Hometown: Dallas;
Present City: Dallas;
Education: MS;
Profession: Teacher;
Tell us about your family.
I have two sons, Charles, 8, and William, 7. My mother lives with us. I am a widow.
How about your work or volunteer life?
I teach sixth grade at Merriman Park Elementary, and I’m a BETA Club sponsor there. This fall I’ll be teaching at the Winston School. I help in children’s ministry at Wilshire.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to travel, crochet, refinish furniture, read, swim, play board games, build Legos and do science experiments with my boys.
What are your favorite places to travel?
I have visited Mexico, Russia, England, Spain, Italy, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia. There is not a place I haven’t liked. My favorite thing to do is go to a local market where I can try the native foods of an area.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
We moved back to Dallas in June 2023. I was looking for a church that had solid teaching and was also open to people in the LGBTQ+ community for when my brother-in-law visits me; I want him to feel welcomed. A dear friend recommended Wilshire, and when we came, we were welcomed with open arms.
What has surprised you most about Wilshire?
I was most pleasantly surprised by how much the church welcomes children to be involved in serving.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I was raised in a Christian family, but each part of my family went to a different church: Catholic, Methodist, Disciples of Christ and nondenominational. I learned at a young age to embrace difference in whatever form it comes. I made friends with good people and didn’t ask anything else. I became a believer at age 10 and was baptized shortly after that. I had some struggles with my faith along the way, but ultimately I came back to the church and my faith. I can’t say I’ve loved the challenges in my life, but God makes sure I can grow in the journey, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Something interesting most people would not know about you?
I went to Arts Magnet and studied theater and visual arts. On my honeymoon, I was walking the gardens of Highclere Castle and discovered some sheep. I started petting them and discovered Lord Carnarvon in his Land Rover. I was at a play where Martin Freeman played Richard III, and I was drenched in his “blood” as he “died” because of how close we were seated.
*If you are interested in being featured in an upcoming I Am Wilshire feature, contact Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)