At the May 6th PW General Gathering, Emily Grant and Beth Harris were each bestowed an Honorary Life Membership (HLM) in Presbyterian Women for faithful service to the church, Presbyterian Women and the greater community. Both have lived out their faith through countless acts of love and compassion. The presentation was the highlight of the May General Gathering which also included dinner prepared by the Eunice King Circle and dedication of the 2024 Birthday Offering. The evening closed as 17 of West Raleigh’s 98 Honorary Life Members gathered for a picture.
Beth Harris
We are fortunate to have many capable women and I would like to recognize one of them, our next Honorary Life Member, Beth Harris. Beth grew up in a Minneapolis suburb with her parents, Sue and Dick Snoke and two younger sisters, Cathy and Meg.
Beth’s education began at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When the family moved to North Carolina, she continued her education at Apex High School. Beth and her family were members at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Minneapolis and then St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Apex. Beth attended UNC-Chapel Hill receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1996. She furthered her studies at North Carolina State University earning a Master of Education in Instructional Technology in 2005.
Beth excels at making science fun! She has been involved in science education for over 20 years in the classroom, research facilities and museums. She loves sharing fun experiments with anyone who will listen and with whatever is handy. Beth is the author of several children science workbooks. Her science career began as a physics teacher at Chapel Hill High School. From 1998-2005, Beth was the Science House Outreach Coordinator at NCSU. She also led the Asheville Satellite Office. During 2006-2008, Beth worked as Outreach Coordinator for the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. From 2009 – 2023 she was involved in various contract work creating web sites and writing science curriculum including for PBS NC (formerly UNCTV) and leading STEM field trips at United Skates of America. Beth is now Director of the NC Inquiry Collaborative Network. This network supports counties across NC who are committed to hands-on research in K-8 schools.
Beth married Geoff Harris in 2004 and they welcomed their first son, Sam, in 2005. They moved to Hendersonville, NC before their second son Abe was born in 2009. In Hendersonville, Beth joined Trinity Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and on the Preschool Committee. The family’s next move in 2010 brought them back to Raleigh where we welcomed them to West Raleigh Presbyterian!
Beth has been very active in our church, participating in the Arts Ministry, Earth Care, and the Mission Peace & Justice committee. Her overwhelming commitment to the Beeloved Community Garden has resulted in transforming that area from rocks and overgrown brush to a productive bee apiary and reflective outdoor sanctuary for WRPC church members and the greater community. If you want to learn more about the many native plants or the bees in the Beeloved Garden just ask; she will happily share what she knows!
As treasurer for Presbyterian Women from 2015 until 2022, she transitioned the PW financials to computerized applications including spreadsheets and detailed budget reporting. Using her web skills, she created a new WRPC electronic newsletter and web site. Beth has worked with other members to support 2 refugee families: the Alabouds from Syria and the Kibendes from the Congo. She was most helpful in filling out the numerous school forms with the Alaboud family. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Currently, Beth serves as a Deacon (class 2025) and is on the Hospitality & Fellowship Committee.
Nothing seems outside of Beth’s skills! We proudly present Beth Harris with a Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership.
Emily Grant
Tonight is a special night when we remember the gifts of women in our church family. We are honored at West Raleigh to have many talented and dedicated individuals.
I am pleased tonight to recognize Emily Daniel Grant, a woman with energy, enthusiasm and Christian love who treasures and respects all people. Emily and her husband Bob have been members of West Raleigh since 1995. She and Bob raised their two boys, Ben and Wyatt as an active part of the West Raleigh church family. In recent years Emily has invited her parents Bill and Weenie Daniel to join West Raleigh upon their move to the Raleigh area. The Daniel family enjoyed many years in Rock Hill, South Carolina where Emily was born and she and her older brother grew up. We have delighted to share their friendship as well.
Emily shares her gifts with our West Raleigh family in many capacities. She has been actively involved with children and youth for over 20 years. She has been a greeter/leader of Children’s Worship, Middle School/High School Sunday School teacher, Youth Advisor for 4 years, chaperoned youth mission trips and Montreat trip, confirmation partner and co-leader of the confirmation class. Additionally, she has led the Racial Equity Discussion Group, helped plan a church retreat, an active member of Clara Gilbert Circle, a Stephen Minister and leads us in worship as a liturgist. Her call to leadership has extended to service at West Raleigh as a Deacon in 2009-2012 and Elder in 2018-2021.
She demonstrated her love for learning and respect for others in her work for over 30 years in the field of museum education and related work with non-profit support groups across the state of North Carolina. She utilized her degrees, a BA in Anthropology/Spanish from Tulane University and a MA in Museum Education from The George Washington University, quite well. My children and I were among the lucky recipients as we attended many of her North Carolina History Museum young people history programs. She made history interesting and fun! What a wonderful gift! In 2016, Emily was awarded the Triangle Business Journal’s Diversity Award for Non-Profit Leaders. In 2019, she was recognized by the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs as a community leader and advocate for work with tribes in North Carolina.
Emily’s dedication to this church and the gifts she shares with our church family and community are deeply appreciated. Whenever she’s involved in something, it will be incredibly well executed and all involved will have a meaningful and joyful experience as she spreads the message of God’s love and light. We proudly present Emily Grant with a Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership.
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