Charlotte Gilmore: Organist

Organist Charlotte Gilmore’s path as a church musician was set at the age of four when she was invited to sing solos for the small California church her parents attended. Performances on the pastor’s radio show followed, as did piano and voice recitals beginning at the age of nine, and her first “gig” as the church pianist in 7th grade. She accepted her first position as a church organist while still attending Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University), from which she graduated with performance degrees in Voice and Piano. Two years at Peabody Conservatory followed, but were permanently interrupted by the arrival of 2 sons. She likes to say that instead of getting her intended MMA degree she got her MOM degree.  And it wasn’t long before she returned to music. Over a 35 year career as a church musician she served a wide variety of denominations in the Washington, DC area as organist, choir director, or both.

After a retirement of several years, Charlotte is delighted to be playing at Lake Toxaway UMC, and pleased to be sharing keyboard responsibilities with pianist Kathy Palmer. 

Reverend Marcus Dodson

Reverend Marcus Dodson serves full-time as the chaplain/discharge planner at Transylvania Regional Hospital which includes serving as chaplain to CareParnters Hospice (27 years).

He serves as quarter-time pastor of Lake Toxaway United Methodist Church. In 2020 he was reappointed for his 26th year at Lake Toxaway UMC and enjoys the opportunity to be bi-vocational. Marcus began to experience his call to Christian ministry as a teenager. He continues to enjoy pursing his growth as a minister and Christian through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, practices of spiritual discipline and accountability to a couple of close friends. He shares “the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for him (Psalm 16).” He is a graduate of Furman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and completed his chaplaincy training at UNC Hospitals.

Marcus’ wife, Kim, is an ordained deacon and serves in a part-time position at First United Methodist Church, Brevard. They have been married for 31 years and have three adult children, Maggie, Jeremy, and Emilee. Maggie graduated from Virginia Tech and lives in Syracuse, NY. Jeremy graduated from Georgia Tech and lives in Atlanta, GA. Emilee is a junior at NC State University. The family is completed with two pets: Gray, a Golden Retriever and Georgie, a calico cat.

Read more: Reverend Marcus Dodson

Saunders Grommesh: Church Administrator

Saunders Grommesh was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and graduated with a double major in Information Systems - Graphic Design & Asian Studies from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA. She started her career working in Charlotte, NC and was asked to help start the new Microsoft site in Dallas, TX. She worked 20 years for Microsoft Corp. as a Technical Support Engineer & Technical Lead where she did various training and hiring in Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Fargo, ND, and Bangalore, India. She has worked and volunteered for non-profits, assisted living & memory care communities.  She assisted families in placing seniors in communities.
 
Saunders and Matt, have been married for over 20 years and moved to Lake Toxaway in 2017.  Saunders worked for United Way Transylvania County for 2.5 years before the board closed the doors in February 2020.  She volunteered as an Augustine Literacy Program tutor at Rosman Elementary School, was an active member of the CARE Coalition, delivered meals to seniors with WNC Source.  Saunders also served on the boards of Mountain Roots, Historic Toxaway Foundation and Bound for Glory Camp.  She worked with Lake Toxaway Charities and is currently the Board Chair for Bound for Glory Camp, a free literacy and Christian camp for 9–12-year-olds in Transylvania County. Her hobbies are photography, hiking, volunteering and exploring our beautiful waterfalls and scenic drives and service to others. Saunders has been the Church Administrator for Lake Toxaway UMC since April 2020. 
 
 
Kathy Palmer

Kathy Palmer: Pianist

Katherine (Kathy) Palmer holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Tennessee and from Indiana University, where she was a student of Menahem Pressler. She first came to North Carolina as Artist-in-Residence at Brevard College, a position she held from 1982-84, and later held positions there as both performer and teacher. An artist/faculty member at the Brevard Music Center from 1993-2000, she has performed with such notable artists as Joseph Robinson, principle oboist of the New York Philharmonic and Charles Vernon, bass trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Having a particular interest in contemporary music, she has collaborated on multiple occasions with Juilliard professors, Eric Ewazen and Samuel Adler, as well as with her husband, Dr. Robert Palmer. While still active as a performer, Kathy has been retired from teaching since May, 2018.
 
Kathy joined Lake Toxaway United Methodist Church as our pianist in October 2024.  We are blessed to have her share her talents with us on Sundays.  She is currently sharing the musician role with an organist.
 
 
 
 
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