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Louise Jennings, Founder & Executive Director

Board of Directors Bio's

Board of Directors​​​

Louise Jennings, Executive Director

Board Members:

        Vicki Barb, President

Jeanne Carter, Vice-President

Carleen Loveless, Treasurer

Sandy Pless, Secretary

Manny Fisher

Alec Gunn

Jennifer Jones

Pappy Pless

Pam Presgrave

Harvey Senger

Alvin Yoder

Louise Jennings, Executive Director

Louise was raised in Chesapeake, VA, graduated from Deep Creek High School, and graduated from Chowan University in 1956.  She worked a variety of jobs over the years, and had two daughters.  Her first marriage ended in divorce due to drugs and alcohol abuse.  Jesus saved Louise in 1975, gave her a second chance with a new husband and five stepchildren, and moved the family to the Shenandoah Valley.

In 1977 Louise and her husband Shel answered an altar call in a little United Methodist Church, and started going into Camp 8 Prison with the minister.  In 1983 Louise and Shel chartered Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach.  Louise has been volunteering ever since.

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​​​​​​​​​Rev. Vicki Barb, President

Vicki was born and raised in Shenandoah County, and went into the ministry in 2007.  It was at this time that Vicki met Louise Jennings at the United Methodist Church Annual Conference in Roanoke.  We were introduced by Rev. Glen Early.  In 2012, a fellowship was formed, of which Vicki was a part, and it was then that Louise asked Vicki to become a Board member for Kingsway.

Jeanne Carter, Vice President

Jeanne Elisabeth Carter is a manager at SunTrust Mortgage.  She was initially impacted by Kingsway Outreach more than 15 years ago.  That’s the first time her ex-husband went to prison and her life changed.  She found herself struggling to pay the bills and keep her family together.  Little extras like money for school field trips or pictures was not going to happen without help.  Jeanne went to People Helping People and asked for assistance with a utility bill. They were able to pay the bill but they also gave her some priceless information because she fell into a unique category.  She was working a full-time job so that meant her income was over the limit for most assistance programs from social services.  They told her about a local organization that was run by a couple in Rockingham County called Kingsway.  She had never heard of them, but she was willing to reach out to anyone who could help in her time of need.  She called Louise and Shel Jennings and told them that her husband was currently incarcerated and their 5 children would really appreciate any help she could provide.  Her daughter had an upcoming field trip to the circus in Richmond and to a restaurant for lunch afterward.  Kingsway gladly covered that cost and even made food donations to her family on a regular basis.  Jeanne would get a phone call anytime and be given instructions to come to the Kingsway office to pick up boxes of non-perishable items.  What a tremendous blessing!  Many years later, now that her children are adults, Jeanne is anxious to share with others the joy that Kingsway provided for her family.  Many organizations are willing to help those who are incarcerated but not everyone remembers the spouses and children that are also affected by that person being removed from the household.  Kingsway Outreach helps those families in their time of greatest need and Jeanne is proud to now be in a position to help others in that same situation.

Carleen Loveless, Treasurer

I entered this world on September 15, 1948, in Olean, New York.  My early spiritual training was at a Free Methodist Church, and it was at one of their summer camps that I received Christ as my personal Savior at the age of 12.  One of the tenets of the church was that you could lose your salvation, so I went forward many times to re-receive Christ.  However, around the age of 14, I began to attend a local Baptist church, and discovered that it was Christ holding me, not me hanging onto Him.  That took a lot of pressure off from being perfect, and I began to learn the scriptures and even participated in quiz teams.  Also, our youth pastor at the church really stressed the personal walk with Christ, and I began to grow in my faith.  I was baptized at that church around the time I was 15.  From there, I attended a 3-year Bible college with the intent of pursuing a teaching career.  However, I lacked the funds to attend the final year required to get my teaching degree. 

At the age of 20, I met my husband, Don Loveless, who had come to faith in Christ during his stint in the Navy during the Vietnam era.  A year later we were married, on July 25, 1970.  Both of us were always interested in ministry and served with Teen Haven in southwest Buffalo until 1973.  With the birth of our first child in August 1972, Don felt the need to consider a more stable income, and we left the ministry.  During the ensuing 50 years of marriage, we remained active in various ministries as well as in our local church.  We now have 3 grown children and 9 grandchildren. 

When it came close to the time that I knew I would retire, I began asking the Lord how He would like to use my retirement years.  Shortly after that prayer, I heard Louise speak at one of our area Lenten services, and felt God nudge me in that direction.  I began volunteering in various capacities at the Kingsway office in the fall of 2016.  While I can bring some office skills to the ministry, my real desire is to work with people and disciple any who are interested in growing in their relationship with the Lord.

Sandy Pless, Secretary

Sandy grew up in and spent most of her adult life in Northern Virginia.  She and her husband, Pappy Pless, were married in 2011, and were blessed with the chance to move into a pastoral log house in the Shenandoah Valley in 2012, which they now share with two adult daughters, 6 cats, a Lab Retriever, and a Greyhound.  Sandy’s 30-year career was as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, working in emergency medicine, private practice, and most recently in the clinic of a local SPCA.  She is currently driving a school bus for Augusta County.  Sandy started serving in prison ministry after Pappy became involved with the Kairos ministry after moving to Staunton.  Sandy and Pappy met Louise Jennings at an Emmaus monthly reunion in 2012, and eventually became more involved with Kingsway.  Together they serve at Kingsway church services and other events at Augusta Correctional Center, at various Kingsway events, and at Coffeewood Correctional Center when time allows.  Sandy has previously served at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women with the Kairos ministry.  Sandy has recently assumed the role of editor of Kingsway's newsletter, The Kingsway Banner.

Sandy and Pappy are members of Community Fellowship Church in Staunton, where they are involved in a Home Group, a fellowship group, and on the sound and video team.

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Manny Fisher

Manny Fisher has lived in the Shenandoah Valley since December of 2006 after moving from Lancaster, PA. He and his wife, Mary, who grew up in Harrisonburg, have two children who have been homeschooled, and love calling the Valley their home.

Manny grew up in a large family in Lancaster County on a small dairy farm, and went to a little private school.  He was raised in the Amish culture, and gave his heart to the Lord at the age of 21, knowing that "God needed me to move on in order to fulfill His calling in my life."

Manny did a lot of street ministry in the Lancaster and Philadelphia areas with his church in Lancaster.  After moving to Virginia, he got involved with prison ministry, serving at Fluvanna Women’s Correctional Center and Augusta Correctional Center.

In January 2007, Manny and his wife started a construction company, Integrity Custom Builders, doing mainly home additions and home remodels, and some light commercial work.  Mary works as bookkeeper for the company.  She is also bookkeeper and administrator for the new Selah Academy Christian school in Harrisonburg.  In March 2020, Manny got his realtor's license, and works with Kline May Realty in some residential but mostly commercial real estate.

Manny also has a pilot's license, and has a share of a flight club based out of the Shenandoah Valley Airport.  He is the treasurer in the flight club.

Since 2021, Manny has gotten involved with the Gideons, serving as the chaplain for the local chapter and helping with Bible distributions for the Gideons East Camp in Rockingham.  Mary is also involved with the Gideons.

Manny and Mary have attended Truth Light and Life Mission, a non-denominational church in Penn Laird, for the last 15 years, serving in different positions there over the years.

Alec Gunn

I was born and raised in Waynesboro, VA, graduating from Waynesboro High School in 1991.  I spent 8 years in the United States Army as a combat medic.  Upon returning home from the military, I attended James Madison University and was awarded my Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management.  I later obtained my teaching certification.  I worked in education in the Waynesboro area for 16 years as an instructor and an administrator, which included 6 years as the Commandant of cadets at Fishburne Military School. 

I was called into counseling in 2018, and went back to school to obtain a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling with a focus on Community Chaplaincy from Liberty University.  I began my career in counseling doing intensive in-home counseling in Rockbridge County, Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Nelson County.  I currently counsel victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, primarily working with clients who suffer with trauma, anxiety, depression, and helping them manage transitioning into new lives and environments.  I recently obtained a certification in mental health coaching with a specialization in Life Recovery.

I live in Stuarts Draft, VA, with my wife Tracy, and our two English Cream Golden Retrievers, Elly and Finley.  We have two adult sons, Jordan and Joshua.  I attend church faithfully at New Valley in Waynesboro.

Jennifer Jones

Jen was born and raised right here in the Shenandoah Valley. The middle daughter of a struggling yet resilient single mother of three, she watched her mother turn every hardship into a triumph. Jen learned at a very young age that God can use you right
where you are with what you have. She received Christ as her Savior when she was 19 years old.
Jen is an Army Veteran who served her country with pride and distinction. Her previous military and professional experience, outstanding ability to work with people from all walks of life, and her diverse life experiences made her the woman she is today.
Connecting with people, embracing their passions, hearing their goals, and helping them achieve those goals sets her heart on fire. Jen runs a behind-the-scenes ministry called BURN THE SHIPS MINISTRY, helping previously incarcerated women and veterans get back on their feet after incarceration. She came to have a heart for incarcerated people after she too, became incarcerated after making a terrible decision one time in her life that landed her doing some time in a Virginia Women’s Prison. Since coming out of incarceration, she has rebuilt her life and never looked back. She comes to Kingsway Prison Family and Outreach to give back to the same ministry that reached out to her when she lost her way. She wishes to take her experiences both in and out of prison walls to teach others how to be successful and become the BEST version of themselves. Jen has a never-ending thirst to grow, learn and help everyone that God brings in her path through Him.

Pappy Pless

Pappy was born and raised in Georgia.  After graduating from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.  After that, he joined the US Navy, and then worked as a civilian for the Navy for 30 years.  After retiring in 1997, he worked as Maintenance Engineer for Camp Highroad, a Christian camp in Middleburg, VA, and then for Leisure World of Virginia in Lansdowne, VA.

Pappy became involved in prison ministry after his Walk to Emmaus.  He first served with OAR (Offender Aid & Restoration) at the Fairfax Detention Center, and later with Epiphany at the Juvenile Detention center near Culpepper, VA.  After moving to Staunton, VA, with his wife, Sandy, he began serving with Kairos at the Augusta Correctional Center.  In 2015, he became webmaster for the kairosva.org website.  During this time, Pappy and Sandy began serving with Kingsway at church services inside Augusta.  In 2018, he was elected to the Kingsway Board of Directors, and is now serving as webmaster for the kingswayoutreach.org website.

 

Pam Presgrave

My name is Pam Presgrave.  I was introduced to Kingsway in 2016 by my sister.  I joined at the time the Apple Tree Project and Christmas gifts for the inmates were going on, and have been there ever since.  I have served with the Kairos Outside Support Team at ACC, and have been to the closing service inside, and am waiting for the next time to go back in.  I have learned so much at Kingsway, and have made some awesome friends whom I call My Kingsway Family.  I've written cards for 6000 inmates, I have done the newsletters, and I am still learning lots of things.  I'm looking forward to the next couple years at Kingsway.

Harvey Senger

Harvey Senger is the oldest of four children.  His father was an alcoholic who ruled the home with fear.  Harvey joined the Navy as a way to run away from home and to feel in control of his life, which he thought would end before he reached the age of 30 due to his "life in the fast lane." 

God had a different plan.  Harvey accepted Him as Lord and Savior at age 27.  Since then He has constantly been at work in Harvey's life, extending much mercy and grace to him as He continues to mold and shape him into what He wants Harvey to be.  Harvey says, "At times I continue to struggle against His will, and I thank God that I lose." 

Harvey founded Senger Roofing, LLC, in 1972, and after over 30 years has since retired.  His son, Mark, is continuing the family business.  Harvey and his wife, Connie, are very active in their church and we are blessed to have them serving with Kingsway.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Alvin Yoder

Biography Pending

 

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