Our Staff
The Rev. Dr. Porter C. Taylor
Rector
Porter has served as the rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd since September 2024. An almost-cradle Episcopalian, Porter was ordained to the priesthood in 2013. Most recently he served as rector of St. David’s by the Sea in Cocoa Beach, Florida where he founded the St. David’s Institute, a theological resource and training center. He previously served in diocesan leadership in California and at two church plants in California and Kansas.
Porter received an MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary (2014) and completed his PhD at the University of Aberdeen (2023) in the field of liturgical theology, a fancy term for the belief that the Church’s worship is the primary expression of her faith and theology. While he will always have a foot in academia, Porter’s true vocation lies in the local parish where he can help equip God’s people for Kingdom ministry through the intersection of tradition and innovation. He is especially energized by preaching, liturgy, leadership development, discipleship, accessible theology, and pastoral care.
Porter has been married to his college-sweetheart, Rebecca, for seventeen years, and together they have three sons, Jet, Case, and Ellis. He loves reading (both to himself and to his boys), spending time with Rebecca, needlepointing, and taking every opportunity possible to talk about Manchester United.
rector@cogsaugusta.org
Assisting Clergy
The Rev. Dr. Bunny Simon Williams
Bunny is an assisting priest at Good Shepherd. She received her call to the ministry late in life and went to seminary at the age of 62. Bunny has two sons and two grandsons and is thankful that her entire extended family calls Good Shepherd home. She brings a wealth of pastoral, teaching, and volunteer experience. She loves to write and feels that her greatest gift is her sense of humor.
The Rev. Dr. Joe Bowden
Joe is an assisting priest at Good Shepherd and a retired surgeon of many years service at the Medical College and the V.A. Avid golfer, musician, reader, writer, and teacher, he is a priest of many gifts and interests.
THE REV. DR. LYNN TYSON
Lynn is a deacon at Good Shepherd. She and her husband Phil Horton have been members for many years and raised their daughter Mary Beth at Good Shepherd. Lynn has served as a psychiatrist in community mental health for over 35 years as well as on clinical faculty at Medical College of Georgia/AU training residents. She received her call to ordained ministry late in life after having been involved in a number of lay ministries at Good Shepherd. She completed Diocesan training to be a deacon and was ordained in 2025. She is passionate about mental health education ministries and outreach, especially to those living on the margins in our community, as well as pastoral care.
ELIZABETH GATTER
Director of Music Ministries
Elizabeth Gatter is a native of Mobile, AL, with a diverse background in voice performance, pedagogy, keyboard performance, and church music. She comes to the Church of the Good Shepherd from Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Mobile, where she has served as Organist/Choirmaster since 2021. As a vocalist, Elizabeth has performed extensively in collegiate and professional opera productions and was selected as the Madame Rose-Palmai Tenser Developing Young Artist with Mobile Opera for two consecutive years. In 2019, she was featured as a soloist at the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festival, premiering songs from new musical theatre. Elizabeth has been married to Tony since 2023. Together, they have two cats, Zen and Xan, and one dog, Claire.
Maureen McManus
Parish & Financial Administrator
An Augusta native, Maureen brings a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, with a strong background in fundraising, program development, and community engagement. With six years of nonprofit experience, she has dedicated her career to advocating for vulnerable populations and securing the resources necessary to sustain and grow vital programs. Maureen’s journey to this work has been an exciting one—the oldest of five children, a former competitive Irish dancer, and even an au pair in Italy. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, mahjong, traveling, and live music. Most of all, she cherishes time with family and friends.
ASHLEY WILLIAMS
Director of Children's Ministry
Ashley joined the Church of the Good Shepherd in 2014. She has loved raising her two boys, Si and Owen, at the same church where their father attended from childhood and where their “Hoppy” serves as an assisting priest. Ashley is excited for this new season of life. She feels that her teaching experience and love for children will be assets as the leader of the children’s ministry team. She comes to our program with creative ideas and lots of energy.
LAUREN HARGROVE
Parish Nurse
Lauren obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from The Medical College of Georgia in 2000. Prior to that she attended the College of Charleston and the University of Georgia. She has worked in a clinical/hospital setting for over 26 years in various specialities. Currently, she is in Day Surgery at Piedmont Augusta. Lauren has been married to Trey Hargrove for 21 years, and they have 3 sons. Charlie is a freshman at the University of Georgia, William is in 11th grade at Aquinas High School, and Sam is in 8th grade at Episcopal Day School. They also have a 4th child, a yellow lab named Huck.
Rebecca Taylor
Director of Communications
Rebecca is a cradle Episcopalian and clergy kid (times two!) whose preferred role in the yearly Christmas pageant was "The Lord God." Spoiler alert: she never got the part. Rebecca attended Converse College, a women's college in South Carolina, where she received a B.A. in Political Science. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.
In addition to her role at Good Shepherd, Rebecca is a communications consultant serving churches in the Diocese of Central Florida, and is the founder of Altar and Field, a church consulting group specializing in congregational vitality and resource development.
She has been married to her college-sweetheart, Porter, since 2008. Together they have three sons who fill their days with a hefty dose of dirt, laughter, and laundry.
Lynn Williams
Membership Ministries
Lynn joined the Good Shepherd staff in June of 2018, after retiring from 42 years of teaching-38 of those at EDS. She is the Membership Ministries Leader. She also serves on the Altar and Wedding Guilds, WAGS cooking team, and chairs The Guild of the Christ Child that puts together baptism services for the parish.
BECKY HUEY
Financial Secretary
An Augusta native, Becky obtained a Master's in Finance from Southern Adventist University near Chattanooga, TN, in 2006. She has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. In her free time, Becky enjoys gardening, pottery, painting, and spending time with friends and family.
Mindy McKnight
Ministry Coordinator
Mindy McKnight, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, has lived in Augusta with her family for over 10 years. Prior to moving here, Mindy attended Clemson University, where she graduated with a B.A. in History in 2012, and then went to graduate school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned her master’s degree in Education with a focus on teaching English as a Second Language in 2014. She moved to Augusta and became a member at Good Shepherd after she and her husband, Marshall, married in 2014. She and her husband have two children, a boy and a girl, Joseph and Becker.
Sharon Enoch
Altar Guild Chair
Sharon is the chair of the Altar Guild and a practicing attorney. She and her husband Ed found a home at Good Shepherd, and they were married there in 1995. Sharon loves working with the great team that cares for the altar, vestments, vessels, and linens, setting the table for the Lord’s supper.
Nathaniel Simmons
Sexton
Nathaniel has been the Sexton of Good Shepherd for almost years. He is active in his church, Church of Christ, and in his free time, he enjoys cooking and spending time with his family. He has been married to Jessie for 33 years and together they have four children. He loves everything about Good Shepherd.
Kathleen Barnhart
Chair of Community & World Missions
Kathleen has been a member of Good Shepherd since 1990. She is a retired VA Nurse Practitioner and a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army Nurse Corps. She obtained a master’s degree from University of South Carolina. Original member of the Augusta Task Force for the Homeless (now defunct) and current president of the Board of St. Stephen’s Ministry of Augusta, Inc.
David Perkinson
EDS, Head of School
Dr. David Perkinson began his career in education thirty-eight years ago at McCallie School, his alma mater, where he taught high school math. Over the next three decades, David would also serve as both a math and physics teacher at Charlotte Country Day School, as Head of Middle School at Spartanburg Day School, as Head of Upper School at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, and finally in his last position as Head of School at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
David earned his B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1988. He went on to study Mathematics Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was awarded an M.A. degree in 2000. David was also awarded a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University in 2015.
David has been happily married to his wife, Angela for 31 years. They love spending time with their extended family and they both enjoy great food. David loves to play golf, and both he and Angela are known to take in a variety of sporting events in their downtime.