St. Thomas Episcopal Church
We are a welcoming community of faith and love that serves one another and seeks to draw others to God through our ministries.
Rector
The Rev. Melanie Lemburg has been ordained a priest in the Episcopal church since 2005. She graduated with an M.Div from General Theological Seminary in 2004, has served multiple congregations in the Diocese of Mississippi, and she was called as St. Thomas's rector in August 2017. Melanie is married to David, who is also an Episcopal priest and is the mom of two.
Deacon and Minister of Discipleship
The Rev. Aimee Baxter is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church since 2008. She attended Auburn University for her undergraduate degree and obtained her Masters of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School. She is married to Shannon Baxter who serves as the Minister of Missions at Isle of Hope UMC. They have three children ranging in ages from 18 to 8. Aimee is passionate about many things to include her faith, the church, ministries of justice and compassion, her family and, of course, all things Auburn and Duke.
Parish Administrator
Amy Jo Washabaugh comes to St. Thomas with a wealth of experience as she served as Human Services Director for the City of Broadview Heights, OH for 14 years. Amy Jo and her husband Greg have been married for 28 years, and they have adult children. She enjoys kayaking, cooking, and walking on the beach.
Minister of Music
Tripp Hardee is the Minister of Music and Organist at St. Thomas. Tripp is a native of Baxley, Georgia. He received his formal training in piano beginning during his childhood. He has studied piano and organ, along with undergraduate studies in education and music at South Georgia State College and Brewton Parker College. Tripp has previously served as the pianist at Graham United Methodist Church and St. Thomas Aquanis Episcopal Church, as well as Director of Music/Organist at First United Methodist Church of Baxley. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists - Savannah Chapter. He also works full time as a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel.
EYC Youth Group Coordinator
Matt Rice has been working with youth for over 10 years and has been working with the youth at St. Thomas since 2018. As EYC Youth Group Coordinator, Matt is responsible for executing and planning Sunday afternoon programs for 6th through 12th graders. When not working full time as a Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Matt loves kayaking around Isle of Hope as well as playing a few holes of golf. He is a graduate from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a bachelors in Molecular Biology as well as Georgia Southern University with a degree in Respiratory Therapy.
Nursery Supervisor
Dianne Jones comes to St. Thomas with over 25 years experience as a preschool and Pre-K teacher. Her experience includes working for SCCPSS, Maggie's Morning School and Calvary Day School, as well as, an exercise instructor at the YMCA. She is from Florida and has one son. Her hobbies include working out, planting flowers and cooking.
Sexton
Greg Washabaugh maintains our buildings and grounds. He moved to Savannah, GA in 2021. He is a retired member of the Teamsters and loves to cook.