Kathy Barclay

I grew up in Historic Hilton Village in Newport News, an idyllic neighborhood with sidewalks and streets laid out perfectly perpendicular to the Main Street which led down to Hilton Elementary School, situated right on the banks of the James River. We could walk to school, church, the beach, and Hilton Pier at one end, and the dime store, drug store, grocery, movie theater, library and fire station at the other. You could see the beautiful James River from the front steps of St. Andrews Episcopal Church where our priest was, ironically, named William Burke. I enjoyed singing for Evensong in the Youth Choir from the age of 5 and as a teen was very active in the EYC. As one of five children, it was a very fulfilling childhood for me and my siblings.

My career as an Art Educator has spanned 45 years, including 15 years as a University Supervisor of Art Student Teachers for VCU, after retiring from Henrico County in 2002. A few of those years I also worked simultaneously for ODU, JMU, and UMW.  As the first Computer Graphics teacher in Henrico County, I had to earn the computers for my art classroom by writing grants for 3 years. My graphics experience enabled me to produce an award winning VAEA News Magazine for 20 years, as well as the newsletter for Creator.
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I have been a member of Creator for over 31 years.  The church and the people have been here for me through good times and not so good, supporting me as a single mom of 2 kids, and through the lonely years as an empty-nester. My daughter and her daughter both attended the Creator pre-school. I have served on the Vestry 3 times, the first being when Father Bill first began his sojourn with us. Being in the choir all these years has been a joyful blessing. My favorite contribution is the mural I painted in the parish hallway, although it is still not quite finished after all these years! I also manage the Creator Facebook page.