Vestry

Paul H. Threlkeld, Senior Warden

Paul Threlkeld and his wife, Ansley, are both cradle Episcopalians. Paul grew up in Vidalia at the Church of the Annunciation, and Ansley grew up in Augusta at Church of the Good Shepherd. Paul earned both his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Georgia. He and Ansley met while in law school in Athens. Paul has practiced law for almost 25 years and is a partner with the Savannah firm Oliver Maner LLP where his practice focuses on representing people, business, and governmental entities at trial and in all types of disputes. He is the outside general counsel to the Georgia Ports Authority and the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority. Paul also teaches a seminar class at the University of Georgia School of Law on representing state authorities. Paul and Ansley have three children: Hughes, a business graduate of the University of North Georgia where he was a four-year letterman on the golf team and who is now professional golfer residing on St. Simons Island; Ella Bankes, a junior at the University of Georgia; and Hamp, a senior at Benedictine Military School who will attend the University of Georgia in the Fall. Paul and Ansley covered the waterfront, and appeased all family far and wide, when it came to baptizing their children. Hughes was baptized at Good Shepherd, Ella Bankes was baptized here at Christ Church, and Hamp was baptized at Annunciation.   

Elizabeth (Liz) Lientz Macfadyen, Junior Warden

Liz grew up in Savannah, Georgia attending both First Presbyterian and Isle of Hope Methodist Churches. Liz attended Vanderbilt University, studying Human and Organizational Development/Business with a Minor in French. Simon and Liz met while Liz was working in Washington DC and were married in Savannah in 2004. While living in London for 15 years, Liz and Simon had their 3 daughters, Mollie, Maggie, and Tillie. During these years, she worked for three successful MedTech startups as an early start employee. The family returned to Liz’s beloved Savannah and Christ Church during Covid. Liz is active on the St. Josephs/Candler Foundations Board, the board of US Friends of Able Child Africa, and as an officer for SCDS Arts Alliance.

Lindsey A. Eberle, Clerk of the Vestry

Lindsey was raised in the Lutheran Church on Camano Island, Washington. After graduating from California Lutheran University, Lindsey moved to Huntsville, Alabama where she met her husband, Cole. After two cross-country moves, Cole and Lindsey settled in Pooler in 2015 where they soon found Christ Church. Inspired by the Episcopalian celebration of God’s beauty and love, they have found a church home to raise their two children, Owen (9) and Lauren (8). You will often spot Owen and Lauren serving as ushers and acolytes, and Lauren also sings as a Christ Church chorister.

Stephen R. Rilee, Treasurer

Stephen moved to Savannah from Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2018. Drawn to the liturgy and message of God’s grace, he and his wife, Claire, joined the Episcopal Church in 2011. They have three sons, Robb, Grant, and John. The Rilees enjoy Christ Church’s children’s programs. Stephen works for a family business, attended the University of Georgia, and has an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. He was previously on the vestry of Christ Church Charlottesville. 

Claire Davis

Claire was born in Modesto, California and grew up in Texarkana, Texas. She was raised in the Episcopal church (her father is a retired bishop) and graduated from Sewanee, with a degree in History in 1998. She and her husband Whit were married at All Saints Chapel in Sewanee and lived in Savannah from 1999-2001 while attending Christ Church. Whit is a Savannah native and grew up attending First Baptist Church and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. During their 20 years in Atlanta, Claire served on the Altar Guild, Parish Life Committee, Search Committee, Vestry and later served as Senior Warden at Saint Anne’s. Whit and Claire have been members of Christ Church since their move back to Savannah in January 2021. They have three children, Anna Claire (20), Wills (17), and Emma (12). You will often spot Wills and Emma serving as acolytes, and Emma also sings as a Christ Church chorister. 

Patton Dugas

Patton was born outside Dayton, Ohio, and moved around Air Force bases until his family settled in the Macon, Georgia, area.  Patton earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia Southern. He is the Savannah Market President for Truist.  He and Mary have two children, Liv and Mollie.  They moved to Savannah in 2007 to be near Mary’s family and begin raising their own. 

Charles S. Frew-Miller

Charlie grew up in Cedartown, Georgia. After his graduation from Auburn University with degrees in Political Science and Accounting, the majority of Charlie’s professional career was in Atlanta, GA, where he held positions in financial and strategic planning, national sales and diversity and inclusion business integration planning with BellSouth/ATT. After early retirement from ATT, Charlie became the CEO of Jerusalem House. Charlie also served a Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in Washington, DC. He currently serves on the Emeritus Council of that organization. Upon transferring membership from the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta to Christ Church, Charlie began serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and docent. He is also a member of the Friends of Music committee and the Newcomers Ministry. Charlie and his husband, Dr. Joseph Frew-Miller, live in Ardsley Park.

William (Will) C. Gruver

Will is a native of Savannah and has spent most of his life here. He holds a BBA in Real Estate from The University of Georgia as well as a Master of Accountancy from Georgia Southern. He grew up as a member of St. Michael and All Angels on Washington Avenue, although he spent many Sundays in the Christ Church balcony and was very active with the EYC going on ski trips as well as mission trips to such great places as West Virginia.

Christopher H. Hallman

Chris has been a member of Christ Church since 2018, serving as a lector, usher, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and member of the 2025 rector search committee. He is currently a first-year participant in Sewanee’s Education for Ministry program. A native of Atlanta, Chris was raised Baptist and discovered the joy of liturgical worship while serving at Mildenhall Air Base in the UK. He was confirmed at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta in 1993. Professionally, Chris leads the corporate aviation safety program at Gulfstream. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after 27 years of service. Chris resides on Skidaway Island with his wife, Ruth. They have two daughters, Mary Douglass and Catherine, and an extended family that includes Maxim Belyaev of New York.

David T. Neises

Following a career in hotel real estate, Dave has devoted his efforts to the non-profit sector. Through 2022 he served on the Board of The Savannah Music Festival for 12 years, capped by a three-year stint as Board Chair. He also completed an eight-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Telfair Museum in 2023. Currently, he serves on the Board of Governors of Bethesda Academy. He felt powerfully drawn to Christ Church while attending a musical event here and transferred his membership soon thereafter. He served on the vestry of his previous church and was a two-time delegate to the Georgia Diocesan Episcopal Convention. Prior to moving to Savannah in 2009, Dave attended the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. At Christ Church, he serves on the Finance Committee, as a lector, and often attends Wednesday services. He is a graduate of Cornell University and an avid skier, cyclist, chef and boater. He and Sylvaine, his wife of 37 years, love living in Savannah.

Richard (Rich) C. Nelson

Rich Nelson was raised and educated in Massachusetts. After law school, he prosecuted homicide cases as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City and then as an Assistant Attorney General in New Hampshire. Later, in private practice, he represented professionals such as attorneys, engineers and accountants in malpractice cases and contract disputes. For 24 years, he served as his firm’s Managing Partner. Rich, and his wife Meg, moved to Savannah when they retired. They have three adult children.

Paul D. Reddick

Paul is a native Georgian, born in Screven County. He holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University. In 1985 he was recruited by BBN Corporation, a Cambridge Massachusetts technology company. In 1993 Paul and the management team arranged a buyout by Loral Corporation, a $9 b New York company.  Paul was involved in merger and acquisition work for Loral. In 1996 he took a job as CFO of Lawrence Pumps Inc., a company designing and manufacturing specialty pumps for difficult industrial applications. Paul engineered a financial turnaround of the company, and purchased the business, building it to $50m in revenues and 150 employees.  He sold the business in 2014 and returned to Georgia, where he lives on Skidaway Island. Paul spent a number of years exploring different religions in search of answers. In 2019 he found his spiritual home at Christ Church, where he has served as an usher, a Lay Eucharist Minister, and a member of the Finance Committee. Paul is married to the former Sherri Siegel of Wantagh New York.  The couple have two children, Erin Kirby of Chapaqua NY and Ian of Savannah.  They have two grandchildren, James Paul Kirby ("Jamie") and Madeline Claire Kirby ("Mattie").

Sarah B. Smith

Sarah grew up in Atlanta, GA and is the daughter of a Jewish father and Christian mother. She spent her early years only celebrating the two faith’s major holidays (read: Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Easter, and Christmas). She was baptized at age 9 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.  Later, her father was also baptized, and they were confirmed together. He joined the vestry and she found a second home in the church youth group. Sarah and her husband Solomon moved to Savannah in 2010 to be close to Georgia Southern where Solomon is a history professor.  Sarah is the Director of University Engagement at SCAD.  Sarah and Solomon have two daughters, Abigail and Nora, who love Christ Church as much as their mother.  Sarah loves art, travel, food and meeting interesting people. 

Polly C. Webster

Polly is a cradle Episcopalian who was born and grew up in Philadelphia, attending St. Martin in The Fields and St. Thomas Church Whitemarsh. Polly and her husband Henry moved to Savannah in 2003 and now live downtown. She is active in the Flower Guild and as an usher. Polly worked for Aon Risk Services in both account service and finance for 40+ years, retiring in 2022. She and Henry have two daughters and four grandchildren.