection from long-term care costs and special needs trusts.

Prior to joining Carrell Blanton Ferris, Beth Ann was the principle of the Law Office of Beth Ann R. Lawson, PLLC as well as a co-founder and a former managing partner of the Virginia Beach Law Group. Prior to her legal career, Beth Ann was President of the consulting firm, Strategic Planning and Teamwork.

Beth Ann received her B.A. in Political Science and English from Virginia Tech, her Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University and her Juris Doctor of Law Degree from Regent University.

Beth Ann has published articles on various topics to include Protecting Loved Ones with an Effective Power of Attorney; Transferring Wealth in Blended Families; For Love of a Father; and Give the Gift of Love: A Prenup published in Executive Life Style Magazine. Beth Ann participated in a collaborative elder law book with a chapter on The Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Seniors published in 2015. Beth Ann presented Virginia CLE training in The Probate Process from Start to Finish.

Beth Ann is a vocal advocate for educating seniors and their families on how to age with legal power. She enjoys speaking to community groups on how to legally protect the pride, dignity and assets of our Virginia seniors and veterans.

Mrs. Linda Hoy Lowrance, Chair

Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, Linda Hoy Lowrance graduated from Granby High School, attended Mary Washington College and graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in Psychology. She was employed for the next seven years as a social worker and social work supervisor in Norfolk, Hampton and Accomack County, specializing in foster care and adoption. She retired from social work to raise her two daughters and then joined her Dad’s business, Hoy Construction, when her children started school. Linda continued to work part time and then full time at Hoy Construction until 2010.

Linda has been an active volunteer with CHKD, Make-A-Wish and has also served on various committees at Thalia United Methodist Church and on the board at Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Center.

Currently Linda’s time is spent serving her Church as Chairman of the Finance Team, singing in the choir, reading and studying the Bible, golfing, and most importantly planning visits with her daughters and three grandchildren in South Carolina and Taiwan.

Mr. George “Skip” Roberts

George “Skip” Roberts moved to Westminster-Canterbury from the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia with his wife, Kay, and black Labrador.  He still practices law from his office in their apartment. 

Beginning his practice in 1971 with a prestigious firm, Skip provided legal services to some of the Valley’s largest businesses, financial institutions and wealthiest families. From 1991 to 1998, he became the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the VMI Foundation, running one of the largest college endowments in Virginia as well as helping to guide VMI through its litigation over its all-male admissions policy. In 1998 he joined a major Richmond law firm as co-head of its business practice group, then was named the Managing Director and General Counsel for a New York based investment firm, overseeing the business, legal, charitable, investment and tax affairs of a leading Wall Street investment banker and private equity firm founder.  

Skip’s extensive nonprofit experience includes acting as the Interim President of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia, and serving as President of the Stonewall Jackson Foundation and as a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of VMI Investment Holdings, LLC.  The latter oversees the VMI endowments in excess of $500,000,000, one of the largest endowments on a per student basis of any public college or university in America.

Mr. James (Jim) Russell

Jim is a retired Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and major shareholder in an investor/manager group which controlled and operated several manufacturing companies throughout the country. He is a current resident of WC and serves as Chairman of the Resident Finance Committee. 

Rev. Joe Varner

Joe is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. He attended Randolph-Macon College and Duke Divinity School. Currently, Joe has been serving as the pastor of Thalia United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach since 2016.  He is also the President of the Board for the Foundation 4 Orphans, which lifts communities through service to orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. He and his wife Morgan have two young daughters and they love spending time with family and friends.

Mr. Les Watson

Les is a resident of Virginia Beach and Partner at Wolcott Rivers Gates law firm in Virginia Beach. He has served on boards such as YMCA of South Hampton Roads, Meals on Wheels and Virginia Beach SPCA.

Mrs. Shirley Wharton

Shirley retired as Sr. Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Sentara Healthcare. She was employed by Sentara Healthcare for 40 years. She has served on several community boards including Optima Health Plan, Tidewater Aids Crisis Taskforce and the Children’s Aids Network Designed for Interfaith Involvement. She has been an active resident at Westminster-Canterbury since 2010.  She has served on the Resident Relations Committee, Health and Wellness Committee, and the Finance Committee.

Mr. Forrest Williams, Secretary/Treasurer

Forrest E. Williams, Jr. serves as Managing Partner for The Opus Group and has been in the financial services industry since 1993.

Forrest is an Investment Advisor Representative with MML Investors Services Inc. and is also registered with the State of Virginia as an Insurance Consultant. He works primarily in the areas of asset management and corporate retirement plans.

Forrest received his Bachelor’s Degree from Old Dominion University in 1983 and remains an ardent supporter of Old Dominion University athletics.  He currently holds the CLTC (Certified in Long Term Care), CFBS (Certified Family Business Specialist) and CFS (Certified Fund Specialist) designations and has appeared on WTKR-TV and WVEC-TV commenting on investment strategy during trying times. He also holds his Series 6, 7, 24 and 65 investment licenses.

Forrest is very active in the community. He served as Past President of the oldest and largest Kiwanis Club in Hampton Roads – The Kiwanis Club of Norfolk and remains currently active in his Kiwanis Club. He also served as President of the Norfolk Kiwanis Foundation.  He is a 1999 alumnus of Leadership Hampton Roads and has served on the Board of Directors of the Old Dominion University Alumni Association, Greenbrier Country Club, Kinloch Golf Club and is currently a member of Bayville Golf Club. He is also a member of the Golf Digest Panelist Board-where he performs ratings of premier golf courses all over the country.  Forrest has also been very active with numerous athletic associations that his children are involved in as a coach and mentor.

Mrs. Mary Wolfe

Mary received a BS degree in Textiles & Clothing from Iowa State University and an MBA from West Chester University of PA. She has owned a small business, assisted other small businesses, and taught at the University of Delaware, where students voted her the Outstanding Faculty Member of her college. Textbooks authored by Mary are used internationally in high schools and colleges. Additionally, as a lifetime volunteer Mary has been active on two school boards, many church and community boards, and with hospice and the elderly.