Meet Our New Elders and Deacons

Mark Basso: Happily retired from the Medical Imaging/IT field. I am a lifelong Catholic, but I started going to Village Church while dating my future wife, Judy Frame, and joined as an official member a year ago. I am a member of the Stephen Minister program, weekly volunteering at the Food Pantry, and Bible study classes. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as a deacon at Village.

Cathy Benson: I have been a member of this church for about 46 years and have had a variety of fun experiences, especially singing in the choir for 42 years. I worked as a physical therapist for 47 years while raising two beautiful daughters. I have been married to Steve for 50 years and we have four grandchildren, all in town. My mother is still living and will be 103 in October! Life is good and I feel blessed!

Marilyn Borel: Retired, Village church member since 2005, married to Roger Borel. We have 13 nieces and nephews. Have enjoyed being involved in Operation Breakthrough Star Families, Presbyterian Women activities including Circle 2, Village Connect Small Group, and delivering plants for Pastoral Care and Counseling.

Ann Colston: I’ve been a member since 1977. I’m a widow with two grown children and four grandchildren. I have been an elder and a deacon. I have served on numerous committees: Adult, Youth, Pastoral Care and Counseling, and Mission, to name a few. I am currently involved with Star Families and Operation Breakthrough, the blood drives, More Love Chorale, and the daycare.

Linda Darnaby: My family and I moved to Fairway, Kansas when I was 10 years old (1954). We joined Village Church, and my parents were active members. My husband and I were married by Dr. Meneilly in 1967. We were blessed with two sons who were baptized and confirmed by Dr. Bob. Our sons gave us four perfect grandchildren. My son Jerry and his wife were married at Village, and their two children were baptized at Village. I started attending First Presbyterian Church of Stanley shortly before they became part of Village Presbyterian Church. My husband lost his battle with dementia in 2019, and it was a great comfort to have such a wonderful community to see me through. I love Village on Antioch and those who work so hard to help it grow and thrive. I look forward to serving as deacon and giving back to Village Church, which has been such an important part of my life.

Julie Haas: Julie Haas has retired after a long career at Johnson County Community College; she is now a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. At Village, she is a Stephen Minister and a volunteer for the Food Pantry and enjoys Rev. Diane Quaintance’s class every Friday morning.

David Henderson: David has been an active member of Village Church since the early 1990s, singing in the choir, serving as a deacon and Shepherd deacon, in Sunday School, and a Connect Group. He is a clinical social worker in private practice, and he and his wife have an adult daughter.

Cathy Hess: Cathy has been a member of Village church for 45 years. She is retired from teaching elementary school with DeSoto School District. Cathy also taught in the Village Church Preschool during the 1990s. Along with her husband George, Cathy enjoys three children and eight grandchildren (five in the area and three in California). She substitutes and volunteers in her old elementary school.

George Hess: George has been a member of Village Church for 56 years. George is retired from emergency response and planning with the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Along with his wife Cathy, he enjoys three children and eight grandchildren (five in the area and three in California). George is an antique car enthusiast.

Barbara Jaekel: I have been a member of Village since 1980 with a brief interlude at Second Presbyterian Church in the early 1990s. I served as deacon here from 2018-2020 and look forward to serving again. I have taught Sunday School and currently serve on Pastoral Care & Counseling and Social Justice Ministry committees. I volunteered for three years at the Food Pantry & Clothes Closet and have participated in mission trips to Kenya and the Dominican Republic. I currently sing in the More Love Chorale.

Linda Lieffring: I married my husband Bradley in 1978 and we have three grown children. I retired as a professional registered nurse. I started attending Village Church online in 2022 and came in person in 2023. I am involved in Presbyterian Women Bible study circle, Wednesday Family Dinners with Bible study after on occasion, and singing in the Choir.

Patty Martinette: Since joining Village Church Antioch Campus in 2018 I’ve had many opportunities to be involved, including Presbyterian Women, greeter, liturgist, Meals on Wheels, and Cross-Lines. Currently I manage a dental practice after retiring as a dental hygienist. I enjoy reading, Mizzou and Chiefs football, and spending time with my family, especially my two granddaughters.

Heather McCoy: I’m wife to Tim and mom to the amazing Vivian McCoy. We live in Prairie Village, about five minutes from the church. I love traveling especially when it involves hiking in the mountains or sitting on the beach. My happy place is my kitchen where I love to cook and host people in our home. I am the director of sales at Santa Marta Senior Living in Olathe, where I love working with seniors and their families as they find their forever home.

Tim McCoy: I am a dedicated husband and father, I love hiking, biking, birding, and just enjoying the outdoors. I work for the USDA-NRCS (US Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service) as a district conservationist and I work as gate captain for the Kansas City Chiefs during the football season. I am grateful to be a member at Village and look forward to serving.

Jenny (Hendricks) Sernett: I am a lifelong member of Village Church. I was baptized and married by Dr. Meneilly. My husband and I raised three children who were all active in the youth program/groups at our church. I am now a “Nana” to two young granddaughters, who live in Nashville. Currently I am a longtime volunteer for the Thursday Mission Sewing group which perfectly suits my hobbies of sewing, knitting, and needlepoint. I have worked nearly 40 years as a speech pathologist in a rehab hospital. I was a deacon many years ago and am happy to be asked to participate as a deacon again.

Patty Slentz-Howard: I have been, or currently am, a member of the Memorial Guild, Memorial Garden maintainer, Chancel Choir member, Sunday school teacher, communion server, flower deliverer, Shepherd deacon and deacon, past moderator of the Presbyterian Women of Village Church, and current Presbyterian Women Board Chair. I have also served as a wedding coordinator.

Bob Walsh: I am retired now, but had a career in public education as a classroom teacher and central office administrator in the North Kansas City School District. I am married to Barbara Jaekel and between us we have four children and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 23 to 14. I’ve been a member of Village since 2011 and have been in the More Love Chorale since 2010. I am also involved in the Social Justice Ministry at Village and served one previous term as a deacon.

Peyton Yowell (Youth Deacon)

Brett Gray: I live in Prairie Village with my wife Courtney and two kids, Patrick (14) and Leigh (11). I grew up in KC and went to college at the University of Kansas, and work for Commerce Bank. My family has enjoyed a long history at Village starting with my grandparents, and I’m honored and look forward to serving the church.

Brian O’Neal: I have been a member of Village Church for 21 years. During that time I am proud to have served as a deacon and as one of the original committee members who helped develop the Gathering service. My wife Michelle and I have three children, Ian, Erin, and Sean. I am fortunate to be able to work at Children’s Mercy where I am an administrator responsible for pharmacy, lab, radiology, home care, and other clinical and support services. In my free time I enjoy spectator sports, playing and coaching tennis, fitness, hiking, and time with friends.

Mark Robinson: Mark was born and raised in Kansas City and is married to his high school sweetheart, Katherine. They have four kids together (Harper, William, Thomas and Everett) and joined Village shortly after returning to Kansas City in 2012 (having spent time in Minneapolis and Chicago after graduating from the University of Kansas). Professionally, Mark is a partner at Great Range Capital, a private equity firm, and spends most of his time outside the office being present with his family and friends across a range of activities.

Judy Bliss: I have been a member of Village church since 1979 and have been a member of the choir these many years. Our two children grew up attending Village. We have all been nurtured by this wonderful congregation through the years. It’s a privilege to be serving as an elder and I look forward to this new chapter. 

Nancy Gatewood: I’ve been a part of the Village family since childhood. I am grateful for the variety of volunteer opportunities I’ve had here, especially at our Food Pantry and Clothes Closet. My delightful daughter Ellen also works at Village as the coordinator for young adult ministry.

Trent Green: Trent Green has been an active member of village Presbyterian Church for 6 years, attending worship with his wife, Bonny, and their daughters, Josie and Elena. He serves faithfully as a member of the village choir, contributing his talents to the church’s worship and ministry. Trent is deeply committed to growing in his faith and living out the teachings of Christ in his daily life. 

Brian Higgs: Brian and his husband Randy have been attending Village Presbyterian since 2023; they joined as members in 2024. They spent a while trying to find a church home and consider themselves quite fortunate to have been referred to Village by friends who are members currently. Brian is impressed with the community involvement that Village has a focus on, and in 2025 he joined the Village Mission Committee. He has a long background in marketing and manages a proposal team at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. When he is not busy with work, you will find him cooking in the kitchen, landscaping in the yard, gardening, or hosting a Chiefs game event with his friends and neighbors.

John Porter: John Porter is from Overland Park, Kansas and grew up as a member of Village Church and Troop 91. John is a graduate from K-State and currently works in simulation and modeling as an engineer at Honeywell. Outside of work, he enjoys clay shooting, traveling, and playing bass trombone as part of the Village Brass Ensemble. John and his fiancée, Kate, are very excited to get married next spring!

Will Uffmann: Will Uffmann was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, where he was a member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. He graduated from Missouri State University, where he met his wife Jessica Uffmann. He moved to the KC area in 2011. He has two children, Liam (10) and Bailey (8) Uffmann. Currently he is the vice president of finance at Universal Registered Agents in Overland Park.