2024 Officers and Directors

Officers

Patsy Dickerson, President – Patsy (Simmons) was born and raised in Fincastle during the 50’s and 60’s.  She remembers Bolton’s Store, Vaughn’s Store, the Drug Store and the best store – The Dime Store with penny bubble gum and a toy section. The Fire Department was in charge of putting up and taking down the Christmas lights and the members (including her father) walked around town and cut on and off each strand.  Of course there were not nearly as many strands as there are today. It was a glorious time. She is from a fifth generation (at least) Botetourt County family tree.  Her roots are deep and her appreciation for the history and beauty of this unique town, Fincastle is strong.

David Lloyd, Vice President – David is a recent transplant to Fincastle from the Boston area.  Educated with a masters degree in History, his career has spanned the areas of high tech, finance and health services.

Meredith Bowman-Shelton, Secretary – Bio coming soon

Yvonne Saunders, Treasurer – Bio coming soon

Directors

Cindy Bailey – Cindy Bailey was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia but her roots go back to Botetourt County.  Her great great grandfather, Lucian Garland, was a Botetourt County Sheriff and farmer. Cindy graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Marketing.  After college she worked in the marketing departments of banks in Roanoke and Richmond and Botetourt County. While working in Richmond she met her husband Hal, a native of Daleville, and relocated to Fincastle. Cindy and Hal currently reside in Troutville.  They have two children, Julia Ward (husband A.J.) and Hal, Jr. (wife Erin).  Cindy is AVP/Banking Center Manager of First Bank in Troutville and is pleased to be a part of the board of HFI.

Lynne Bolton – Born in Fincastle and lived there until her father was transferred when she was 11. A graduate of Mary Washington University, Lynne first worked in corporate America for many years in the plastics industry. In 2004, Lynne moved back to Fincastle from Philadelphia, Pa. in order to help with her aging parents. At that time, she also decided to try “giving back” some of what she was blessed to receive over her academic years. As a result, she is now a social studies teacher at Lord Botetourt High School, and very active in school activities while focusing on helping the students to excel whenever possible. Because of her love of history and historic preservation, Lynne was and is delighted to be a member of HFI, and to have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors over the next term.

Kip Burton – I grew up in north Georgia and attended Georgia Southern College, majoring in biology and chemistry. Plans to become a veterinarian were altered when I became a Naval Aviator instead. I met and married Lyn and we had three children, who have made us very proud. 21 years were spent flying, moving and traveling, with the Navy. During my military service I received a masters degree in Business and Management. After my military retirement, I went to work for Piedmont Airlines and continued with them until my final retirement. We live on a small farm and love our animals, land and beauty here in Botetourt. I have served a treasurer of HFI, worked on many committees for festivals and events, and have worked on the Lewis & Clark disk dedication for the town.

Lyn Burton – I am originally from Atlanta, Ga. I attended Florida State University. After graduation, I worked for Eastern Airlines . I met and married, Kip, who was a Naval officer. I was then a military wife for the next 21 years. We had three children and moved from coast to coast and finally settled in Virginia Beach. I began teaching Middle School and after moving to a little farm near Fincastle, taught at James River High School. I have been a member of HFI since 2007 and have enjoyed many wonderful times with many wonderful people.

Lissy K. Merenda – A resident of Botetourt County for over 30 years, Lissy located here from New Jersey by way of attending college at Hollins University. There she received a BA in Psychology and Sociology. Later she received a M. Ed in Counseling from VPI and SU. She was employed for 31 years with Roanoke City Public Schools working briefly as a social-work counselor for six years and 25 years in community relations with job descriptions including  Public Information Officer, event coordinator, public relations and marketing, and coordinator of their Volunteer Partnership Program. She has served on numerous committees and boards at the local, regional level and was the President of the Virginia School Volunteer Program for eight years. “The Volunteer Partnership Program was my passion,” she said, “building it to national recognition and becoming a trainer and facilitator for the national organization.” It was through the national organization that she met her husband, Dan. Lissy has two sons and a daughter and Dan has two daughters. They have two Golden Retrivers, Meriwether and Hamilton, who are true members of the family, she says. Lissy took early retirement, worked briefly for United Way and then she and Dan discovered Santillane and decided to take on the project of renovating this beautiful home. Santillane is now a venue for special events and a B & B. In addition to serving on the HFI Board, Lissy serves on her church board, Williamson Road Church of the Brethren where she has been an active member for 30 years. “I enjoy gardening, decorating, crafts and entertaining so Santillane is a pretty good match for me,” she says.

Caroline Naysmith – Bio coming soon

Donald Naysmith – Bio coming soon

Marcia Neighbors – Is a fifth generation “Fincastlian”. Other than my years in college and teaching 5 years in northern Virginian, I have lived here all my life. I taught choral music and drama for 34 years in Virginia and 30 of those years here in Botetourt County. I have just retired and am finding that my life is busier now than ever. I am married to my wonderful husband, Mack, and have three children, Chad (Cherie), Christine (David) and Ginni Ellen and one grandson, Isaiah. We live in a farmhouse dating from the 1830’s and have had a great time restoring it and finding just the right antiques for it. Of course, this is an ongoing process. I have been involved with HFI for many years. However, there was a big gap in my involvement as my children hit their teen years. I served on the board during the late 80’s and early 90’s as well as chaired the Craft part of the Fincastle Festival. I am excited to be working with Patty King and Weldon Martin and the Botetourt Historical Society on the outreach program for the schools. I feel that it is vitally important to show these children their past and get them excited so they can take this history to the future. There is so much that needs to be shared with the students so that our history will live on.

Betty Reynolds – Betty Reynolds grew up in Staunton, graduated from JMU and then married Jim Reynolds and moved to the Roanoke area. I retired from teaching kindergarten in 2010 after teaching for 33 years. Jim and I have two children, Anne Simmons and her husband Chad who live near Fincastle with their two daughters, and a son Phillip Reynolds and daughter-in-law, Kristin, who presently reside in Sacramento, California. The primary reason we moved to Fincastle in 2016 was to be closer to family. We have really enjoyed meeting new folks and helping with the HFI events and projects. This is obviously an area rich in history and I’m impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of members of the community in trying to preserve this heritage for future generations.

Jay Saunders – Bio coming soon