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spring 2010

Newcomers

Agnes and Stan Browning by Jennie Helderman
Jowell Thome by Jowell Thome

Betsy and Jeffrey Gaccione by Sherry Terlemezian
Diane Farnell by Diane Farnell

Agnes and Stan Browning

by Jennie Helderman

The Brownings

Stan Browning can't bowl. That's important for Ann-Louise Browning, aka Ava. Ava arrived on January 10, 2010 and right now she commands the Stan and Agnes Browning household.

Stan and Agnes first visited All Saints’ in November, 2009. They were drawn to the music, the architecture and, later, to Geoffrey's ministering style and the children's pageant. "We had been to several churches, but one service at All Saints’ was all it took. We made our choice," Stan said, "and we felt a part of the church from day one."

He practices law with a Wake Forest classmate in Lawrenceville, a reverse commute from their home near Piedmont Park. Law was always his goal, even in another career. As he tells it, he was a small town Georgia boy and seventeen when his rebellion was tamed by the U. S. Air Force. He saw duty during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and acquired enough discipline to graduate cum laude when he finally got to college.

He had played football and other sports, but he never learned to bowl. He caved in to the insistence of an acquaintance who was forming a bowling team. While others ran up big scores, Stan kept the alley clean. One other team member was as unskilled as Stan, and Stan met Agnes. He found her adventurous and a good listener. She liked his laugh.

Agnes is French (Agnes pronounced N-yes). A faculty-exchange program had assigned her to teach French classes at Norcross High School in 2005. That's where a co-worker pressed her to join the bowling team, she met Stan, and her commitment extended from one year to lifetime. She and Stan married in 2007, and she still teaches in Norcross.

She had taken short-term teaching positions abroad before, once tutoring French students at the University of Pittsburgh. In another, at Cardiff, Wales, she was the one who learned. There she taught children with severe learning disabilities. "They measured progress in small increments," she said, "and I learned how rewarding a little progress can be."

The daughter of an architect, Agnes grew up in Metz in a centuries-old house her family has always owned. Her father is an authority on historical restoration of churches, hence her interest in architecture. Other interests also derived from family influence. Both parents loved classical music and insisted on formal training for their children. Agnes plays the piano and violin and spent years with ballet. Her sister is a concert violinist, and her brother plays the sax in clubs.

"She's just short of a PhD in English literature, but what she was taught about the United States didn't get past New York." Stan said. "I'm trying to explain southern culture to her."

And southern history and geography, a few miles at a time. They enjoy exploring as a pastime, from Flannery O'Connor's home to Tallulah Gorge to Indian reservations. "I even picked cotton," Agnes said. "From a distance, it looked like snow."

Exploring the Episcopal Church is their next priority, now that little Ava has come. "We want this to be her spiritual path," Agnes said. "Everybody at All Saints’ shares their talents and what they know. We're eager to join in."

"But not in the choir," Stan said. Neither of them can sing.

Nor can they bowl.

Little Ava will appreciate that someday.

Jowell Thome

by Jowell Thome

Thome

I am a cradle Episcopalian, raised in the Cathedral of St. Philip. After four years in an Episcopal boarding school, I graduated from Samford University. While in Birmingham, I attended St. Luke’s, with John Claypool as rector. After working in Dallas and Charlotte, I returned to Atlanta. For several years, I was a member of a mega-church. The teaching was very effective, and the church was well organized, and constantly growing. I found myself wanting something more.

I kept longing to return to my Episcopal roots. Over the years, different people had told me about All Saints’. I found myself looking at the website and finally began to visit. As I considered membership, I thought Kanuga would be a good way to get a feel for the parish. I met a lot of great people in a short time. The final service at Kanuga was very powerful. At the end of the weekend, everyone joined in a very robust version of “When the Saints Come Marching In.” Everyone who could play an instrument did. There was not anyone who was not singing. It was a truly glorious celebration. My choice to become an All Saint was easy.

After a short while at All Saints’, I began to realize the differences between the mega-church and All Saints’ were quite drastic:

Both communities of faith are good in their own way. It might take one’s being away from the Episcopal Church to really understand what is so special and powerful about our traditions and liturgy. For me, it is all about where people are in their journey. In my own, I am fully and thankfully at All Saints’.

Betsy and Jeffrey Gaccione

by Sherry Terlemezian

The Gacciones

Upon moving back to Atlanta two years ago, Jeffrey and Betsy Gaccione found their way to All Saints’ through bunko and book club. They returned to Atlanta after six years in California, and once they settled in, Betsy connected with Johanna Patelidas through her bunko group of long-time college friends. Johanna invited Betsy to join her book club but was especially eager to have both visit All Saints’. Betsy and Jeffrey immediately felt at home with our architecture, unique blend of traditional liturgy, beautiful music, diversity, and forward-thinking philosophy.

Betsy was raised in the Episcopal Church at Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta, Georgia where they were married eight years ago. Jeffrey grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and has dubbed the Episcopal Church “light Catholic.” Both Jeffrey and Betsy transferred their memberships and had their son baptized on February 7th.

Jeffrey grew up in Albany, Georgia and attended Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio. He is currently working for UBS Financial Services as a Trust and Estate Planning Specialist. During their six years in California, Jeffrey’s passion in his free time was surfing. However, back in Atlanta, he is ‘a surfer without waves’ and has returned to his former favorite – music. Betsy affectionately calls him a “wanna be rock star”. He plays the guitar and is learning as much as possible about the recording side of the industry.

Betsy graduated from the University of Georgia with a major in real estate. Following graduation, she worked for Wachovia in Atlanta. In California she worked for The Irvine Company, a private commercial real estate developer, raising debt capital for its developments and acquisitions. She has continued this back in Atlanta on a remote basis for Irvine and has expanded to work with other local developers. She plays tennis and is a member of The Junior League of Atlanta, a book club and a bunko group.

Diane Farnell

by Diane Farnell

The Gacciones

Diane is a CPA working for The Coca-Cola Company here in Atlanta. Originally from Detroit, MI, her family moved to Americus, GA when she was a teenager. What a culture shock! Following her high school years in Americus, Diane graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. After a few years in Big Four public accounting, Diane eventually was referred by her baby sister, Karen, for a job at Coke. Almost eleven years later, she’s still there! In 2008, Coke gave her the opportunity to work in Madrid, Spain for three months. It was one of greatest experiences of her life.

Diane lives with her little dog, Ellie Mae, in a loft in Reynoldstown – near the inner city neighborhoods of Cabbagetown and Inman Park, and even after four years in Americus, she claims to be a city girl at heart. She enjoys international travel, playing the piano, cooking at home with her boyfriend, and dining out with her girlfriends, "The Fancy Girls."

Diane was raised a Roman Catholic, and went to Catholic schools for most of her childhood. As an adult, she was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Midtown for eight years before leaving in 2008 in search of something different. Her first day at All Saints was Ministry Sunday last year. She knew immediately that this church really was something special. She has attended All Saints for over a year now, and recently participated in the fall GIFT group. She and her boyfriend, Billy Edwards, are enjoying the fellowship of their Foyer Group and are looking forward to getting more involved in the many ministries at All Saints.

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