Board of Directors and Officers - Agape Center Corporation

Bob and his lovely wife of 38 years, Lynn, moved to SML in 2014. There first connection at SML was to serve at The Agape Center. Both Bob and Lynn serve as mentors and help in the pantry. They have 3 sons and 5 grandchildren. Bob retired in 2012 after 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Soon after moving to SML and attending EastLake Community Church, Bob felt God’s calling to use his business training for kingdom work, joining the staff as Executive Pastor in 2018. One of Bob’s favorite scripture verses is I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. Bob enjoys all things family and just about every sport. He also likes doing home improvement projects and spending time woodworking.

Garry "Buz" and his wife Karen have been married for over 43 years and they have two children and four grandchildren. A graduate of LIberty University, Garry has ministered at several churches in the past and now is serving as Senior Pastor of Staunton Baptist Church. Garry loves to hunt, fish, chop wood and is an active martial artist. Garry's life verse is Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Ron and his wife Sharen are from the same small town in Georgia and have been married for over 40 years. Ron retired from the Army in 2006 after over 28 years and they purchased their future retirement home at SML a few months later. Sharen retired in 2014 and Ron joined her at SML in 2016 after almost 10 years with Deloitte Consulting. Both are active at EastLake Community Church and Ron has supported the Agape Center by assisting with the last four Getting Ahead classes and helping set up the Resource Database. Ron and Sharen have a son and a daughter who have blessed them with 7 grandchildren. Ron enjoys being on the water with his family, having a small garden and playing pickleball. Ron also loves to teach personal financial management and has been a coordinator for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course for over 12 years. Ron’s life verse is Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in Heaven.” It is a blessing to shine the light of God’s love into our clients at Agape.

Don has served as a Treasurer, Controller, financial analyst, and Board member at several Christian 501©3 organizations. Don married his high school sweetheart, Sue, 51 years ago. They have five daughters, sons-in law and eight grandchildren spread over the US. Don enjoys woodworking, landscaping, and reading in his spare time now more frequently in his retirement years. He has taught youth and adult Sunday school classes for many years. Don’s favorite scripture verse is Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” He is thankful for the opportunity to serve at The Agape Center putting Love into action to our less fortunate neighbors.

Mary has been married to her husband, Richard for 51 years and they have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. They have lived in Virginia for 8 years and attend Blue Ridge Community Church. Mary works in Admin at Agape Center Lynchburg. Mary enjoys gardening, crafting and travel. Her life verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”

Bill Galeota and Becky, his wife of nearly 50 years, are originally from Morgantown, WV, now permanently relocated to SML and members of Franklin Heights at its CrossPointe campus. He is a (nearly) retired attorney, with experience serving on a church board and representing non-profits, plus military and civilian trucking experience he applies to driving and maintaining the Agape trucks. He enjoys motorcycles, the lake and DIY home projects. He and Becky (who serves as a mentor and introduced Bill to Agape) have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. They count Agape, their church and connect group among the many blessings God has provided. One of Bill's favorite bible verses is 1 Peter 3:15: "...in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." Agape is an opportunity to share that hope in the lives of so many.

Becky has lived in the Roanoke area since 1979. She is married to John Dooley and they have two children and two grandchildren. Becky loves being a grandma and spending time with her family – four wheeling, picking berries, planting and cultivating a pumpkin patch and attending her grandkids soccer games. Becky is a registered nurse who worked for Carilion Clinic for more than 41 years, ending her career as a Director in Training and Development. She and John attend Colonial Baptist Church in Blue Ridge where he served as Senior Pastor until his retirement in 2019. They have remained very active in the church through leading an Adult Bible Fellowship, serving on the Mission’s Committee and participating in numerous other ministries of the church. Becky heard from a fellow church member of the opportunities at Agape and she began to serve in the front office as one of the floor supervisors after her retirement in 2021. She sees her service at Agape as a great way to put her faith into action. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

After pastoring for 25 years in a large church in Northern Virginia, God called David to move to Smith Mountain Lake to serve at Palestine Baptist Church in October 2020. In 1988 David married Pam, the love of his life. They have three adult children Josh, John, and Suzy. David has undergraduate degrees in Bible and Piano, a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Born and raised in Virginia, Pastor Jamey pursued his education and training as a licensed minister in Phoenix and his career has included a wide variety of roles including Christian education, youth pastor, worship leader, associate pastor and public school teacher.  Jamey and his wife, Meredith, a fellow teacher, married in 2005, and returned to Virginia in 2006.  They have two sons, Quinn and Jax. Jamey was ordained by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in 2015, and has served as Pastor of the Victory Restoration Church in Christiansburg since 2016. One of Pastor Jamey’s favorite scripture verses is Proverbs 23:12, "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." Pastor Jamey serves on the Advisory Committee of the Agape Center NRV and believes strongly that being with people in their challenges is better than just doing for them.

Charlie was born and grew up in the City of Roanoke. He is blessed to be married to Marti, his precious wife of 52 years. They have three children and three grandchildren. They moved to the Moneta area in 2003. Charlie is a licensed architect having spent over 45 years in practice, twenty-two years working as the city architect in Roanoke. Charlie is a member of Covenant Fellowship of Moneta where he serves as an elder. He also worked for over 25 years in youth ministry. Charlie has been involved performing various tasks for The Agape Center in Moneta for some 15 years. Currently he serves as a mentor and also maintains the records for all USDA food received and distributed by Agape-Moneta to its clients and families. Charlie enjoys spending time with both immediate and extended family and when he has time working to improve his photography skills. A key verse in his life comes from Isaiah 45:22: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

Jack and Sue have lived at Smith Mountain Lake for the past 25 years where Sue was involved with the Smith Mountain Lake Home Tour (1991 -2003) and has served as the Director of the Agape Center since late 2004. Sue has been married to Jack for 28 years and together they have six children and sixteen grandchildren. When Sue has time she loves to work in the garden, spend time with her grandkids, read and play golf. It is so exciting to be a part of God’s ministry at the Agape Center, stated Sue; I can hardly wait to get up in the morning to see what he has planned for the day! Her favorite verse is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.’