Church Council Members
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Vivian Griese - Council President
Vivian grew up in Louisiana and is a baptized and confirmed Lutheran from a large extended Lutheran family. After years of military traveling to different states and countries, she and her two children made Hampton and Gloria Dei their home in 1990. Vivian has been active as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School coordinator, adult Sunday School leader, youth group advisor, church council member, and has participated in several capital funding campaigns. She has designed logos and other artwork as needed for church functions, in addition to designing the pulpit carvings and other visual elements in the Atrium area.
Vivian recently retired from Hampton City Schools, after 30 years of service. For the last 13 years, she was the Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Leader for the art, music and theatre programs in the district. Her degrees include a B.A. in Fine Arts, M.A. in Art Education, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Vivian has two children, Stephanie, a pediatrician and an epidemiologist, and Nicholas, an Air Force officer, as well as four grandchildren. Reading about and creating art, research, being active outside, and traveling are things she likes to do in addition to visiting with her children and grandchildren.
Gary Hess - Council Vice President
Gary was born in Roanoke, VA and came to Hampton Roads via the Army in 1972. After tours in Vietnam and Fort Lee, Gary was assigned to Fort Monroe, and other than a six year tour in Germany, remained at Fort Monroe until retirement from Civil Service in 2006. Gary also began a photography business in 1996 and continues in that venture today. Gary earned his BS in business from University of Maryland and his Master of Business Administration from Old Dominion University. Gary is also a graduate of the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA.
Gary was baptized at Oakland Baptist Church in Roanoke in 1958 and attended that church until the Army called him away. During his 37 years with Department of the Army, he attended Protestant chapel services. He came to Gloria Dei as a result of his two granddaughters attending school here. Gary and his wife, Bonnie were both widowed and were blessed to find each other. They were married at Gloria Dei in September 2014. Together, they have three adult children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They currently live in Smithfield, VA.
Mike Canny - Council Member and Congregational Scribe
Mike is a forty-year resident of Hampton; and he retired from the Hampton Police Division as a Road Sergeant in 2017, after 34 years of service. Mike and his wife, Susan, came to Gloria Dei in 1997, when their daughter, Megan, began Pre-Kindergarten here. Their daughter was active in Girl Scouts and youth ministry through high school.
Mike has been serving the Council as the Scribe since 2017. He has served as a lay reader and has sung in the Adult Choir. Mike has had to step away from the Choir for the time being due to the demands of his “retirement” job as a charter coach driver for Newton’s Bus Service, but hopes to be able to return soon. He looks forward to serving the Gloria Dei Congregation in a new position.
Tom Clasen - Council Member
Tom grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin, and he married Claire in 1976. She is also a graduate of The U.W. Pharmacy School. They have three children. Tom joined Gloria Dei when they moved to Hampton in 1981. Tom retired from pharmacy in January of 2022, having worked as a pharmacist for about 50 years. He mostly worked as a hospital pharmacist with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
Tom has served as an usher for over 30 years, served on the Parish Fellowship Board, and taught some Christian Education classes. He has also participated in the music ministry from time to time.
Rachel Lomax - Council Member
Rachel Lomax was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. Her parents Chip and Dawn became members of the church in 1999, after enrolling Rachel in Pre-K at Gloria Dei Lutheran School. She attended Gloria Dei through the fifth grade, remaining active in the church through Confirmation, Master’s Singers, Bells, Girl Scouts, Youth Group, Cross and Crown, and Discipleship until graduating from Hampton High School in 2011. After graduating with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Rachel returned to Hampton to work as a Contractor at NASA Langley Research Center.
She became more involved with the church and started serving as an advisor to the Senior High Youth Group in 2017, leading Discipleship Group and coordinating fundraising opportunities.
In her free time, she enjoys being with family and friends, taking walks, and if the weather is warm, you can find her lounging somewhere on a beach.
Kent Morgan - Council Member
Kent was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and grew up in King George, Virginia. He attended Christ Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. It was at Christ Lutheran where he got his taste for ushering. He was a Chief Petty Officer, JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps) in high school. Kent then moved to Newport News in July of 2002 for the apprenticeship program in Newport News Shipyard. In 2006, he started working for L3 Harris.
His hobbies include video games, painting, and a new love of crochet. In 2012, Kent found his new home at Gloria Dei and became a member. He was eager to get back to ushering and making it a home in which he could grow. Kent enjoys helping out with all of the fellowship events that Gloria Dei has to offer and would love to bring even more of his gifts to this wonderful church.
Kevin Morse - Council Member
Kevin was born in Silver Spring, Maryland; attended Catholic grade school and high school; and graduated from University of Maryland with a degree in Economics. Kevin worked as an elevator mechanic in Washington, D.C., and as a certified elevator inspector with Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The Navy transferred Kevin to Norfolk in 1993, where he worked as the NAVFAC Elevator Program Manager for the remainder of his 30-year federal government career.
Sandy Dunn introduced Kevin to Gloria Dei in 2008. They were married in 2009, completed the new member’s class and have been active members ever since. Sandy and Kevin were committee chairs for the 50th Anniversary Sock Hop and for the Stewardship Committee in 2018. Between them, they have six children and eight grandchildren, who are their greatest joy and commitment.
Kevin enjoys singing in the Adult Choir, playing in the Handbell Choir, and creating coffee for the Sunday services. He has been active in supporting the Gloria Dei efforts for Habitat for Humanity; cooking and singing at Glorioso’s spaghetti dinner and working on the project houses. Kevin is also on speed dial for work parties whenever a crew is needed for a tent raising and other efforts.
Diane Washburn - Council Member
Diane was raised in Newport News post living in Florida, Massachusetts, upstate New York, and returned to Hampton in 1987. She learned of Gloria Dei by enrolling her oldest son in preschool. She became a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in 1987, which included the baptism of her three children and herself. Diane is very proud that all three of her children attended Gloria Dei school through fifth grade and were confirmed in the church. She has worked as a medical laboratory scientist since 1976, with a few years as a science teacher. This year, Diane is retiring as the Clinical Specialist of Hematology for the Sentara Health system.
During her tenure at Gloria Dei, Diane has participated in small group, Wonderful Wednesdays, and served as a Lay Assistant.
Ashley Zamora - Council Member
Ashley was born into membership at Gloria Dei in 1983. Her grandmother, Marie Adams, was a charter member of Gloria Dei. Ashley attended Gloria Dei School from 3-years-old through 2nd grade. She was baptized and had her First Communion here, and she was confirmed here in 1997. She was active in both Junior High and Senior High youth groups growing up and attended Virginia Synod Youth Retreats and ELCA Youth Gatherings.
After graduating high school, she attended college and graduated from ODU with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies/teacher preparation. She took a position at The Mariners’ Museum, where she stayed until becoming a stay-at-home mom of three little ones.
She has remained active in various ways in the church since graduating high school. Ashley has been part of the young adult “youth” group, Junior High Youth Group Advisor, Director of Youth Handbells, Glorioso Spaghetti Dinners, and Pig Pickins. She has also served on committees such as the Nominating Committee and Pastoral Call Committee. Ashley is married to Michael, and they have three children-Micaela Ruhl, Jacob, and Isabella.