Clergy and Staff
Meet the Clergy and Staff of St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Wilmington, NC.
Cheryl Brainard came to St James to complete an internship for Holy Orders to the priesthood in 2018. After ordination to the priesthood, Cheryl remained on staff as an associate rector. She attended Furman University and worked as a flight attendant for 20 years prior to attending seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Since seminary, she has served as a hospital chaplain and continues to hold a part-time position at Novant Health Care where she works with our local community. Her areas of focus at St James are Congregational Care and Faith Formation. She loves music and enjoys playing the piano, sewing, and boating. Cheryl is married to Don and as a blended family, they have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Prior to his call as Associate Rector at St. James, Gray served for two years as Curate at San Jose Church and Day School in Jacksonville, FL. My background is a little unconventional but that has led me to be a more well-rounded marketer. I started out in undergrad as a Studio Art Major and a few years after graduation I decided to pursue my Masters in Business Administration. Once I had my MBA, I joined a regional commercial real estate firm as their Digital Marketing Associate then Marketing Director. Now, I’m excited to bring my experience to St. James Parish and start a new adventure with my husband here in Wilmington! Cookie Cantwell first came to St. James as a Youth Ministries Consultant. This position morphed into a full-time Youth Ministries Coordinator staff position, where the focus continues to be on building authentic relationships with Jesus Christ among the young people within the Parish and throughout the world. Through fun, friendships, Bible studies, service projects, mission experiences, music, and worship, young people and the adults who accompany them on their journey of faith strive to provide meaningful opportunities to grow spiritually within a Christian community. In addition to enjoying her ministry among our youth, Cookie also enjoys her family, Happening, Province IV Youth Ministries, hiking, kayaking, needlepoint and reading. Wes is a man of God who is guided by Christ to serve his family and community. He is a Wilmington native who joined the St. James family in September 2016. Wes and his wife, Sara, have been happily married since 2014. He is also the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Bryanna and Destiny, and grandfather to his adorable grandson, Palmer. Wes loves bass fishing and the Washington Commanders. Before coming to St. James, he served the Cape Fear area as a master carpenter for over 20 years. Bill McKenzie, a long-time member of the Parish, is now our Parish Coordinator and Liaison to Mt. Lebanon Chapel. Bill is a commercial property appraiser with a broad knowledge of building and property management. Bill has been actively involved in the life and ministries of the Parish having served on Vestry, worked as a team leader on the breakfast crew and continues Lead Verger duties this summer at Mt. Lebanon Chapel. John Sullivan first began working at St. James Parish in September of 2006, both as a music teacher in the St. James Day School and also as a tenor in the St. James Choir. In November of 2006, John joined the parish office staff, producing the Sunday bulletins and the weekly Grapevine newsletters, while also serving as the administrative assistant to the Rector. John began as organist and choirmaster at St. James in 2010, where he plays the organ for Sunday morning services, in addition to leading both the adult choir and the children’s choirs. Prior to assuming the position as music director at St. James, John was organist and choirmaster at Grace Episcopal and Christ the King Lutheran Church in Whiteville, NC. John came to Wilmington from San Francisco, CA, where he was a tenor in the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys and administrator of the cathedral music office at Grace Cathedral for 12 years. A cradle Episcopalian, John grew up in New Jersey where he sang as a boy chorister in the choir of men and boys at Christ Episcopal Church in New Brunswick. John has a Bachelor of Music in piano from Ithaca College, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Rutgers University, and a Master of Music in Kodaly Music Education for Children from Holy Names College in Oakland CA.The Rev. Cheryl Brainard
Associate Rector
910-763-1628 | The Rev. Joseph "Gray" Hodsdon
Associate Rector
Erin Becker
Director of Communications
910-763-1628 | Cookie Cantwell
Youth Ministries Coordinator
910-763-1628 | Wes Clewis
Director of Facilities
910-763-1628 | Bill McKenzie
Parish Coordinator
910-763-1628 | Norman Southerland
Sexton
John Sullivan
Director of Music
910-763-1628 |