The Reverend Nancy L. J. Cox
Rector
The Reverend Nancy Cox came to All Saints’ in the Fall of 2010. Previously she served Episcopal congregations in Virginia and Connecticut. She graduated from high school in Charleston and earned a degree in Geology and Geophysics from Princeton University. She also completed a masters degree in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas in Austin before attending Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. She has four children: two, Sam and Tom live in Houston; Jim is studying in Tulsa and Jazzmine who lives in Norman, Oklahoma. You can email Reverend Nancy by clicking here.
Fun Fact: Nancy enjoys hiking, icon writing and gardening.
The Rev. Jim Bernacki
Priest Associate
The Rev. Dr. James B. (“Father Jim”) Bernacki joined the All Saints staff in the summer of 2019. A native of the Buffalo, New York area, he graduated from Canisius College with a B.A. in Philosophy. He also attended SUNY at Buffalo, where he received an Ed.M. in Secondary Math Education. Having received his Permanent Certification from the State of New York, he has taught math on a primary, secondary, and college level.
Jim received an M.Div. in Theology from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, NY and a D.Min. in Anglican Studies from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Ordained to the priesthood in 1979, he had served in Roman Catholic parishes in the Buffalo area until he was received into the Episcopal Church in 1988, when he married his wife Sandy and later served congregations in New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. He most recently served as Rector for Christ Episcopal Church in Albemarle, NC, for over 15 years until he retired in 2018.
At All Saints’, Jim coordinates a team of members who lead Compline (Night Prayer) every Tuesday at 8 p.m. online. He also leads or preaches at Sunday and weekday services on occasion, and does pastoral care and visitation along with the other clergy on the team.
Jim and his wife Sandy are proud to be the parents of Rachelle (and parents-in-law of Denny) Casto and grandparents of Riley Elizabeth and Jacob Casto. Jim and Sandy are also the proud parents of their son Matthew, who died suddenly at the age of 27. Sandy and Jim recently moved to Concord, where Sandy enjoys her job as receptionist/secretary at Coltrane LIFE Center (Adult Day Care). Jim’s hobbies include light reading, walking, watching movies, listening to different kinds of music, and spending time with his wife and family. You can email Father Jim by clicking here.
Fun facts: Jim is also a “ham” (amateur) radio operator, who communicates with other “hams” via the airwaves and helps out as a checkpoint at various races and parades. His “wish list” includes learning to play bass fiddle for a Bluegrass band, being a contestant on “Wheel of Fortune,” and being able to play soccer, volleyball and tennis with other adults in an “unbloody way.”
The Reverend Mary Elizabeth Reese
Priest Associate
The Reverend Mary Reese’ parents, the late Mr. William, and Mrs. Mary, Whitley, were both born and raised in Goldsboro, NC. The family moved to Brooklyn, NY where Mary and her sister, the late Rose Marie Whitley Holley, were raised. Mary graduated from Wingate High School (1962). She holds a degree in Nutrition and Home Economics Education, Cornell University (1967), and a Masters in Nutrition and Food Science, Syracuse University (1969). She holds a Master of Divinity, Virginia Theological Seminary (2008).
Mary married David Rogers in 1969, and moved to David’s homeland, Sierra Leone, West Africa. They became the parents of four children, David, Jr., Kaaryn, Moses, and Jonathan. She taught in secondary schools, and was later a lecturer at Njala University College. Mary and the children returned to the United States in 1983, and settled in Goldsboro, NC. In 1999 Mary married Alexander Reese, Jr. and became step-mother of Jerrie, and Alexander, III. Alex passed in 2010.
In Goldsboro Mary served as a registered dietician at O’Berry Center; the Director of Nutritional Services and later, the Deputy Director of Support Services at Cherry Hospital; and as a clinical dietician consultant at Skilled Creations. She is a past president of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Managers and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Mary was ordained a deacon in 2008 and a priest in 2009. She served St. Andrew’s, Goldsboro from 2010 until her retirement in 2018.
Mary moved to Concord, in 2021. She has 11 grandchildren, and two great-grands, and is looking forward to welcoming a new granddaughter later this year. You can email Rev. Mary by clicking here.
Fun fact: She enjoys traveling. Her travels have taken her to Denmark, and, to Turkey where, among other things, she saw a shepherd with his small flock, and walked where the Apostle Paul had walked.
The Reverend Vern Cahoon
Deacon
The Reverend Vern Cahoon graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth with highest distinction, June 1979, receiving his major in Political Science and minor in Education. He attended Northeastern University School of Law in Boston 1983 – 1986 graduating in 1986 with a J.D. and passing the North Carolina Bar in 1986. He has been been in house counsel for the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Middle District of North Carolina (Federal Court District). He was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church in June 2010. His diaconal ministry has been focused on providing pastoral care to nursing home residents and residents of assisted living facilities. He has been married to his wife Lori since February 1987. They have four children and two grandchildren, Avery and Liam who live in New York, children of their son Michael. Their daughter, Amber, is expecting our third grandchild in October. You can email Deacon Vern by clicking here.