Clergy
The Rev. Elyse Gustafson
The Rev. Elyse Gustafson began serving as a priest at Good Shepherd in 2021. Prior to her time in Jacksonville, Elyse served parishes in North Carolina and Virginia and then on active duty as a chaplain in the US Army. Elyse holds an MDiv from Duke Divinity School, and MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and a BA from Wheaton College. She also serves on the boards of the Lighthouse Florida, JASMYN, and the Cathedral District Jax.
Priest
The Rev. Gee Alexander
After practicing law in Jacksonville (his hometown), Gee moved to New York and graduated from The General Theological Seminary, remaining in New York for 20 years. Gee has served in parishes and dioceses in New York, Long Island, and Florida as Rector, Vicar, Interim, Administrative Dean, and Priest in Charge. Gee has come to us as Priest for Pastoral Care. In this role, he will maintain and enhance the overall care of parishioners and their families in times of need and celebration.
Priest for Pastoral Care
Staff
Donald McCullough
Don joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2015 and has an extensive background in sacred music as well as in the performing arts. At Good Shepherd, he directs the Chancel Choir and serves as the organist for all services. He enjoys serving at Good Shepherd for so many reasons: the wonderful staff and people of the parish, the talented and committed singers in the Chancel Choir, the opportunity to play the exquisite E. M. Skinner organ every week, and the superb acoustics of the church's heavenward-reaching neo-gothic architecture.
Organist & Choirmaster
Clifford Parrish
Clifford served as our Interim Organist and Choirmaster during Donald McCullough's sabbatical in 2024, and we are pleased to have him continue to serve alongside Donald McCullough. He previously served Good Shepherd as the Interim Music Director in 1988-89.
In his fifty-year career, he has served Baptist, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and Presbyterian congregations, recently serving as Interim Organist/Music Director at Riverside Presbyterian Church. As a music educator, he has taught at all levels, including at Bernard’s High School, Villa Walsh Academy, and Fairleigh Dickinson and Rutgers-Newark Universities.
Organist & Choirmaster
Shannon Dell
Shannon joined Good Shepherd in the fall of 2024 as our Children, Youth, and Families Director. She has three years of experience as the Children's Director of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and five years of teaching experience. Shannon loves the sense of community and positivity here at Good Shepherd. She is focused on growing our programs for children, supporting our teenagers in youth group, and providing fun events for families.
Children, Youth, & Families Director
Gina Olson
Gina joined the Good Shepherd staff in 2020 and works in the office to serve and support our congregation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She is a member of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA).
Parish Administrator
904.387.5691, ext. 3
Laura Ammons
Laura joined the Good Shepherd staff as the bookkeeper in 2025 after 23 years in the Financial Services industry. While a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer as head of the Altar Guild, Laura also volunteers in the gardens supplying the pantry for St. Mary’s in Springfield, acts as registrar for Cursillo in the Diocese of Florida, and is Co-Producer of the podcasts A Morning at the Office, An Evening at Prayer, and Compline: Late Evening Episcopal Prayer for Forward Movement.
Bookkeeper
904.387.5691, ext. 5
Keith Sands
After retiring in 2019 from practicing law for 40 years, Keith served as the Finance Director and Church Administrator at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Historic Springfield. There, he oversaw the renovation of the entire campus and the restoration of the former rectory, built in 1912, now known as Dearing House. When not serving as the Facilities Manager at Good Shepherd, Keith volunteers as a Lay Weeder at Good Shepherd, volunteers as a gardener at the Cummer Museum and Gardens, and works on his English cottage garden at his and his wife Susannah’s circa 1895 home in Historic Springfield.
Facilities Manager
Dr. Kip & Ann Strasma
Kip and Ann Strasma are residents of Riverside and have been members of the Good Shepherd Pool since 2020. Kip works as Executive Director of Project Management at FSCJ and Ann is a 25-year corporate HR professional. They both have a deep love of the pool and believe it is a gift to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and community.
Pool Directors
904.387.4298
Tristen Smith
Pool Office Support & Senior Lifeguard
Tristen joined the Good Shepherd staff fully in May of 2019 but worked as a lifeguard for the church prior. Tristen earned his associate's degree with double honors and is working on a bachelor's degree in business administration at FSCJ. Tristen worked as a normal to head lifeguard for the city for 3 years then continued for an additional 2 years as a lifeguard manager. Tristen started lifeguarding with his sister after they were both requested to work as lifeguards after being on a summer swim team. Tristen works in the pool office and as the pool’s senior lifeguard for events.
