Staff

Biography

Kaye Speakes Edwards, born in Paris, Ky., has been a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) all of her life. She graduated from Lynchburg College in 1970, with a B.A. degree in sociology and religious studies, and from Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, Ky., in 1980, with a M.Div. in Pastoral Care.

She was ordained to the Christian Ministry at Antioch Christian Church, Lexington, Ky. in 1980. Currently she lives in Lynchburg, Va., with her husband, David, who is minister of Church of the Covenant, United Church of Christ. Kaye and David have two young adult children, Kent and Shelley.

Kaye has spent much of her professional life working with special needs children and their families. In Boston, Mass., she worked as a play therapist on the Psychosomatic Unit of Boston Children's Hospital. While in Lexington, Ky., she directed a program to meet the educational and social needs of profoundly handicapped children and their families. After the arrival of her two children, Kaye worked from her home as the Director of the Lexington Mother to Mother Program. Mother to Mother is a national ecumenical program designed to bring together, in mutual supportive friendship, women from different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds.

Kaye has also served as the Children's Advocate in a shelter for abused women and as the Family Life Education Coordinator for a family service organization. As a volunteer she has worked with Parents Anonymous, Adults Molested as Children, Special Olympics, and Youth Services.

Before being called as Director of Family and Children's Ministries, Kaye served as the Associate Minister for Christian Education and Youth at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lynchburg, Va.