Women in Profile

Misty Johnson de Lopez
From an early age Misty Johnson de Lopez knew that she was called upon to serve and to better quality of lives.

After acquiring a Geographic Science degree from James Madison University Misty was accepted into Peace Corps El Salvador as a Rural Health and Water Sanitation volunteer. Misty made immeasurable leaps in her labors to educate and elevate the overall health and organization of her village.

Misty continued her work in El Salvador with Living Waters for the World focused on providing clean water to impoverished families. Recently Misty was recognized by ASIC, Asociacion Amigos de San Isidro, Cabañas, an environmental nonprofit working against the Pacific Rim mining company, for her solidarity work in El Salvador’s rural communities.

After seven years of international humanitarian work Misty has rejoined the Tidewater family in hopes of pursing a Masters degree in Public Health. If you are interested in more information about Misty Johnson de Lopez and her work please email MMJdeLopez@gmail.com.

Nancy Shumadine
Nancy is a current resident and native of Norfolk, Virginia. She has over 30 years of banking experience and has been a Trust & Fiduciary Specialist for the Eastern Virginia region of Wells Fargo Private Bank for over 13 of those years. She is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP).

Helping others craft and implement the life and legacy goals that they have for themselves and for those who are dear to them is important to Nancy. She is particularly devoted to her work with the elderly through Wells Fargo’s Elder Services program, which provides wealth and life management solutions for mature clients.

She serves on the boards of the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council and of the Southern Virginia Diocesan Foundation, and is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the United Way of South Hampton Roads.

Nancy is the proud mother of two sons, Addison and John, and grandmother of five.

Mary Elizabeth Lynch
Mary Elizabeth Lynch is president of the non-profit educational organization, The Personal Transformation and Courage Institute, which she runs with her husband of 30 years, Mark Thurston.

Transformation is at the heart of who Mary Elizabeth is and what she does. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, she practiced law for a period of time.

She transformed her law practice into a mediation practice because she believed people could resolve their disputes with the assistance of skilled professionals.

That led to her current career -helping people resolve inner conflicts. Mary Elizabeth believes you can transform conflict into a creative opportunity for growth only if you are purposely using your gifts and talents. That way, you are able to meet conflict with courage, compassion and creativity.

Currently, she divides her time between Virginia Beach and Fairfax where she is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University.

Donna Boyle
For Donna Boyle, charity truly began at home. Raised outside of Charleston, South Carolina, both of her parents instilled the value of philanthropy from an early age. From her father Charles’s founding of a homeless shelter in the wake of 1989’s Hurricane Hugo to her mother Rosemary’s devoted volunteerism with Meals on Wheels- their combined legacy of service to their home community would become a model for Donna's own.

After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of South Carolina, Donna married her college sweetheart John and his career progression brought a number of moves, notably Connecticut, Illinois, California and finally Virginia. Donna worked as a stay-home-mom raising their two daughters and eventually earned her Master’s in Special Education, which she taught until their move to Virginia Beach in 2007.

Once settled, Donna began looking for volunteer opportunities within the community. She discovered Samaritan House and began volunteering in 2008. Three years later she now works in development, helping to plan events and cultivating relationships with donors and volunteers.

When she isn't working at Samaritan House, Donna enjoys time with family and friends and spending time at the beach.

Holly Kirles
Holly Kirles is a dynamic, energetic woman with a passion for people. She was born in Arkansas City, Kansas and with a military father she made homes all across the country as a child, including Kansas , Georgia , Hawaii , Texas , Colorado and finally settling in Gloucester , Virginia.

Holly has devoted the last 17 years to her passion for people both in and outside of the office. Just out a college she discovered the rewards of personal service in the areas of Property and Casualty Insurance and Health Insurance, most recently in helping families navigate the challenging choices and changes in Healthcare. Holly is a Senior Member Service Specialist at Farm Bureau Insurance Company.

Holly also loves to share her beautiful spirit though her gift for music, she loves to both sing and play the piano.

Holly’s husband of 10 years, Tom, is a newly retired Air Force Chaplain. Holly & Tom look forward to many exciting trips to see even more of the World.

Pat Creech

Pat is a native of Virginia Beach. She has been very involved in community service most of her adult life.

The King’s Daughters and the United Way are two organizations of which she has been an active member. Her heart is focused on two organizations dear to her:  I Need a Lighthouse and the Charles Barker Champions for Charity/Creech-Malbon Memorial.

In addition to serving the community, Pat is a long-standing member of the Princess Anne Garden Club. She is very excited about the garden club’s current project, The Trail Center at The First Landing State Park. You will find her happiest in her garden or making a beautiful floral arrangement for her home or a special friend.

Pat and Scot, her husband of 37 years, make their home in Virginia Beach. Their son, Gregory, has recently joined his father in the family business. They love living in Virginia Beach and take advantage of all its natural resources.

Nancy K. Dickerson
Nancy is a 4th generation Hamptonian who found her way to Virginia Beach when she married David Dickerson, a Virginia Beach attorney,
in 1997.

Nancy graduated from Hampton High School, Longwood College, and received her MA in Education from Regent University. She taught English for 22 years.

Her dedication to volunteer service began in the Junior League of Hampton Roads, and continues today with The Princess Anne Garden Club, where she is Chairman of the First Landing Trail Center Exhibits Project.

Nancy’s daughter, Alex, will graduate in May with a bilingual MBA from IESE University in Barcelona Spain.

She is an avid rose gardner, and agrees that roses are a lot of work, “But at least they pay you back.” Her love of animals is what led her to an artistic bent for doing pastel pet portraits.

Nancy’s philosophy is that if you can positively affect the life of one person, it affects an entire community. And, ultimately, “Things work out.”

Trecia McKinney
Trecia McKinney grew up in South Carolina, lived in Michigan and Ohio, before moving to the Hampton Roads. She currently lives in Hampton.

An Air Force veteran, Trecia worked for Saint Leo College for several years before going to work for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in 1993. She held several positions including Store Manager. In 2009, Trecia became the Human Resources Manager for the D.A. V. Thrift Stores. She has a number of responsibilities but is proud to be involved with training and employee development. "It is the people who work for the D.A.V. that makes the organization so special and the stores a great place to donate used items to and to shop for unique value."

With her husband of 40 years, she enjoys two grown children and four grandchildren. Their favorite things include family reunions and the beach, especially Ocracoke.