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.

Sarah Kingsley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theater from Sweet Briar College, with a minor in German.  She has over a decade of experience in event planning and social media marketing.  Moving to Norfolk in 2003, Sarah sang with the Virginia Symphony chorus, the traditional choir at First Presbyterian Church, performed with the Virginia Opera and eventually the Larchmont Methodist choir.  A lover of dance,music, and theater,  Sarah is on the Foundation Board for the Governor's School of the Arts and often performs in local theater and improv comedy. Sarah grew up in the Methodist Church in Oklahoma and even as a young child explored religions and spirituality. She enjoys volunteering and feels called to speak up on behalf of those who cannot, especially when it comes to affordable housing, transportation,medicine, and food.  She is passionate about taking past pain and turning it into a blessing for others.  Sarah's family includes her son, Cole, and their two cats, Noel and Muffin. She loves travel, being outside, composting/recycling, music(of course!), and supporting the shop local movement, especially locally owned restaurants.

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.

Monica and her family have attended Larchmont for the past several years and grew to love their church family.   Monica and her husband, Gene, have three children: Charlotte (14), Max (12), and Mikey (9).  All of them are very active at LUMC.  Monica is also a part time teacher. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to movies and restaurants, crafting, traveling, and going to the beach or pool. She is looking  forward to bringing fresh opportunities to the youth group to grow and thrive. 

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! 

Cindy has been a resident of Norfolk since 1994 and has been working in the accounting/bookkeeping field for the past 25 years. She’s previously worked for the Virginia Children’s Chorus, Attorney F. Sullivan Callahan, Tidewater Volleyball Association, and ODU Rent.

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.

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.