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Rev. John Choi, Pastor
Pastor John came to Bethany in July 2025 after serving in the nearby Mathews, as well as in Buena Vista and Northern Virginia. A native of South Korea, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Emory University and his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife, Jurah Yang, since 2022. John entered pastoral ministry with a conviction that the biblical Jesus remains deeply relevant to people’s everyday lives. One of his favorite scriptures is Colossians 2:6–7: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.”
Sandra Fox, Director of Music
Sandy was born in Roanoke, Virginia and moved to Hampton Roads in 1965. She graduated from Cradock High School then graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Christopher Newport. She began performing in musical theatre in the 1970s; performed American music and liturgical dramas in Europe and USA in the 1980s.
Sandy began her spiritual journey as a Baptist, then became a United Methodist in the 1970s. She came to Bethany in 1987 as Choir Director where she has produced numerous Easter, Christmas and Children’s programs over the years.
Sandy married Bob Fox in the 1970s. She has two children and four grandchildren.
God has been with her throughout her life leading and guiding her. His steadfast love for all things is a life she wishes to embrace and follow through prayer and dedication.
Dr. Rudy Shackelford, Organist/Pianist
It may seem providential, if not preordained, that Rudy Shackelford should end up as Organist of Bethany UMC. Because after many childhood piano lessons dampened the allure of music, Rudy had settled on architecture as a future career—only to be “blown away” by the pipe organ at Trinity UMC in Newport News. A recital there by visiting Belgian virtuoso Flor Peeters revealed the inner architecture of musical sounds and reignited Rudy’s passion for this craft and art. But while he matriculated as an organ major at VCU, a course in music theory uncovered Rudy’s latent talent for composition. A scholarship for graduate study in that discipline brought him to the University of Illinois, where he earned the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in 1971.
Following graduation Rudy pursued a career as freelance composer and writer. His work was supported by residence appointments at centers for the creative arts such as Yaddo (Saratoga Springs, NY), The MacDowell Colony (Peterborough, NH) and the Ossabaw Island Project (Savannah, GA). A stipend from the Rockefeller Foundation facilitated post-doctoral research in Italy on the work of Luigi Dallapiccola. A collection of his essays translated and edited by Rudy Shackelford was published in London.
Rudy’s original compositions and transcriptions have been commissioned by the Annapolis Brass Quintet, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and many other organizations; they have been published internationally by Boosey and Hawkes, Belwin-Mills, and Edizioni Suvini Zerboni. Recently Paraclete Press published two compositions which Rudy wrote to celebrate Bethany’s 110th and 120th anniversaries: Trumpet Voluntary and Charles Wesley Organbook. Copies of these works can be found in the church library.
Soon after joining the staff in June 1997, Rudy perceived the urgent need to upgrade Bethany’s organ and piano consistent with his vision of a professional music ministry. With the enthusiastic support of Rev. Dr. Braxton Allport and key leaders such as Maxine Bayly and George Nelson, Rudy offered a challenge grant of $30,000 which the congregation quickly matched (and more!), affording the acquisition of an Allen three-manual digital organ and Steinway grand piano. Rudy has featured these excellent instruments in the twenty annual recitals he has given since 1999, raising over $10,000 to benefit the George Nelson Memorial Concert Series and the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society.
Jimmy Mackey, Church Office Administrator
Jimmy is a native of Hampton Roads and graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in English and Psychology, after which he earned an MBA from VCU. His is currently enrolled as a doctoral student in Servant Leadership at Regent University.
He spent a number of years in international business and market development, living on both US coasts. Following that he enjoyed a second career as a yacht broker and marina manager.
Jimmy has 2 children-a son in Richmond and a daughter in Greenville, NC. He is also the proud grandfather of 3 granddaughters, all under the age of 6!
Jimmy has served in a number of capacities in the churches he has attended, including Vestry Member, Choir Member, Lay Minister and Small Group Leader. He is excited to serve Bethany UMC.
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