Staff Directory

Dr. Josh Franklin
Senior Pastor
Josh serves as Senior Pastor of Mount Vernon and has been in local church ministry since 2002. He holds 3 earned degrees, including his Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry in Expository Preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Biblical Studies through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Josh has written several books including: Starting Strong, Pathway to Power, Believer’s Baptism, Don’t Drink Responsibly, and The Vanishing of the Gospel. He was also honored with the Warren-Poe Award for Rural Church Ministry "for demonstrating excellence in, or potential and promise for, effective pastoral ministry in a rural Southern Baptist Church" in 2010 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Josh and his wife, Lydia, have three sons: Josiah, Caleb, and Levi.
Email: jfranklin@mvbcnow.org
Dr. Josh Franklin's website

Dr. John Sullivan
Associate Pastor for Worship Arts
Prior to coming to Virginia, he has served as worship pastor in Texas, Illinois, and Kansas.
Dr. Sullivan has earned his Bachelor degree in Music from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Arts in Church Music degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Music degree from Illinois State University, and a Doctor of Educational Ministry in Christian Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has been very happily married to Beth Sullivan for the last 18 years. They have 3 beautiful children – Wyatt, Cooper, and Kate.
Email: jsullivan@mvbcnow.org
Dr. Sullivan has earned his Bachelor degree in Music from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Arts in Church Music degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Music degree from Illinois State University, and a Doctor of Educational Ministry in Christian Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has been very happily married to Beth Sullivan for the last 18 years. They have 3 beautiful children – Wyatt, Cooper, and Kate.

Rev. Gary Robertson
Associate Pastor for Missions and Evangelism
Gary, and his wife Michelle, have 25 years of missions experience with the International Mission Board (Malawi, Tanzania & South Africa). Gary holds two degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDIV, MRE) and two degrees from the University of Missouri (MS, BS). Gary and
Michelle have two children: Samuel & Lydia.
Email: grobertson@mvbcnow.org
Michelle have two children: Samuel & Lydia.
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Rev. Clayton Carnall
Associate Pastor for Discipleship
Clayton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Mississippi College and a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served at MVBC since January 2015.
Clayton & his wife Kelley have two daughters, Emma and Addi, and two sons, Aron and Owen.
Email: ccarnall@mvbcnow.org
Clayton & his wife Kelley have two daughters, Emma and Addi, and two sons, Aron and Owen.

Rev. Jerry Parker
Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care.
Jerry serves as Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and has held several ministry positions since 1976. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mount Vernon ordained him to the gospel ministry, and over the last 4 decades he has served in various ministry roles in Virginia, South America, The Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Jerry and his wife, Kathy, have 4 married children and 10 grandchildren. Jerry joined Mount Vernon in 1959, served here in various staff positions in the late 1980’s, and is glad to return to his home church.
Email: jparker@mvbcnow.org



Susan Sharon
Director of Memorial Park and Executive Assistant
Susan has served on staff since September, 2006. She and her husband Joey and their four children moved to Ashland from Northern Virginia in 2005 and they love living in the "Center of the Universe"! Susan enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking and the outdoors.
Email: ssharon@mvbcnow.org
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Kim Gilbert
Worship Arts Associate
Kim is responsible for running the childrens' music program, KidJAM and the summer Worship Arts Camp. Kim is a board certified music therapist (MT-BC), having graduated from Radford University in 1991. Kim has an active music therapy practice working with adults and children in medical, hospice, and palliative care settings. She grew up in Bloomsburg, Pa. She is married to Chris Gilbert, and they have 2 girls: Lauren and Katie. Kim enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and clarinet. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, aerobics, and golfing.

Cathy Dayton
Email: cdayton@mvbcnow.org

Dee Yarbrough
Financial Assistant
Dee has been on staff since November 2011, but has been a member here since June 2006. She is a 1987 graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Accounting, and worked in the corporate, private, and government sectors prior to 15 years as a stay at home mom. She is also a part-time Group Exercise instructor and serves in many ministries at Mount Vernon including Worship Arts, Students, and Women. Dee and her husband, David, have been happily married for over 29 years and are the proud parents of two adult sons, Zack and Josh.
Email: dyarbrough@mvbcnow.org
270-6600 x102

Jessica Benson
Childcare Coordinator & Women's Ministry Assistant
Jessica has worked at MVBC since February 2002. Over the course of the years, Jessica’s job has continually evolved. In her current role, Jessica serves as the Women’s Ministry Assistant, Childcare Coordinator for church events and programming, a Database Administrator, Children’s Ministry Administrative Assistant, and Scouting Coordinator. Additionally, she works with Church Attendance and Outreach.Jessica earned her bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Developmental Psychology at Radford (Va.) University. She is from Meherrin, Va., and her home church is Victoria (Va.) Baptist Church, although she and her husband, Craig, as well as their two children, Caitlyn and Jamie, are members at Mount Vernon. Their family also includes their two dogs, Tobie and Bella and two guinea pigs, Pheonix and Chat. Jessica serves as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter's troop, as well as on the Executive Board for the Deep Run High School Band Boosters. She loves reading, writing, spending time with her family and crafting, particularly scrapbooking and hand-stamping. She has created her own Web-based company to offer her craft works. ''Ministry and InReach/Outreach are my passions and I firmly believe that God has called me to work in the church,'' she says.
Email: jbenson@mvbcnow.org
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Anne Winston
Church Organist
Anne Winston has served as organist of Mount Vernon Baptist Church since May 1974. She joined Mount Vernon in 1964. As organist, she plays for the Classic Worship Service at 11 a.m. on Sundays. She also serves as accompanist for the Young At Heart Choir. She accompanies soloists and groups for various functions, and she plays for weddings and funerals at Mount Vernon when requested.
Anne also plays for funerals, weddings, and concerts at church and in the community.
Anne is married to Ken Winston, who serves as a greeter at Mount Vernon on Sunday mornings. Their family includes three children and their spouses plus five grandchilden ranging in age from 5 years old to 23 years old.
Anne was born and raised in Fluvanna County, Va., and her home church is Beaver Dam Baptist Church near Charlottesville, Va., on Broad St. Road.
Anne also plays for funerals, weddings, and concerts at church and in the community.
Anne is married to Ken Winston, who serves as a greeter at Mount Vernon on Sunday mornings. Their family includes three children and their spouses plus five grandchilden ranging in age from 5 years old to 23 years old.
Anne was born and raised in Fluvanna County, Va., and her home church is Beaver Dam Baptist Church near Charlottesville, Va., on Broad St. Road.

