Bunny Wing
Bunny Wing was born and raised in Daytona Beach. She is a product of the Volusia County School System, attending Holly Hill Elementary, Holly Hill Jr. High, and graduating from Mainland High School. Having outstanding teachers all along the way inspired her to become a teacher as well. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Education degree, with a concentration in reading, from Stetson University.
Bunny served in the Volusia County School System for 30 years as an elementary classroom teacher, mostly as a first-grade teacher. In fact, 26 of those years were in the same classroom at Tomoka Elementary. She retired in 2015.
Her chosen profession spilled over into her personal life as well. Over the years, she has taught children’s Sunday school, led Bible studies, and directed the children’s choir at her church, First Baptist of Daytona. She continues to be an active member of First Baptist, serving in the music ministry, teaching a ladies’ Bible study class each week, and participating in mission trips.
Bunny and her husband, Dr. Ron Wing, have been married for 51 years. Ron also taught for 30 years in VCS, as well as at DSC and ERAU. They have two adult children, Mandy Wing Foster and Cameron Wing, and six grandchildren. They have enjoyed traveling extensively around the world over the years. Now that they are both retired from teaching, they continue to enjoy serving the Lord in their church and traveling to visit family. Bunny also volunteers where her son teaches second grade at Pathways Elementary.
Bunny believes we are saved to serve and tries to live that out in every aspect of her life. Serving the Lord through the Living Waters ministry is an honor.
Connie Pryce
Connie is a retired high school English teacher and former Executive Board member of the Florida Council of Teachers of English. She holds a BA in English from Shelton College (NJ) and an MA in English with a concentration in writing from William Paterson University (NJ).
Before moving to Florida, Connie taught for one year in New York State, took a few years off while raising children, then taught eight years in New Jersey. After coming to Volusia county, she taught at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach for 15 years. After retirement, she continued work with the Florida Department of Education scoring the essay portion of the Teacher Certification Exam and other standardized tests.
In addition to serving on the Living Waters Board for 19 years, Connie indulges her hobbies of reading and writing as a member of Bookworms book club, and Word Weavers writing club. She’s also a crossword puzzle fan. She is an active member of Westside Baptist Church in Daytona Beach where she currently serves on the Finance Committee.
She has been married for 60 years to George, a retired minister, and has two adult children and four grandchildren.
Deborah L. Keith
Deborah L. Keith was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She graduated from Kwajalein High in the Marshall Islands where her father worked as a subcontractor for the government’s missile program. After receiving her BA in English with a minor in speech and music from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX, she married Darius Roland Keith. They settled in Florida where they raised two children: Damon, who lives in Orlando and performs in the Nemo Show in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Darilynn, who works for corporate Life Way in Nashville, TN as Digital Event Coordinator (with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Johnny Hunt, etc.)
Debbie taught 6th grade music for two years in Panama City; 4th grade language arts in Sebring; 8th grade English at Campbell, and American and British Literature for 31 years in the same room at Spruce Creek High School. She is still the adviser to four clubs at Creek: The National Honor Society, the Asian Association and the Young Republicans. She serves on PAC, SAC and the Distinguished Hawks Committee. She has been a member of the Living Waters board since retiring in 2011.
Debbie and her husband are active members of the First Baptist Church Daytona and Sister Cities and the Atlantic Federated Republican Women’s Club. They were delighted when Damon married Katie Rose in October 2018 and hope to grow the family with little baby Keiths in the near future. Debbie loves reading, scrapbooking, singing in the choir, and traveling.
Doris Burson
Although she is not a professional educator, Doris Burson spent 42 years as a registered nurse in roles that naturally involved teaching—particularly in staff development and infection control. Her work in surgical intensive care, dialysis centers, and long-term care also created countless opportunities for prayer. And praying is something she does abundantly.
“When you’re dealing with all kinds of people,” Doris says, “there are times when you just have to say, ‘Lord, you’ve got to help me with this one!’”
When asked about the role prayer plays in her life, Doris explained, “Without prayer, you can’t communicate with God. It keeps you strong when you are in difficult circumstances. Then I pray hard. I know the Lord will work it out. It gets you through.” Doris and her husband, Bishop Henry Burson, also host the Greater Faith Love Radio Broadcast, encouraging and inspiring listeners every Sunday morning and Saturday evening.
A lifelong resident of Daytona Beach, Doris is one of five children. Her father was a preacher who served two churches in Daytona and another in Crescent City. Her message to our readers is simple and steadfast: “You are not alone. We are standing with you. Know that you have many people standing with you. Don’t give up. Joy will come in the morning.”
Dot Williams
Dot Williams knew early that she wanted to be a teacher. Born into a large family in Daytona Beach, she was educated here and returned home to serve the community as an educator. She began her schooling in a half-day kindergarten. When her session ended, she was allowed to sit quietly in her older brother’s first-grade class until dismissal—and she was delighted simply to be “in school.”
Years later, while attending the community college, advisors attempted to steer Dot toward engineering because of her strong aptitude in math. That path lasted only a few weeks before Dot stopped and asked herself, “Why am I doing this? I don’t want to be an engineer; I want to be an elementary teacher. Then I will develop fine engineers for you.”
Dot graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1966 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. In 1979, she earned a Master of Education from FAMU with an emphasis in reading.
After graduation, Dot taught for two years in Winter Park before returning to Daytona Beach, where she taught for more than thirty years. She taught grades three through six, including a combined 5/6 class with 36 students. She also served in several Title I roles, including VIS teacher, computer teacher on assignment, staff development, and Project Manager of Title I Schools. During her tenure in Title I, she presented at Global Conversations on Language and Literacy in Bordeaux, France. In
1998, Dot accepted a position with Rigby Professional Development, conducting staff development across the United States.
Dot, the proud mother of Carrie and Theodore Williams, also knows the power of prayer. Her message to our readers is simple and steadfast: “Always lean and depend on the Lord. He is the guiding beam in your life.”
Dr. Joan Schrysen
Education and teaching have long been important to Joan Schrysen. She taught swimming while working on her BA in Elementary Education at Allegheny College in PA. There, Joan learned of the new trend of teaching foreign languages in the elementary school (FLES). After a year in Paris earning her MA in French from Middlebury College in VT, she became the elementary French teacher at Long Beach Island Grade School in Ship Bottom, NJ. During her ten years on the Island she married Art Schrysen, and their two children, Chris and Carol, were born.
In 1969, through a major prayer campaign, the young family moved to Florida. Art was hired by Florida Gas Company and assigned to Eustis. Joan taught at Umatilla Elementary for two years before becoming Lake County’s Itinerant Migrant Teacher. Upon Art’s transfer to Daytona Beach in 1975, Joan joined Volusia County Schools as a Title I teacher at Holly Hill Elementary. Specializing in reading, she earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from UCF. During her 20 years with Volusia County Schools, Joan also served at South Daytona, Sugar Mill and Westside Elementary Schools. She retired in June 1995. Joan has always appreciated the little known army of Christians working in public schools at all levels. This concern for Christian educators inspired her to form the first Board of Living Waters in 1994. Writing, too, has been an increasing joy for Joan. She authored a series of articles for the Florida Reading Quarterly and wrote extensively for WAVES. During her doctoral work she constructed the “Daytona Screening Device” that the Volusia Literacy Council used for years to assess the reading ability of applicants for tutoring. Since retirement Joan’s teaching focused on adult Bible study, and her writing continued for WAVES and her church newsletter.
Dr. Peromnia Grant
For over 35 years, Peromnia Grant has served as a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, elementary principal, coordinator of the principal intern program and assistant superintendent of Human Resources all in the Volusia County School System.
Peromnia’s higher education accomplishments include earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, a specialist in educational leadership from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and a Doctorate of Education in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
At this moment on her professional journey, she continues to serve as a keynote speaker and presenter. She has served on numerous boards including the American Red Cross, Halifax Medical Center, Volusia Literacy Council and Born To Read to name a few. Peromnia has been recognized as Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year and the Volusia Association of School Administrators District Administrator of the Year. She is an ordained minister and youth pastor at Freewill Holiness Church of Daytona Beach. Peromnia and her husband of 46 years are also the founders of the Grant Unity Marriage Ministry. The Grants are blessed with a beautiful daughter that resides in Baltimore, Maryland and works as an event planner at the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Ellen Clontz
Ellen Clontz, a native Floridian, is a two-time product of the Volusia County Schools, Osceola Elementary, Seabreeze Junior and Senior High Schools. Later, after her marriage to Ken and the birth of her two children, she went to work as a Media Clerk at Bonner Elementary. Thirty-six years later she retired as Business Manager at Mainland High School.
Helping is in Ellen’s blood. As a lifelong member of Central Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, she has volunteered in numerous ways, but her office skills have been particularly valuable. As a new member of the Living Waters Board she assumed the printing and folding of Waves, not a small job. We publish about 700 copies three times a year, printing them on the copier at Central.
Ellen is also a valuable prayer partner. “Prayers are the only way you get by,” she says. They have long sustained her, particularly as Ken battled cancer and eventually succumbed to it. He was first diagnosed while Ellen was still working at Mainland. One day the entire clerical staff filed into her office. “We’re just here to pray,” they said. Forming a circle around Ellen they did just that, a touching encouragement as Ellen and Ken began what would become a long battle.
A favorite Bible verse continues to strengthen and uphold Ellen. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13 Ellen incorporates it daily in her morning prayers before she sets about her day.
Joy Holmquist
Joy grew up in the Northeast, where there were many prestigious institutions of higher learning. Her mother arrived in America, along with her aunt and uncle, through Ellis Island in 1923. Her father’s side of the family had been established in America since 1733. Fascinated with history, Joy wrote two books about her mother’s journey from Germany.
Joy has been employed as a legal secretary, a certified municipal clerk, and—during retirement—as a permanent substitute and assistant for eight years at a Title I middle school. She found having summers free from year-round employment to be a delight, allowing for extended travel and enjoyable family time.
Joy still treasures and prays over notes of apology from dozens of students who were written up and sent to the guidance counselor. One young man from a small group she supervised never had a chance to write her an apology note. As everyone filed out for lunch, Joy watched him hide a medium-sized knife on another student’s desk. After lunch, he returned to class only long enough to see that everything was in order before two security officers entered and escorted him out of the room. She never saw him again, though he remains in her thoughts.
Joy retired from middle school work to care for her husband, who became paralyzed with Parkinson’s disease. She prayed to be with him when he passed, and it became a natural, peaceful time—just the two of them at home—sharing sweet words of goodbye in the evening. Joy has two sons and four grandchildren. Her older son is a teacher, as is her daughter-in-law. Her younger son is a sound engineer and is also employed in the manufacture of musical components, where he has met some rather famous artists. He and his wife both served in the United States Air Force. Both families live about an hour away.
Joy says she has felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with her through it all. She has taught in Child Evangelism Fellowship After School Clubs and served in numerous positions with a Christian Business Women’s After Five Club, which featured banquet-style dinners and visiting speakers. Joy states that she has always had a heart for “people.” With nearly twenty years in jail ministry and yearly training at the jail, she reports learning not only compassion, but also the boundaries necessary for everyone’s well-being.
She enjoys working with the energetic Living Waters group, consisting of various school personnel, because the ladies who meet together know how to pray for others, rest in the Lord, work, and pour forth joyful hearts filled with love and laughter.
Linda Pigott
Rev. Linda Pigott, a South Carolina native, graduated from Winthrop University with a degree in home economics education and taught for two years at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. She began her Florida teaching career in Flagler County, on the very first faculty of the brand-new Flagler-Palm Coast High School where she and one other colleague taught all the home economics courses (nutrition, child development, clothing construction, childcare services, human relations, and food service). Three years later, Linda moved to Volusia County where she taught briefly at Seabreeze High and Ormond Beach Middle School, but later moved to Spruce Creek High School, where she taught for 8+ years. The birth of their first child brought changing priorities for Linda and fellow educator/husband Joe; she decided to leave full-time teaching to focus on home and family. For a few years, she fit various part-time jobs around these responsibilities. One of these part-time jobs, substitute teaching in elementary school, led her to discover a love for elementary education as well.
When her children entered preschool, Linda began working part-time at her church, a position that grew steadily from children’s coordinator to children’s minister and then associate pastor. Linda was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2002 and served on the staff of Central Baptist Church in Daytona Beach for 27 years. She retired from full-time ministry in 2019, upon the birth of her first grandchild.
Linda has two sons, Jonathan and Daniel, both of whom are Volusia County educated and graduates of the University of Florida. She feels blessed to also have two wonderful daughters-in-law and three grandsons, who all reside in the state of Florida. She is an eager babysitter whenever the need arises.
Linda says she feels blessed to have had so many wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth and Christian service. One does not retire from a ministry calling, even though specific responsibilities may change. She continues in ministry as needed by her church for hospital visitation, weddings, funerals, etc.
Linda vividly remembers the beginnings of the Living Waters ministry which began through the efforts of one of Central’s members, Dr. Joan Schrysen. She is so grateful to at last have the time available to serve on the Living Waters Board because of her many experiences with the power of prayer. And, regardless of where or how she serves, Linda is grateful for her training as an educator privileged to serve the Lord.
Shan Clark
Shan Clark enjoys serving on the Living Waters Board because of its commitment to prayer—especially its heartfelt focus on lifting up educators who pour into students every day.
Although Shan earned a degree to teach physical education, she initially had a difficult time finding a full-time position. Openings were scarce, and most roles were already filled. Determined to keep moving forward, she taught part time at a Catholic school and also worked as a substitute teacher. In time, she learned that Florida Power & Light was hiring. While accepting the opportunity meant stepping away from the classroom, it offered the stability of full-time employment and benefits. Shan went on to build a remarkable 41-year career in customer service, ultimately retiring as an associate business analyst.
The oldest of five sisters, Shan grew up in Crescent City, Florida, and graduated from Bethune Cookman University (then Bethune-Cookman College). She has been married for nine years to Jesse Clark, a retired educator who served 27 years as an administrator with Volusia County Schools. Together, they share a blended family of four children and five grandchildren.
Shan’s love for helping others extends well beyond her professional life. At Hope Fellowship Church, she was instrumental in launching a food pantry more than 13 years ago—an outreach that continues today, faithfully feeding the community and meeting practical needs with compassion. Through her board service, her career, and her ministry work, Shan remains committed to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Sue Fitton
Carolyn Sue Fitton began her teaching career in Hemphill, West Virginia, in 1973 after graduating from Radford University (then Radford College) with a degree in Vocational Home Economics Education (now Family and Consumer Sciences). She later moved to Volusia County, where she taught adult education and served at T. DeWitt Taylor and Mainland high schools. After taking a leave of absence to attend Word of Life Bible Institute, Sue joined Spruce Creek High School, specializing in culinary arts, food, and nutrition. During her 32-year tenure at Spruce Creek, she earned a master’s degree in Counseling from Liberty University. Sue remains active in church and community missions and has led a Bible study ministry at the women’s jail since 1985. Guided by a deep commitment to supporting women, she is the president and co-founder of His Name’s Sake, Inc., a ministry dedicated to helping women in transition grow spiritually through ongoing Bible study and practical resources that promote healthy, purposeful living—physically, mentally, and spiritually. She has participated in multiple mission trips and enjoys traveling, connecting with people, cooking, crafts, and reading—especially Scripture.
Virginia Gladden
Virginia Gladden was born and raised in DeLand, Florida, where she graduated from DeLand High School before earning her degree in Elementary Education from Stetson University. It was there she met her future husband, Floyd. They married the year after graduation—only to be separated almost immediately when Floyd, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, was deployed to Korea just one month later. During his year overseas, Virginia continued teaching second grade at Longstreet Elementary, faithfully carrying on her calling at home.
After Floyd’s return, the couple moved several times for his career—first to Augusta, Georgia, then to State College, Pennsylvania—where Virginia taught in each location. Before long, they returned to Florida, and Virginia resumed her work in Volusia County, teaching second grade at Edgewater Elementary and Enterprise Elementary. Another relocation later took them to New Port Richey, where she taught at Richey Elementary. When Floyd was transferred back to the Volusia County area, Virginia stepped away from the classroom for several years to help manage a business the couple had purchased. In
1979, Virginia began attending First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, where both she and Floyd accepted Christ as Savior—a turning point that brought lasting transformation to their lives. Virginia soon returned to education, teaching at Sugar Mill Elementary in Port Orange for 18 years: nine years in second grade, eight years in pre-kindergarten, and one year in kindergarten. She retired in 2004, closing a remarkable chapter of service to children and families.
Retirement did not slow Virginia and Floyd’s commitment to ministry. Together, they served actively through Evangelism Explosion and Faith Ministry, and they were blessed to participate in mission work across the globe—traveling to China, South America, Africa, Ukraine, and India, including seven mission trips to India. They also traveled extensively, visiting every continent except Antarctica.
Floyd went home to be with the Lord in 2022, after 58 years of marriage. Since then, Virginia has continued to live out her faith with purpose and joy, participating in additional mission trips to Morocco and Indonesia. She also teaches weekly during the school year through Child Evangelism Fellowship at Sugar Mill Elementary and the Rose Marie Bryan Center—still investing in the next generation with the same steady passion that has shaped her life from the beginning.