This is Your Habitat

Jennifer Fraley is in her third year of service with Habitat for Humanity and is the Chair of the Donor Relations Committee.

Jennifer is Associate Dean of Student Conduct & Integrity and University Title IX Coordinator at Longwood University. She has been a college student educator for 13 years and in that time has worked with students both inside and outside the classroom. Before moving to Farmville, she spent 9 years outside of Albany, NY at Siena College. It was at Siena College where she first became involved in Habitat for Humanity, serving as the advisor to their Habitat for Humanity Chapter for several years. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Kenyon College in Ohio and a M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Jennifer enjoys knowing that the work she does with Habitat makes a difference in the communities we serve. “My favorite thing about Habitat is that we can see an appreciable difference in our community. Every time I go past one of the houses that we have partnered with the community to build, renovate or just spruce up a bit, I know that we’ve touched lives in a positive way”.

Gary Elder is new to the Habitat Board for 2017. He is an attorney in the practice of Elder and Watkins, P.C., with offices in Farmville and Charlotte Court House. Gary is originally from Charlotte County and is a 2002 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville. After living in Birmingham, Alabama and Washington, D.C., he decided to return to Southside Virginia in 2010.

Gary is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations including the Virginia State Bar, Virginia State Bar Ethics Disciplinary Committee, District of Columbia Bar, Madisonville Presbyterian Church, Charlotte County Friends of the Library, Keysville Ruritan Club, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Cheryl Gee is a new member, active with the Charlotte Committee. She loves the concept that Habitat provides in assisting the community with affordable housing and is very excited about the “A Brush with Kindness” program. Cheryl has been in the banking field for close to thirty years, the last eight being with Benchmark Community Bank. She hopes to continue to make a difference in Charlotte and other counties with home improvements and housing opportunities.

Pauline Stokes is new to the Habitat Board for 2017. She has been employed with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program for 12 years. As the SNAP_ED Agent she serves the counties of Prince Edward, Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Amherst, Campbell, and Lynchburg City. She worked in the past as a Nutrition Assistant with the Virginia Department of Health (WIC) in Farmville and as the Food Service Manager at the Weyanoke Retirement Home in Farmville. Pauline is the founder of The Balm of Gilead Nonprofit Faith-Based Community Missions Inc. and also serves in many other community organizations and nonprofits.

Her formal education includes a B.S. in Business Administration from Saint Paul’s College, a Certificate in Religious studies from Virginia Union University, an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services from Southside Community College, and a Certificate as a Home Care Provider.

Pauline is married with three children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, reading, gardening, and working on small projects.

Dan Weese has been involved with Habitat for Humanity in one capacity or another since 2007. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Family Services Committee. Dan is a professor of Psychology at Hampden-Sydney College. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1983 and an A.B. from Washington University in 1972. Dr. Weese’s areas of expertise and research are in Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Drugs and Behavior and Methods of Psychological Research.

Jayne Johnson has served as the Executive Director of the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity since 2004. Since then, the local Habitat has more than doubled the number of Habitat homes built each year, implemented homeownership education training for all Habitat partner families, opened a successful Habitat ReStore, and initiated critical strategic partnerships. FAHFH has expanded operations to include Prince Edward County and parts of Buckingham, Cumberland and Charlotte Counties. In addition, Jayne currently serves as a member of Habitat for Humanity International’s US Council, Affiliate Enhancement Committee. Jayne has been an active member of Habitat for Humanity Virginia, most recently serving as Treasurer of the Habitat for Humanity Virginia Board of Directors, and previously serving as Secretary and VP over her eight years of HFHVA board service.

Before signing on with Habitat for Humanity, Jayne’s professional career was in public relations and public affairs consulting. She holds a B.S. degree in Social Sciences and Humanities from Lewis Clark State College and has completed graduate courses in education at the University of Idaho and has earned a Certificate in Fundraising from The Fundraising School at the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dennis joined the Habitat team in April of 2019.  He brings a vast experience of construction knowledge and volunteer coordination.  Most recently, Dennis was the Home Repair Coordinator/Safety Officer for the Appalachia Service Project for seven years.  That organization works on over 400 homes a year with the aid of over 11,000 volunteers in order to serve low-income families in need of housing solutions in the central Appalachia region.  As a licensed general contractor, Dennis previously operated his own construction business for fifteen years.  Prior to that, he contracted as a Construction Analyst/Inspector with the Planning Department of Laramie County, Wyoming.  Dennis also served as the senior pastor of a church in Thermopolis, Wyoming for six years.  

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/History from Montana State University-Northern and a Master of Arts in Biblical Literature from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.  He also holds a variety of construction related certifications.  

Sam Rabon, the Community Outreach Director, is not new to the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity team, but he has taken on a different role as the Community Outreach Director. Previously Sam worked with the Habitat ReStore by driving the truck and helping to collect all donated items. Prior to coming to Habitat, Sam was the Children's and Youth Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Farmville for 9 years, during which time he developed a strong relationship with Habitat. Sam felt led by God to step down from the ministry to serve the community in a different way. In his new position, he looks forward to hearing and sharing the stories of partner families and learning how their life is being positively impacted. Sam says his goal is to "love God and love my neighbor in whatever way I can." His vision at Habitat is to help connect more people so Habitat can build more in order to serve more.

Sam has a B.A. in Sociology from Furman University in Greenville, SC and a Masters of Divinity in Student Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.

Alanna joined the Farmville Habitat family as our Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator in February of 2017. Although new to our office, she is no stranger to our organization, having worked on several builds and rehab projects while having lived in Atlanta, Georgia. With extensive event planning experience in the private, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, Alanna brings a genuine passion for providing assistance wherever there are people in need.

An avid child and animal activist, Alanna currently serves on the fundraising and planning committees for both Friends of Barker Field and Dogs Deserve Better. She also works closely with Peace Dynamics, an organization dedicated to developing and teaching effective anti-bullying leadership strategies to our children in schools and throughout the community.

In her own words, "Making memories is what makes life worth living, and what better memory can you provide for a family than having a safe, comfortable place to call home?”