I Am Wilshire – Pat Cullum.
Hometown: Dallas
Education: Woodrow Wilson High School; BA from UNT; MLA from SMU
Profession: Librarian, retired
Present city: Dallas
Tell us about your family.
I’m an only child, but I have many close cousins, including Steve and Jane Melton, who are members of Wilshire. Fred and I have been married over 55 years, and we have three sons: Dan Harrington, Nashville, Tennessee; Chris Cullum, Rockford, Michigan; Chip Cullum, Dallas.
How about your work or volunteer life?
My last full-time job was head of circulation at Richland College Library. I’ve volunteered all the way from PTA president to Team Tennis Captain, but my most satisfying work has been helping in multiple roles at Wilshire. I began teaching in the 3-year-old department and was the last director of the Harmony department with our most senior adults. I’ve also been a Stephen Ministry leader.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I taught myself to knit about 12 years ago, and it’s still my passion. No day is complete without adding a few rows of knit and purl.
Where is your favorite place to travel?
Most of our travel these days is to Nashville and Rockford. Best trip: Japan.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
I joined Wilshire with my parents in 1954, joined the Episcopal Church during college and returned to Wilshire in 1977.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
I’ve been engaged just about everywhere at one time or another. I’m currently serving on the Personnel Committee.
What has surprised you most about Wilshire?
I’m not surprised as much as I am proud of our resiliency as a congregation and the loving care we have for each other.
What do you think God is up to in your life right now?
Oh, God is always up to something in my life. I must give credit to our lively, provocative, soul-stretching curriculum in Compass Class that reminds me that you never retire from growing in the spirit.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I was on the Cradle Roll at Gaston Avenue Baptist and was baptized there at age seven. Growing up, church was where I found friends and community. That is true to this day. I benefited from parents who were progressive Baptists before the term was coined.
What’s something interesting most people wouldn’t know about you?
I am proudest of the initiative I started with Mark Wingfield to install the current interior and exterior signage around Wilshire.
- If you’d like to be featured in “I Am Wilshire,” email Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.