Leadership

Rev. Fran Cooper is a native of Norfolk, VA and has served as an Ordained Elder in local churches for over 32 year in the Tidewater and Richmond areas. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Duke University (Durham, NC) following her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Church Music from Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City,TN). Fran has a pastoral passion to extend the loving power of God to as many as possible through worship, preaching,engaging in small groups, but also in taking the Church into the world in order to heal the hurts of physical, spiritual, emotional,and communal brokenness. Fran is part of a clergy couple. Her husband, the Rev. Bob Cooper is also a Methodist minister. Their family includes two adult daughters, MaryBeth and Monica, three beautiful grandchildren Charlotte (11), Max (9), and Mikey (7), and their two “boys,” a Pug named Grande and Tabby cat named Jeter who presently run their home. Fran’s favorite pastimes are spent with extended family, and especially her mom and two sisters who also live in the area. She also enjoys reading (especially historical fiction), making delicious food (she’s a Food network junkie), planting flowers, and traveling with her husband wherever the road leads them.

Becky Crockett serves as the Church’s Administrative Assistant. Following her Navy husband around the country, she attended the College of Charleston and San Diego State University, before graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2001 with a degree in Finance. Navy orders brought Becky and her family to Norfolk in 2001. Becky began attending LUMC in 2007 and became a member in 2008. When not answering the office phone, working on bulletins, greeting Church Members or assisting the hungry, she plays in the Larchmont Ringers, and supports various LUMC missions initiatives.

Meg Ditty is a graduate of Cal State University San Bernardino, earning her Bachelors Degree in Psychology. She has been a preschool administrator for 10 years in both state licensed/accredited and religious exempt locations. Meg came to Virginia when her husband’s Coast Guard career moved them across the country in 2003. She has since planted her roots in Virginia Beach with her husband Jerry and their two boys, Jackson and Clayton. When she is not playing with the kids at LUMPS, you can most likely find her at a baseball field, whether it is at PAHS, ODU or Tides Park. Meg is a member of Thalia United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach.

Dave Loughery is native of Pennsylvania and served local churches in Eastern Pennsylvania as an associate pastor and Senior Pastor.  He also served as a District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet.   He is graduate of Houghton College (University) BA in History, Eastern Baptist Seminary (Palmer Seminary),Philadelphia, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry.  Dr Loughery also served as a church consultant with 21st Century Strategies .  After 33  years in local church ministry  he worked advocating for affordable housing with the non profit Housing Development Corporation , Lancaster PA.  He then became President of Parish Resource Center, Lancaster,  a nonprofit resourcing local churches.  Dave and his wife Jill live in Portsmouth.  Dave has  two sons and six grandchildren and Jill has two daughters and one grandson.  Jill works as an acupuncturist with Sentara  and is also a stained glass artist.  Dave enjoys trying to play golf and gardening.

Spending most of his life in the Norfolk, VA area, Ron is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. He began assisting with the church’s audio/visual crew in the summer of 2023 and eventually was offered a position in the church’s digital communications department. Outside of church Ron enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his pug.

Cathy Hickman graduated from  Barton College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion/Philosophy.  She continued her education through Old Dominion University with a teaching certificate in secondary math and a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Technology.  She is a previous employee of Larchmont UMC serving as the Director of Christian Education. For the past 10 years she has taught middle school math and is now teaching part time at The Hague School in Norfolk.  Cathy also spends 2 days a week helping with her grandchildren.  As Interim Children's Ministry staff person, she is assisting the Education Committee with Sunday School, Nursery, and activities for children. 

Madylan is a student at Old Dominion University pursuing a degree in accounting. She started attending the church prior to moving to the Larchmont community, and would eventually get married and have her son baptized at LUMC. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and being outdoors! 

With a degree in business, Amber started her career in finance as an Assistant Vice President of Compliance for a local bank. She took a hiatus to raise two boys who are now proud graduates of William & Mary. As a community volunteer, Amber is well connected throughout the Hampton Roads area. She honed her skills to rejoin the work force joining Conner & Co., as a real estate assistant, in 2016. A transplant from the West Coast, she considers herself a Virginian but remains a loyal LA Dodgers and USC Trojans fan. In her free time, Amber enjoys watching sports, playing volleyball, and spending time with her family and dogs, Giorgi and Lola. 

Karla D. Robinson is a choral director, performer, private vocal instructor and clinician with over 30 years of experience. She grew up in the Chicagoland area and after attending St. Olaf College, she moved to Hampton Roads with her husband, Tony.  She has directed the high school choirs at Young Musicians of Virginia for over 20 years where she also served for 15 as the Director of Fine Arts. She has been active in the theater scene, having Music Directed and performed in more shows than she can count. She loves to network and connect artists who are new to the area with individuals and organizations where their gifts can be used and appreciated. Karla has two children who love music, as well – Charles who sings and composes, and Rebekah who sings and loves to travel and bake. As far as hobbies go, her love of music does take up a bit of time, but she does love to cook and is always up for a challenge! 

William is an organist, composer, and teacher. Originally from upstate New York, he began his musical career as a boy chorister and Organ Scholar at the Cathedral of All Saints Choir of Men and Boys in Albany, NY. Will has held positions teaching Composition and Music Theory at the University of Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University, and DePauw University and he is very excited to begin his new teaching role at Old Dominion University this year! As a composer, Will writes both acoustic chamber music derived from handmade graphic scores and film music derived from recorded improvisation and digital processing. Recent works include The Amphibian, which was toured throughout the US and Russia by The Fifth House Ensemble in collaboration with the Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Alash, and several short film scores for Aeon Magazine. In his spare time Will enjoys cooking, playing chess, watching basketball, and traveling with his partner and their small dog, both of whom, confusingly enough, are named Carly.

Dai Poole comes from a deeply musical family and found his voice early on while singing in the gospel choir at his grandfather’s church. A graduate of Salem High School’s Performing Arts Academy, Dai continued his vocal training at Virginia Tech, earning a degree in Music with a concentration in vocal performance. A lover of all styles of music, Dai enjoys blending genres and finding ways to challenge his voice to create sounds inspired by everything from gospel to classical to contemporary worship. Whether leading worship or singing in harmony with others, Dai is passionate about creating sacred space through music that uplifts, connects, and invites all into God’s presence. 

Robert has lived in Norfolk for the past 14 years, but was born and raised in Louisa, VA (outside Charlottesville). He’s been in the janitorial business all his life starting with his parents’ commercial cleaning business. Robert currently has a full-time position at Tidewater Tech as Senior Custodian Maintenance. He is receiving an Associates in Occupational Safety and Health in the fall from Columbia Southern University and will continue for a Bachelor’s in Environmental Management at the beginning of 2025. Janitorial and serving others is his passion and life.