The 24th Presentation of Honored Women By the Episcopal Church Women In the Diocese of Louisiana
Recognized for her ministry and service in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Acknowledged at the 133rd ECW Annual Gathering on November 19, 2020, at the Solomon Episcopal Conference Center
Marcie Anthony-Courtney
Marcie Antony-Courtney is the mother of two daughters, April Courtney Foshee and Julie Courtney Zitzmann, and the grandmother of three. She has been a longtime member of the Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans. A teacher of mathematics, she retired from teaching at Sacred Heart School, New Orleans, but continues to tutor students in math.
At Annunciation Marcie is a dedicated member. She served many terms on the vestry and is presently the Senior Warden. She is a reader, a greeter and has also been a member of the choir for many years, substituting for Jessica when she is absent.
Marcie is always willing to help. She willingly offers to drop off or pick up parishioners at the airport or pick up or drop off for church on Sunday. If you are absent from church for too many Sundays, you are sure to receive a call from her or get a card in the mail which she was sure to have signed by everyone at church. If you are hospitalized, she will pop up for a visit with a few other members whom she had encouraged to accompany her. She has also been extremely helpful in taking members to their doctor visits if they are unable to get there on their own accord.
Marcie is also a willing volunteer. She is often charged with the sign-up sheet when there is to be a potluck dinner at church. She is never the one to shun work, so she is also always in the middle of setting up or cleaning up after a function. She coordinates the Annual Rex Party at the church on Mardi Gras Day, and the Thanksgiving Dinner for members who have no family, or those who just do not feel like doing a lot of cooking.
Lastly, Marcie has been instrumental in setting up the church’s telephone directory and continuously updates it to include new members. She is a treasure of which we at Annunciation are proud.
Sharon Gauthier
Every sports team has a “Team Mom”, that person who is always there supporting the team, caring for the caregivers, cleaning and cooking, and making sure everything is working according to plan. Sharon Gauthier is that person at Grace Church in St. Francisville. Whether it is doing laundry behind the scenes, reading to the preschool children, organizing ECW fundraisers, or leading Morning Prayer at the nursing home. Sharon is always there. She never forgets a clergy birthday or special event and is always first to volunteer for hospitality events and office work. She truly embodies the Servant Leadership of Jesus in all she does.
Lastly, Marcie has been instrumental in setting up the church’s telephone directory and continuously updates it to include new members. She is a treasure of which we at Annunciation are proud.
Alna Dianne Gill
“I will do it!” When the question is asked “Who will administer the St. Francis Facebook page, volunteer to fill in for the Parish Administrator, serve as Hospitality Chair, and several other tasks, Dianne breaks the silence in the group; “I will do it!”
She does all this while tending to the needs of her mother, Alna, and being a wonderful mother and friend to her daughter, Brittany. And without a doubt Jerry is the luckiest husband ever! By being a vestry member and officer, she makes a good vestry much, much better. We’re lucky and grateful to have a great servant leader in our midst!
A direct quote from Fr. Dan Krutz, Priest in Charge at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs.
Alna Dianne Gill, daughter of Charles and Alna Abbott was baptized at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in New Roads in 1957. Together with others Dianne’s parents founded St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church of Zachary where Dianne was confirmed in 1968 and later married Jerry Gill in 1989. Dianne and Jerry have one daughter Brittany, and her husband Matt Hough who also live in Denham Springs. Completing a successful career at DOW Chemical she decided to take an early retirement and became “Nanny” to her niece and nephew while raising her daughter, Brittany. Now she can add great-niece and great-nephew to “Team Nanny and JuJu”.
Her once dream of becoming the first Louisiana female football coach was never realized. However, her love and guidance with Brittany, Rusty, Bailey, Tre’, and Raelynn instilled her Christian values and lessons of discipline, responsibility, honesty, and perseverance taught to her and modeled by her parents. She is the best “coach” or teacher a child could have.
Always the competitor, she enjoys her bowling team and wonderful times together.
Dianne’s involvement at St. Francis includes every office and current President of ECW, “Master” Pumpkin Bread Baker, Baton Rouge Deanery Chairperson for the Diocesan ECW, vestry member, Junior Warden several times, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Vacation Bible School, Pumpkin Patch Chairperson, and serves St. Francis as hostess and Hospitality Chairperson. When not volunteering at St. Francis or following the kids’ sports activities, bowling, or visiting The Smokies in the Fall with family, she is delivering “Full Tummy” supplements for hungry children of Livingston parish.
Dianne is the most upbeat optimistic person who constantly presents a positive outlook to any situation. She always sees the good in everyone and is never judgmental. She is hardworking, diligent, trustworthy, loyal, and genuinely loving.
Romans 12:9-13 best describes Dianne’s walk in life.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contrite to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.