Annette Watts

St. Margaret’s has been my church home for the past three years, but has played an important role in my life for many years prior. My grandmother, Mavis Watts (“Mimi” to us) was a longtime St. Margaret’s member. When her health started declining, she would light up every time a friend from St. Margaret’s would visit — you all showed her (and her grandchildren) that church extends well beyond a building. On a less serious note, I also took ballet classes at St. Margaret’s when I was young. Unfortunately, the lessons did not turn me into the tall, graceful person I had imagined, but hey, we can’t have it all.

 

I grew up Catholic and have always had an appreciation and respect for liturgical rites, history, and a sense of order. As I got older, I began to realize that if that history and order do not lead to growth and love, we are probably doing something wrong. After dealing with some serious life changes, I needed to find a new church home. St. Margaret’s welcomed me with open arms. The mix of history, structure, openness, service, and love continues to warm my heart. 

 

At home, I am mom to three college boys (Chris — cadet at UNG; Mark and Luke — junior and freshman at UGA) and a theatrical girl (Joy - junior at Carrollton High School); stepmom to Emma (sophomore at LaGrange College) and Abby (senior at Carrollton High School); wife to Auburn fan and chili cook Eddie McCoy.  At work, I am an IT Pharmacist for Tanner Health, focusing on electronic medical records for oncology. 

 

Church means different things to different people — it always has. There have been wars fought, families destroyed, and hatred stoked in the name of church and religion. There have also been lives healed, families reunited, and hope rediscovered. I choose to focus on building up, bringing together, showing love, and working to help others find their intrinsic value. We all exist for a reason. Church is a learning place for us to figure out why.

 

St. Margaret’s shows the beautiful juxtaposition of history, liturgical structure, tradition and openness, generosity, hope. I would be very honored if you all would consider me when voting for the new Vestry members. I do not have answers. I do not have fixes. I also do not believe our church is broken or needs to be fixed. Our church is really thriving and growing.  We will continue to build our community, using the solid foundation of believers like my grandmother to ensure that there is a home for those who need one, and if we are being honest with ourselves, we all need one.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

God bless —

 

Annette Watts 

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​​David Long

Hi St. Margaret’s!
If you’re reading this, it means you’re interested in helping St. Margaret’s choose our Vestry members for the next term. I’m excited about the opportunity to help guide St. Margarets for the coming years and use my spiritual gifts toward our shared goals. Searching for a new church family can be intimidating - especially coming from another faith background (former Southern Baptist!). My family joined St. Margaret’s over 10 years ago, and it was one of the best decisions we could have made. The opportunities for growth, encouragement, and community are a few of the reasons we decided to call

St. Margaret’s home. Along the way, I’ve discovered even more reasons why I love this church and want to contribute wherever I can.
 

Over the years, I’ve been able to serve in various roles at St. Margaret’s, which has helped me gain a deeper understanding of how vital these programs are for the well-being of our church and ourselves. I currently teach Sunday School teacher with my
wife, Nicole, for our high school students. We began as this group’s teachers several years ago, and it’s been a joy growing with them and facing each new year together. My daughter Oak and I now serve as Ushers, which allows us to greet all your smiling faces on Sunday mornings. There are few things I take as seriously as ringing the bell to start the procession! I’ve also had the opportunity to sing in our amazing choir and look forward to joining them again one day. In the past, I served as Chairperson of our Communications Commission and truly enjoyed collaborating with fellow members to
improve the life of our church.

As we enter the Advent season, I pray that we prepare our hearts for the coming year and reflect on what we all love about St. Margaret’s. Let’s continue to be a welcoming, shining light in our community and beyond.

Sincerely,
David Long

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Meagan Beatty-Snow

My name is Meagan Beatty-Snow. My husband and I have been attending St. Margaret’s for a few years now, and I have come to love the rituals, traditions, and values that are at the center of the Episcopal faith. As a new mother, I am looking forward to sharing these values and traditions with my children in the years to come.

 

In my professional life, I work in the insurance industry and hold a law degree. This background has equipped me with skills in risk management, contract review, and careful attention to fiduciary responsibilities. I’m accustomed to balancing competing interests, thinking through complex decisions thoughtfully, and ensuring that organizations operate with proper oversight and care.

 

I would be honored to bring this experience to the Vestry, contributing to the continued strength and vitality of our parish community as we work together to support St . Margaret’s mission and ministry.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Natalie Garner

Hello! My name is Natalie Garner, or you can call me Nat! I first started attending Saint Margaret’s in 2021. I had felt drawn to the Episcopal church for a long time, but finally built up the courage to try it out after running into Father Jeff a few times back when I had worked at 4am Coffee Roasters, and I am so grateful that I did. In attending Saint Margaret’s, I found a home where I was spiritually nourished and felt challenged to grow further into the image of who Christ was calling and shaping me to be. I was received into the Episcopal church at the end of 2021. I moved back to my hometown after 4am closed and was so sad to have been away from the spiritual sanctuary that I had felt so blessed to find, but once I moved back to Carrollton with my then fiancé (now spouse), one of the first things I had on my mind was how excited I was to come back to Saint Margaret’s and how I wanted to take every opportunity I could to serve the community that had been such a great blessing to me.

 

Since returning to Saint Margaret’s, I have been privileged to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and to be a part of the Pastoral Care Commission and the Evangelism Commission as well as a member of our very talented and fun bunch that we call the choir. I am interested in serving on the vestry because, through God’s help, I hope to both lead by serving and to serve by leading. I love this church and I want to do all that I can to work towards its ability to thrive in its work and mission. If I were to serve as a member of the vestry, I would hope to not only be a leader regarding temporal matters in the church, but I would aim and work to be a provider of spiritual care and presence amongst parishioners and visitors. Regardless of what the parish decides, I am thankful and blessed to be a part of this church family and I am excited for what the future holds for Saint Margaret’s!

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