Meet the Board
Linda Kelly - President
Linda joined the Board in 2016 by assuming a part of the term of the previous Executive Membership Chair. In 2017, Linda was elected for a two-year term. She has served the Guild previously as Post Office Chair.
Linda is married to Steve Kelley and has a son, Wayne. She has been quilting since before Wayne was born; he is now over 30 years old. She prefers machine over hand work and quilts “by check.”
She has been in the legal field since 1972 and worked with a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals. She retired in October 2019.
She loves everything to do with the beach and the ocean, including shelling and looking for sea glass.
Linda joined the Board in 2016 by assuming a part of the term of the previous Executive Membership Chair. In 2017, Linda was elected for a two-year term. She has served the Guild previously as Post Office Chair.
Linda is married to Steve Kelley and has a son, Wayne. She has been quilting since before Wayne was born; he is now over 30 years old. She prefers machine over hand work and quilts “by check.”
She has been in the legal field since 1972 and worked with a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals. She retired in October 2019.
She loves everything to do with the beach and the ocean, including shelling and looking for sea glass.
First Vice President - Debby Coleman
Debby is the immediate Past President, having served 2 years. She has previously held the position of 1st Vice-president from June 2015. She was the Vice-Chair of the 2016 TQG Quilt Show Committee.
None of Debby’s family sews and so she is entirely self taught. She made her first quilt, a hand pieced sampler quilt using the Lynne Edwards Essential Sampler Quilt book in 2010. Debby has made a variety of quilts, usually as gifts and her list of pending projects is extremely long and added to on a daily basis. She particularly loves hand piecing and is about to begin a quilt using some 17,240 x 1" hexies !
Debby is from England and is currently here with her husband who serves with the UK Royal Air Force attached to NATO. She retired from her job as a Child Protection Lawyer in 2009 to accompany her husband who had been assigned to a job at the opposite end of the Uk. Shortly afterwards they, and their 2 dogs, were assigned to Germany before moving to Virginia Beach in September 2014. She loves English cricket and rugby as well as F1 motor racing.
Debby is the immediate Past President, having served 2 years. She has previously held the position of 1st Vice-president from June 2015. She was the Vice-Chair of the 2016 TQG Quilt Show Committee.
None of Debby’s family sews and so she is entirely self taught. She made her first quilt, a hand pieced sampler quilt using the Lynne Edwards Essential Sampler Quilt book in 2010. Debby has made a variety of quilts, usually as gifts and her list of pending projects is extremely long and added to on a daily basis. She particularly loves hand piecing and is about to begin a quilt using some 17,240 x 1" hexies !
Debby is from England and is currently here with her husband who serves with the UK Royal Air Force attached to NATO. She retired from her job as a Child Protection Lawyer in 2009 to accompany her husband who had been assigned to a job at the opposite end of the Uk. Shortly afterwards they, and their 2 dogs, were assigned to Germany before moving to Virginia Beach in September 2014. She loves English cricket and rugby as well as F1 motor racing.
Second Vice President – Linda Reynolds
Executive Membership - Pat Carney
Before assuming the office of Executive Membership Chair, Pat held the the offices of First Vice President and Second Vice President, as well as coordinating programs and many volunteer positions in the Guild.
Pat’s real sewing began with 7th grade home economics. Through the years, she enjoyed making clothes for herself and her daughter and curtains and duvet covers for the many houses in which she lived as a Navy wife. In the 1980s Pat became involved with making band flags for a marching band. A fellow flag-maker suggested she go to the local quilt guild (Clam Shell Quilters, Waterford, CT). Mary Ellen Hopkins presented a program and Pat was hooked. Most of her quilts have been made as gifts for others – so many baby quilts. The guilds have allowed Pat to take classes from some of the best teachers and she is inspired by what fellow guild members do. Her passion is hand applique using techniques she learned participating in guild workshops and, particularly, Spring Fling.
Pat’s professional life involved making hydrographic maps for companies in Virginia Beach and Connecticut. She and her husband have two children and two grandchildren. Her great pride is passing her on love of sewing and knitting to her granddaughter.
Before assuming the office of Executive Membership Chair, Pat held the the offices of First Vice President and Second Vice President, as well as coordinating programs and many volunteer positions in the Guild.
Pat’s real sewing began with 7th grade home economics. Through the years, she enjoyed making clothes for herself and her daughter and curtains and duvet covers for the many houses in which she lived as a Navy wife. In the 1980s Pat became involved with making band flags for a marching band. A fellow flag-maker suggested she go to the local quilt guild (Clam Shell Quilters, Waterford, CT). Mary Ellen Hopkins presented a program and Pat was hooked. Most of her quilts have been made as gifts for others – so many baby quilts. The guilds have allowed Pat to take classes from some of the best teachers and she is inspired by what fellow guild members do. Her passion is hand applique using techniques she learned participating in guild workshops and, particularly, Spring Fling.
Pat’s professional life involved making hydrographic maps for companies in Virginia Beach and Connecticut. She and her husband have two children and two grandchildren. Her great pride is passing her on love of sewing and knitting to her granddaughter.
Treasurer - Debi Harding. In 1978, while living in Hawaii, Debi learned to quilt and applique from the Hawaiian women at the local outdoor park pavilions, where they met weekly. Moving from Kentucky to Tidewater VA in 1986, she immediately joined Tidewater Quilters Guild. Was very active with guild and quilting, until returning to work in 1997. Since retirement in 2020, she is still trying to keep up with many quilting projects, but still never seems to find enough time! She has served in most TQG Board positions throughout her membership.
Executive Secretary - Lola McCracken has served as Co-Coordinator for Day Chapter, Editor of the TQG Newsletter, Publicity Co-Chair for TQG Quilt Shows and Raffle Quilt Chair.
In addition to membership in TQG, she is a member of the Marietta Mothers’ Day Quilters (Marietta, Georgia). The MMDQ members (eight) have been meeting for 40 years EVERY Mother’s Day weekend to quilt although only five ladies still live in Georgia. She has participated in numerous TQG classes, and has improved her quilting skills since moving to Virginia Beach. Lola has also acquired many new skills from her very talented Wednesday Bee members. After retiring from university teaching (including Georgia Tech in Atlanta), Lola has made more quilts in Virginia than in the entire 30 years of quilting. Most are given away.
Lola is a published author, and her articles have appeared in American Quilter, Quilt Life and numerous travel magazines.
She and her husband, Stuart Gordon, enjoy traveling to places where they have incredible adventures (cattle drives, hot air ballooning, African safaris, snow mobiling, skiing, snow shoeing, horseback trekking, etc.). Together, Stuart and Lola have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, all of whom (except one grandson) live in the local area.
In addition to membership in TQG, she is a member of the Marietta Mothers’ Day Quilters (Marietta, Georgia). The MMDQ members (eight) have been meeting for 40 years EVERY Mother’s Day weekend to quilt although only five ladies still live in Georgia. She has participated in numerous TQG classes, and has improved her quilting skills since moving to Virginia Beach. Lola has also acquired many new skills from her very talented Wednesday Bee members. After retiring from university teaching (including Georgia Tech in Atlanta), Lola has made more quilts in Virginia than in the entire 30 years of quilting. Most are given away.
Lola is a published author, and her articles have appeared in American Quilter, Quilt Life and numerous travel magazines.
She and her husband, Stuart Gordon, enjoy traveling to places where they have incredible adventures (cattle drives, hot air ballooning, African safaris, snow mobiling, skiing, snow shoeing, horseback trekking, etc.). Together, Stuart and Lola have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, all of whom (except one grandson) live in the local area.
Norene Skiles - Newsletter Editor
Norene became the Newsletter Editor for TQG, July 2017. This is her first elected position, but has served the board in the past has Head Librarian, Web-mistress (before it was an elected position), and several Night Chapter appointed positions over the past 15 plus years as a TQG member.
She began sewing at age 9, making doll clothes for her Barbie. Over the years she sewed clothing for herself and her two daughters, as well as home items as she moved around following her husband’s Naval career. Norene worked as a public school teacher and then Library Media Specialist with Virginia Beach Public Schools. She is currently retired and reports that she quilts everyday. She has two daughters (both quilters) and 4 grandchildren. Her only granddaughter has shown an interest in sewing , and Norene enjoys spending time teaching her those skills.
She began quilting with the birth her first grandchild about 20 years ago and has not stopped. Over the years she has made many baby quilts for co-workers and family. Since retiring, she has began working on larger quilts. The creative aspect of design is her favorite part of quilting. Some of her quilts involve creating her own fabrics, and most of her quilts are self– drafted, pieced and quilted. Machine quilting and piecing are her primary means of creating quilts.
Norene became the Newsletter Editor for TQG, July 2017. This is her first elected position, but has served the board in the past has Head Librarian, Web-mistress (before it was an elected position), and several Night Chapter appointed positions over the past 15 plus years as a TQG member.
She began sewing at age 9, making doll clothes for her Barbie. Over the years she sewed clothing for herself and her two daughters, as well as home items as she moved around following her husband’s Naval career. Norene worked as a public school teacher and then Library Media Specialist with Virginia Beach Public Schools. She is currently retired and reports that she quilts everyday. She has two daughters (both quilters) and 4 grandchildren. Her only granddaughter has shown an interest in sewing , and Norene enjoys spending time teaching her those skills.
She began quilting with the birth her first grandchild about 20 years ago and has not stopped. Over the years she has made many baby quilts for co-workers and family. Since retiring, she has began working on larger quilts. The creative aspect of design is her favorite part of quilting. Some of her quilts involve creating her own fabrics, and most of her quilts are self– drafted, pieced and quilted. Machine quilting and piecing are her primary means of creating quilts.
Day Chapter Coordinator - Ann Walls
Night Chapter Coordinator - Deb Garrett
We moved to the Tidewater area 2 years ago. I am a retired RN, and I’ve had a needle in my hand as long as I can remember. However I didn’t start my quilting adventure until around 2008. Quilting is what I consider therapy, playing and as an art form. It is a source of happiness, joy, as well as tears and frustration. My mantra is “what if.”
We moved to the Tidewater area 2 years ago. I am a retired RN, and I’ve had a needle in my hand as long as I can remember. However I didn’t start my quilting adventure until around 2008. Quilting is what I consider therapy, playing and as an art form. It is a source of happiness, joy, as well as tears and frustration. My mantra is “what if.”
Saturday Chapter Coordinator - Sybil Magrill
Community Services Chair - Diane Fisher
After a 22 year career in banking, Diane retired with time on her hands. Her sister said "you should try quilting." Diane joined the Guild in 2001. Diane used her banking experience as auditor for various events in the guild. She was also a Raffle Quilt Officer.
She learned to sew from her mother at a young age, and made clothes for herself and her daughter, using a 1975 Singer Touch & Sew. When the Touch in Sew finally died, she fell in love with the Singer Featherweight, and had to buy one (1) for each granddaughter. Diane also enjoys making quilts for Project Linus and Quilts of Valor and has donated quilts to several charitable causes.
After a 22 year career in banking, Diane retired with time on her hands. Her sister said "you should try quilting." Diane joined the Guild in 2001. Diane used her banking experience as auditor for various events in the guild. She was also a Raffle Quilt Officer.
She learned to sew from her mother at a young age, and made clothes for herself and her daughter, using a 1975 Singer Touch & Sew. When the Touch in Sew finally died, she fell in love with the Singer Featherweight, and had to buy one (1) for each granddaughter. Diane also enjoys making quilts for Project Linus and Quilts of Valor and has donated quilts to several charitable causes.
Webmistress - Darlene Price
While fairly new to quilting, Darlene has been around a needle and thread and a sewing machine all of her life. After she retired from life as a Commercial Real Estate Paralegal her goal was to figure out quilting. In 2013, armed with a needle, thread and cardboard templates she embarked on her first quilt. When she got to the binding, she couldn’t figure out how to do that by hand so she bought a machine. Darlene hasn't looked back and is the happiest she has ever been.
While fairly new to quilting, Darlene has been around a needle and thread and a sewing machine all of her life. After she retired from life as a Commercial Real Estate Paralegal her goal was to figure out quilting. In 2013, armed with a needle, thread and cardboard templates she embarked on her first quilt. When she got to the binding, she couldn’t figure out how to do that by hand so she bought a machine. Darlene hasn't looked back and is the happiest she has ever been.