Staff

Betty Connette was ordained as Pastor at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church in February, 2005. She grew up in Wilmington, NC, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. She received her Master of Religious Education from Union/PSCE and Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Betty has served four other Presbyterian churches in the Raleigh area in various capacities: Christian education, youth ministry, mission development and pastoral ministry. She is married to Walt Clapp, a former member and elder of WBPC. Walt and Betty are blessed with a delightful daughter, Katherine Anh. email: betty@wbpresbyterian.org

Bruce Grady is a native of Wilmington, North Carolina.  He is married to his best friend, Michele Moore, and they have two children, Isaiah and Alexa.

He received degrees from North Carolina State University in 1991 (BS), Duke University, The Divinity School in 1994 (MDiv), Princeton Theological Seminary in 1996 (ThM), and Columbia University, Teachers College in 2002 (EdD). Ordained on September 30, 1997, Bruce has served congregations in New York and North Carolina.  He has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in South Africa, Liberia, Mexico, the Czech Republic and Haiti. He continues to participate in grass roots organizations which address a range of community issues from challenging the wrongs of inequality in education to building alliances across racial, economic, and denominational lines.

He affirms the words from Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”.  He currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Community Outreach at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

email: bgrady9039@gmail.com

Sujin Matthews is pleased to serve as the interim Choir Director/Organist while the Search Committee looks for a permanent music leader.

Coming from a Presbyterian heritage, Sujin has had the privilege of being associated with a variety of Protestant and Catholic congregations as an organist, choir director, and administrator.  With an Air Force family background (her father Joseph Matthews is a retired Presbyterian Chaplain Colonel), Sujin has experienced a diversity of cultures.  She is especially proud to follow in the steps of her Grandmother Anna Matthews who was Western Boulevard’s first organist.

To assist her parents, Sujin relocated to Cary from southern Maryland in late 2008.  After the passing of her Mother in 2010, she became a full time care provider for her Dad.  Sujin has been involved as a guest organist at various churches in the area, including an 8-month-interim position at White Memorial Presbyterian Church.  She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ and a second Master’s degree in Music Theory Pedagogy from Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

As an avid animal lover, Sujin still hopes to pursue work as a veterinary assistant one day, especially in research and rescue organizations. Sujin and her Dad have two shelter dogs, Gracie (Chihuahua mix) and Luke (Cairn Terrier mix).

Van-Anthoney Hall, tenor, holds a Master of Music in voice/opera performance from Southern Methodist University as a Bruce Foote scholar and a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance from North Carolina A&T State University. He holds a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has had the pleasure of working with Dallas Opera, Utah Festival Opera and Houston Ebony Opera companies and Virgina Tech Theatre. His vocal credits include opera/theatre performances in the Marriage of Figaro, Tosca, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Porgy and Bess, Black Nativity, The Consul and the Merry Widow. His concert credits include faculty and regional recitals of Spirituals and Art Songs. Currently, Van is an applied voice professor at North Carolina A&T State University   email:vananthoney.h@gmail.com

Bobbi Cross was born into the Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church family and is a graduate of Western Boulevard Kindergarten (as it was known then).  She attended Elon College and NCSU.  She has worked at the preschool for 24+ years.  Bobbi has experience in behavioral issues, the strong willed child and training in Second Step Violence and Anger Management program.  She has been the Director of the WBPP summer camp for the past 5 years.  She is married to Jerry and they have 2 daughters, Kaycee Rice and Krystee Cross.  email: wbppdirector@gmail.com

Amy Burki is involved in many areas of the life of Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church. She is the church receptionist, the gatekeeper for the calendar for the many activities of the church, the facility administrator, and the publisher of  information that is distributed to the congregation.  Amy is married and has three daughters.   email: Amy@wbpresbyterian.org

Anna Richardson Raab is a native of Greensboro, NC and is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She is married to Jonathan, her high school sweetheart.  Throughout college Anna worked as a church intern, specializing in youth ministry, and realized her passion for working with young people in the church.  Anna serves as the Coordinator of Youth Fellowship and Social Media at WBPC.  email: annarich430@gmail.com