David Mack, Jr. serves as Board Chair, providing leadership that flows directly from his life as the living cornerstone of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church. His authority is not merely procedural but personal, earned through over 40 years of service as a deacon, 22 as Chairman, and now honored as Deacon Emeritus. This unparalleled tenure means he doesn't just know the church's history; he embodies its continuous spirit and communal trust.

This deep spiritual stewardship is strategically paired with the operational expertise honed during his career with United Parcel Service (UPS), where he mastered logistics, personnel management, and systemic reliability. For the mission of FHNBC, this combination is essential: he ensures the preservation project is managed with the same efficiency and care that he applied to a global operation, while its purpose remains rooted in sacred legacy.

His lifelong commitment extends throughout the Savannah community as a Hall of Fame graduate of Sol. C. Johnson High School, a Savannah State University alumnus, and an active member of the NAACP and The Crusaders Club. As Chair, he governs with a clear vision: the physical restoration of the church must be executed with operational excellence to faithfully honor the spiritual resilience of the formerly enslaved community that built it. He leads to ensure the building that has housed an unbroken spirit for generations continues to stand as a monument to that faith.

“To whom much is given, much is required.” 

– Luke 12:48

This scripture defines Kathy Manokey’s 43-year covenant of service, which began with the nation’s most sacred trust and now extends to her historic home community.

Her distinguished career as a Department of the Army Civilian specialized in high-level contracting and program management. She served with particular solemnity as a Quality Assurance Advisor for Arlington National Cemetery, overseeing contracts that protect the dignity of America’s most hallowed ground. Through strategic leadership within the Mission and Installation Contracting Command and as a Contracting Officer’s Representative instructor, she forged an unwavering standard for integrity.

Her academic foundation is formidable: an M.S. in Computer Resources and Information Management from Webster University, a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Savannah State University, a Master’s Certificate in College Teaching from Capella University, and key Defense Acquisition University certifications. As an Adjunct Professor (2001–2006), she passed her knowledge to the next generation.

Now, as Board Secretary for FHNBC, she meets the “much required.” A native Savannahian and member of Holy Living Christian Center, she applies the exacting skills honed in federal service, ensuring compliance and safeguarding heritage, to the meticulous governance and preservation of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church.

For Kathy, ensuring compliance at Arlington and for FHNBC are sacred duties of the same covenant. She is a guardian of legacy, translating a lifetime of systems thinking into preserving a spiritual home for generations to come.

Lance Wiley serves as Board Treasurer, strategically applying a lifetime of resource-building and community advocacy to ensure the financial vitality of FHNBC’s mission. His acumen is proven: while serving as assistant chairperson and treasurer for his community’s 70th Anniversary, he spearheaded a fundraising campaign that secured the largest amount in the organization’s history. This skill in mobilizing support is built upon a foundation of operational expertise from a 39-year career with a major airline and entrepreneurial initiative as the founder and owner of Pyramid Books.

His commitment is rooted in a deep understanding of community, informed by his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Sociology from Savannah State University. A life member of the Savannah State University Alumni Association and the NAACP, his longstanding support for a spectrum of vital causes, including Hosea Feed the Hungry, Atlanta Union Mission, St. Jude, UNCF, and Habitat for Humanity, reflects a core belief in empowerment and practical aid.

This passion for connecting people with resources is now channeled into a specific, tangible goal: funding the preservation of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church. As Treasurer, Lance ensures financial strategy serves historical integrity, dedicated to building the sustainable foundation necessary to restore a monument to faith and community determination. For him, sound fiscal stewardship is the practical engine that will protect this sacred site, transforming community generosity into an enduring legacy for the White Bluff descendants and beyond.

“May the work that I’ve done, speak for me”

Kathy Thomas serves as Executive Director, channeling a distinguished career in organizational leadership into a singular, personal mission: the preservation and activation of her White Bluff Gullah Geechee ancestral legacy. Guided by her principle, she has spent decades developing people and systems in sectors from higher education to defense contracting, most recently as Vice President of Learning & Development for Northrop Grumman Corporation. This expertise in building institutional capacity is now wholly dedicated to ensuring the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church is not only restored but revitalized as a sustainable community institution.

Her leadership is uniquely informed by her role as Historian for The Crusaders Club, the oldest continuously operating service organization in her historic home community. This position as an active steward of local narrative ensures FHNBC’s work is rooted in authentic community memory, not just architectural history. Her governance experience on boards like the American Red Cross further equips her to navigate the complex intersection of nonprofit strategy, historic preservation, and community engagement.

Kathy’s vision, supported by her education, B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and M.Ed. from George Washington University, is to transform FHNBC’s mission into tangible impact. She directs the organization with the clear objective that the church must function as both a restored monument and an active center for intergenerational learning, scholarly research, and community dialogue, ensuring the resilience it represents continues to inspire and educate far into the future.

“We walk and build on God’s earth” 

Guided by her principle, Jo Claire Hickson serves as an Advisor, providing FHNBC with an expert lens that connects landscape, legacy, and lived community history. A retired landscape architect, her 40-year public sector career has been dedicated to making vision sustainable and history accessible. This is proven by her record of securing over $15.5 million in grants and managing over $50 million in project budgets to create public parks and trails, transforming plans into lasting community assets.

Her most significant work demonstrates the precise expertise FHNBC requires: she co-founded the Coastal Georgia Greenway, a 150-mile corridor that intentionally weaves together 12 historic districts, 58 archaeological sites, and 135 historical sites. This achievement, which earned a National Millennial Trail designation, shows her unique ability to preserve isolated landmarks by integrating them into a living, connective landscape. She has applied this same interpretive skill to historic sites like Drayton Hall and state parks, work honored with a national planning award.

For the mission of FHNBC, her guidance is indispensable. She ensures the preservation of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church transcends architectural restoration. Her counsel guarantees the project honors the sacredness of its place, its position in the Gullah Geechee corridor and its role in the community's story, ensuring the restored church is not a static monument but a revitalized anchor in the continuing narrative of its people.

Lovely LeVere serves as Chief Operations Officer, where her lifelong commitment to meticulous stewardship and technical excellence meets the hands-on mission of historic preservation. As a devoted member and Trustee of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church, her role is an extension of her faith, driven by a deep responsibility to safeguard the community’s spiritual and physical heritage.

Professionally, Lovely’s expertise is forged in environments where precision is paramount. At Georgia-Pacific, she served as a Quality Control Inspector, developing a sharp eye for detail and process integrity. At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she specialized in the production and inspection of critical medical equipment, including heart catheters and ultrasound machines, ensuring each met the most rigorous safety standards. This background in data processing, bookkeeping, and high-stakes technical quality control provides an invaluable framework for managing the complex operational and preservation projects of FHNBC.

Her dedication extends into the community through her membership in The Crusaders Club and her consistent support of Union Mission, reflecting a heart for service that complements her professional skill set. Known for her integrity and reliability, Lovely approaches her role with a servant leader’s mindset. She operationalizes the mission by ensuring every project, partnership, and procedure is executed with the same level of care, precision, and purpose required to protect something irreplaceable: a sacred landmark and a living community institution.

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Queen serves as Chief Financial Officer, bringing a lifetime of dedication, meticulous service, and profound community roots to the financial stewardship of FHNBC. A lifelong member of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church for 61 years, her commitment is deeply personal; she is not just preserving history, but protecting her spiritual home.

Her professional foundation began after graduating from Savannah State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a minor in Criminal Justice, first working as a substitute teacher. She then built a 31-year career of reliable service with AT&T Operator Services in Savannah and Jacksonville, a role that required precision, adherence to complex systems, and consistent public trust. These are qualities directly transferable to managing the finances of a growing nonprofit.

Her deep community ties are reflected in her life memberships in the AT&T Pioneers, The Crusaders Club, and the Ushers Association of Savannah. As CFO, Jackie ensures that every dollar is stewarded with the same care, reliability, and long-term vision that has defined her six decades of church membership and three decades of corporate service. For her, sound financial management is the practical means to honor the past and secure the future of the sacred community landmark she has called home her entire life.