Our leadership team is comprised of a group of dedicated, compassionate, and supportive individuals who have each experienced immense grief in our own way. Because of our experiences, we choose to serve others by providing them with the resources and community to travel through their journey of grief knowing that they are not alone. We invite you to contact our team with any questions or comments you may have.
Click each picture below to learn more about our ministry leaders.
FOUNDERS
FounderSharon Balch
Sharon began as a volunteer at Faith & Grief Luncheons. She worked at Texas Instruments for 27 years in marketing, communications, and finance. She has an MBA and a Graduate Specialist’s Certificate in Aging from the University of North Texas. She is a Stephen Minister and a Presbyterian elder.
FounderWendy Fenn
Wendy recently retired from being Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX. Previously, she was Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care at a non-profit hospice in Dallas. She received a Master of Divinity from Perkins Theological Seminary, and a Master in Family Studies from TWU.
FounderFran Shelton
Fran received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Her doctoral project was “Blessed are Those Who Mourn: Offering Comfort Through Worship and Theological Reflection.” Recognizing a tremendous benefit of spiritual disciplines for those on the journey of grief, she obtained certificates in Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board PresidentMarcia Howard
Marcia is enjoying teaching English to speakers of other languages after many rewarding years of managing IT projects and organizations in large corporations. She has degrees from Oklahoma State University and the University of Texas at Dallas. Having served as a Presbyterian elder and deacon, Marcia appreciates the ongoing comfort that Faith & Grief Ministries brings to congregations.
Board MemberStanley Larson
Stanley, born in Raymondville, Texas, is a 2nd generation Lutheran pastor who has served Lutheran churches in Kansas and Texas. After marrying a Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Kris Crawford, he served as interim pastor for several Presbyterian churches in Arkansas. He loves sharing her three children and now five grandchildren. Stan currently ministers to the congregation at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Shreveport, La. and has served there for over nine years.
Board MemberAnnette Lentz
Annette is retired from a career in sales with extensive experience in business and consumer media advertising, healthcare marketing, business development and event planning. She is currently transitioning her focus to wellness programming with a goal of touching lives in more personal ways. She currently leads yoga and meditation classes for seniors. She is a member of Saint Michael & All Angles Episcopal Church where she served on their first Faith & Grief Ministries gathering leadership team. She graduated from Texas A&M.
Board MemberRebecca Lones
Rebecca is a graduate of Baylor University. She is an active member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and has served in leadership roles in the United Methodist Women and her Sunday School Class at the church. Rebecca has a desire to help others and has been inspired by Faith & Grief’s work to allow sorrow and healing in the midst of loss and to encourage connection with others through faith.
Board MemberSusan McDaniel
Susan, raised in a military family, attended UNT, then settled in Dallas. She worked as a sales executive and branch manager for a Dallas IT support company for 25 years. Retirement led her into volunteer work, first as an elementary school tutor. Susan’s grief around the loss of her husband, Ronn, at age 49 drew her to join the F&GM Gathering team at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. She has capably led that ministry for 6 years, and finds that her faith and understanding of grief have grown exponentially in the process.
Board MemberLynn Meggers
Lynn is controller of PayVision Online, Inc. a Payroll and Human Capital Management company and currently serves on the PHPC Foundation board. She is an energetic marketer with skills in team building, strategic marketing, event creation and execution, and marketing to ultra-high network private and institutional clients, having worked at JP Morgan in international forums. Lynn has served on local boards: Child Care Answers, Dallas Business Committee for the Arts, and the Downtown Dallas Marketing Committee.
Board MemberMike Shaw
Mike was led to become a Stephen Minister in 2005 after his middle son, Bryce, died in 2004. He became a Stephen Leader in 2007. Sensing his experience as a griever could help others, Mike started a twice annual Grief Group at Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano in 2011. Realizing everyone has unique needs and talents he became a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach and Trainer in 2015, after an extensive leadership career in retail management. CliftonStrengths is helpful in relationships, businesses, faith communities and learning environments.
Board MemberRon Somers-Clark
Ron Somers-Clark is a retired Christian Church (Disciples) clergy. He served as pastor of two congregations . He founded three Pastoral Care and Clinical Pastoral Education Programs including Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. He also served as adjunct faculty at Princeton and Perkins Theological Schools. He received a Bachelors degree from TCU and his MDiv and ThM degrees in pastoral psychology and counseling from Brite Divinity School, TCU. He served 40 years as a chaplain and Clinical Pastoral Educator. He has served as a volunteer of Faith & Grief Ministries.
TEAM LEADERS & STAFF
Community EducatorRegina Hunt
Regina grew up in Ohio and moved to Texas after the loss of her business partner. After a long career in retail buying and change management/training, she earned certificates in spiritual direction and lay ministry. In her work in spiritual direction and as an elder in the Presbyterian church (PC)USA, she felt called to support those who have experienced the loss of loved ones. In her work with Faith & Grief, she has accompanied many on their journey through grief and continues to be inspired and honored by those who share themselves and their stories in search of healing.
Host Liaison & Administrator
Susan Ingle
Facilitator
Diane Pennington
Program DirectorShelley Craig
Shelley Craig as the saying goes, “got to Texas as fast as she could” after growing up on the East Coast. She believes ministering to those who are grieving and suffering is a vital part of loving others. She is honored to join the Faith and Grief Ministries team and to work to fulfill its mission. She served in various church volunteer leadership positions which led her to work in ministry. She has a passion for serving others and has experience in non-profit consulting, digital marketing and corporate training. She has a degree in Communications from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in eLearning from Texas A&M-Commerce.
