top of page

Our Board

Jim Howard.jpg

Jim Howard

Executive Director

Jim became Seeds of Hope's new Executive Director in January, 2021.  He and wife, Alison, have lived and worked in Wilson for many years.  They have two grown children, Emily and Andrew, and are members of West Nash United Methodist Church.

Wong.jpg

Rev. Heather Wong

Chair 

Pastor, West Nash United Methodist Church

Heather moved to Wilson in 2021 and serves as the pastor of West Nash UMC. Married to Phil, they have two children, Samantha and Matthew. 

Heather.jpg

Heather Winstead

​Vice-Chair

Heather is a member of West Nash United Methodist Church and the Rehab Director at a senior living facility in Cary. Heather and her wife, Christen, have a beautiful daughter. Both Heather and Christen were born and raised in Wilson and Heather is happy to be back in Wilson serving her community.

 

Pastor Rachel.jpg

Rev. Rachel Kwashe

Secretary

Ex-Officio Board Member

​Pastor, Winstead United Methodist Church

 

Rachel has served at Winstead UMC since July 2021. She lives in Greenville with her husband and two dogs but remains passionate about serving the community of Wilson through Seeds of Hope and her church.

 

Breen_edited.jpg

Rhyan Breen

​Board Member

 

Rhyan Breen is a local attorney and current Wilson County School Board Member. He is the husband to a woman he doesn't deserve and the father of two precocious children.

Vicenta Cariño

​Board Member

 

Vicenta is Teacher Assistant at Vick Elementary School and a member of St. Therese Catholic Church.  She is the Hispanic Ministry Coordinator for SOHW and works tirelessly on behalf of the Wilson Hispanic Community.

 

GaryF.jpg

Gary Farmer

​Board Member

 

Recently retired from the Wilson County School Board, Gary serves the Wilson community in many ways including using his farming equipment to periodically plow and mulch the  Seeds of Hope Teaching and Community Garden.

 

Pinell.jpg
Peggy.jpg

Rev. Daniel Pinell

​Board Member

Daniel Pinell is the vicar of the congregations of St. Mark Episcopal Church and La Guadalupana de Wilson. He, his wife, and their four small children moved from Ocala, Florida to Wilson, NC in 2021. Before moving to Florida, they lived in Oakland, California, serving as missionaries among the immigrant community with InnerCHANGE. He and his wife are interested in learning how to grow fresh food and learning how to eat foods that are in season, and helping others do the same. He’s passionate about books, movies, and a strong cup of coffee.

 

Peggy Wilson

​Board Member

Peggy is a retired educator with 36 years of teaching with Wilson County Schools.  She is married with 3 grown children and 5 grandkids.  She is a long time member of Winstead UMC and has been involved with the Hand in Hand Ministry for 20 years.  She is looking  forward to serving  on the board of SOH.

38767_1347553850666_8063911_n.jpeg

Sanda Hight

​Board Member

Sanda  Hight is a life-long resident of Wilson.  She is retired from Wilson County Schools after a long career as an English teacher and is currently a substitute teacher in Wilson County.  As a member of Winstead United Methodist Chruch, she is interested in church outreach, especially with the public schools.  She enjoys reading, writing, and being an amateur cellist.  She and her husband Fred have two children and four grandchildren.

 

Julia-3.jpg

Julia Newton

​Board Member

 

Julia is the Garden Coordinator for the Seeds of Hope Teaching & Community Garden.  She is a Extension Master Gardener Volunteer and has guided the progress of the gardening program.  She and her husband, Will, live in Wilson.

 

Eva.jpg

Eva Smithwick

Board Member

 

Eva is a credit risk officer with a 25+ year career in banking.  She volunteers in the SOHW Teaching and Community Garden, and is an active member of the community.  She and her husband, Aaron, live in Stantonsburg. 

 

Cooper-Suggs.jpg

Linda Cooper-Suggs

Board Member

 

Linda is the NC State Representative for District 24, which covers Wilson County.

 

bottom of page