Meet our Vestry

Justin Miller, Ed.D., along with his wife Nan, and children Shen & Akio, started attending St. Boniface Church in June 2021, immediately after moving to Venice. Willing and ready to serve in St. Boniface's welcoming environment, the boys quickly jumped into vested ministry as acolytes, and parents quickly followed as readers… or whatever else was needed.

Justin took on coordination of the vested layperson / readers ministry (worship team) in Spring 2022 and joined the vestry a few months later, to complete a vacated term. Justin currently serves as Associate Director of Award Negotiations, Office of Sponsored Programs, at West Virginia University; Nan is a RN with Sarasota County Schools; Shen attends the University of South Florida; and Akio West Virginia University.

Justin is also discernment a call to Holy Orders, is currently a Postulant in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, and a seminarian at Candler School of Theology, housed at Emory University in Atlanta.

In their spare time, Justin & Nan can probably be found at Disney or the beach. They're very happy to have landed at St. Boniface after arriving in Florida and look forward to helping continue to fulfill our vision.

Bob Woody was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia but spent most of his adult life in Northern Virginia and Washington DC before moving to Florida in 2019. Until joining St. Boniface he was a lifelong United Methodist, but after many years of serving as a substitute organist in a variety of churches, he began to feel that the Episcopal Church was a better fit for him. He is a reader at St. Boniface and also serves on the Friends of Music Committee. In late 2020, Bob semi-retired from his position as Vice-President and Counsel to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) where he helped the association’s members develop positions on both federal and state issues of interest to the insurance industry. Prior to that, he practiced law for 16 years at a large international law firm, advising both U.S. and non-U.S. clients (including Lloyd’s of London) on insurance legislative and regulatory matters from the firm’s Washington, DC, and London offices. He has testified in Congress before the House Judiciary Committee and before various state legislative committees. Prior to joining the law firm, he worked in several capacities on Capitol Hill and in the Virginia state legislature. He received a B.S. from James Madison University in 1982 and a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1992. Bob lives in Bradenton with his husband, Marty Miller.

Suzanne Barksdale has been a parishioner since 1977 and she considers St. Boniface to be her spiritual home. Suzanne presently serves as Treasurer and co-chairs the Hospitality and Welcome committee of the Strategic Plan initiative.

Suzanne retired in 2019 with two successful careers behind her. She retired as a regional executive with a major bank after thirty-eight years of service. After her husband’s death she joined Tidewell Hospice and developed their Advance Care Program.

Suzanne is active in many aspects of the life of St. Boniface and was named a Boniface Hero in January of 2023.

Priscilla (Prill) Nugent lived in Chicago before moving to Sarasota permanently with her husband Chris in 2018. She earned her BA with Honors at the University of Iowa. Her career was in healthcare communications; she was a VP, Writer, and Account Manager for Chicago-based healthcare advertising agencies and served as a Communications Director for Merck & Co.

Prill and Chris were enthusiastic volunteers at Resurrection House, a ministry that Prill continues. She also works to register voters and establish/renew vote-by-mail status in Sarasota. She has been a member of St. Boniface since her snowbird days starting in 2009.

Cass Anderson is a long-time resident of Sarasota, having moved here in 1968. Cass graduated from Sarasota High School and then moved out West to attend Pima College in Tuscon, Arizona. He went on to spend his career in the restaurant and private country club industry.

Cass was first introduced to St. Boniface in 1989, by his mother-in-law Roseann Armstrong. He currently serves as an acolyte and lector and feels his service on the vestry is an honor that epitomizes his desire to serve and to grow spiritually.

Marjorie Floyd is a third generation St. Boniface parishioner who moved to Sarasota full-time in the early 1990’s. She has served as an executive for private corporations, charitable foundations, and as a marketing consultant and realtor.

Marjorie earned a BA in Theatre from Smith College. She has served on numerous civic and non-profit boards and is an alum of Leadership Florida. Currently she serves as a Trustee of The Out-of-Door Academy and the Field Club Foundation Board. Marjorie and fellow parishioner Caroline Amory were married in 2020 and have an adopted dog named Georgie.

Carol Gilchrist from Chelmsford, MA began attending St. Boniface in 2022. She and her husband Mike, a pediatrician who died in 2010, have two sons. A nurse, Carol worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital, a Middle School, and managed her husband’s practice. Her volunteer time has included work in a parish thrift shop, at a local hospital, and on the board of a special needs children’s camp.

At St. Boniface Church, Carol serves in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Grants and Outreach Committee, and co-chaired Rise Against Hunger. 

Richard “Dick” Smoot has been an active lay person for over 50 years, and a seasonal member of St. Boniface Church for 25. He is Emeritus Director of Episcopal Community Services (Philadelphia), and is a retired trustee of the Church Foundation, Diocese of Pennsylvania. Dick has previous vestry experience, and has served as a lay reader and Eucharistic minister. He is currently a member of the St. Boniface Church Investment Committee, and the Sunday Book Group. Dick is a retired bank executive married to Amanda, who have two adult daughters.

Trudi Williams is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Vestry of St. Boniface Episcopal Church. She has been a member of St. Boniface for several years and values the church’s commitment to worship, community, and outreach.

Trudi is a widow and retired professional, and brings experience in thoughtful decision-making, stewardship, and collaboration. St. Boniface Church has been a source of spiritual grounding and fellowship for her, and welcomes the opportunity to give back through Vestry service by supporting the clergy, strengthening parish life, and helping guide the church’s future.

Mark Johnston and his wife Linda moved to Sarasota from the Atlanta area in 2020.   After initially viewing St. Boniface Church services online due to the covid pandemic, their first in-person experience was the drive-through Blessing of the Animals. 

A native Iowan, Mark received a BBA degree with majors in Marketing and Management from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.  He met Linda in Iowa City and together they have four adult children, three grandchildren (two of whom are also adults now) and Abby, a much loved Wheaten Terrier.  Mark’s working life was spent in the automotive industry. 



The Episcopal Church has become the perfect spiritual home for Mark and Linda, who came from Methodist and Roman Catholic backgrounds. Mark has served in various capacities in churches they have attended, including as a Vestry member, and is a member of the Building and Grounds Committee at St. Boniface Church.  He also volunteers at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Christine Puthoff is from the Buffalo, NY area where she spent 32-years in public education. She started as an elementary teacher and ended up as the Superintendent of the Lockport, New York City School District. She was the Board Chair and Campaign Chair for the Eastern Niagara United Way, and Vice President of the Lockport YWCA. Christine also was an adjunct instructor at Canisius College and upon moving to Venice in 2001, accepted a position as Program Coordinator for the USF College of Education. Christine served on the Chairperson of Village On The Isle Board of Trustees as well as being Chair of the Visioning and Planning Committee resulting in a $73 million development project. 

Christine was a member of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and served on its Vestry for four years, three as Senior Warden.  Christine has been a member of St. Boniface Church since 2024. 

Wendy Prell is an experienced HR leader with a lifelong foundation in the Episcopal faith. Raised in South Weymouth, MA, she grew up at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, where her grandparents and mother were active members. Before moving to Florida, she served at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church as a Sunday school teacher, altar guild member, and dedicated volunteer. A member of St. Boniface since 2003, Wendy has supported youth ministries, including teaching Sunday school and assisting with the youth group. She brings strengths in strategic planning, communication, and collaborative leadership. Wendy hopes to serve on the Vestry by fostering connection, supporting parish ministries, and helping guide St. Boniface’s mission with care and faith-centered commitment.