Our Leader Couples
Florida Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment

 

“Growing Edges – Couple Dialogue” is being led by AnnaBelle & Jack Allyn. AnnaBelle is a former elementary schoolteacher, water safety instructor and Girl Scout Leader. Jack served in the US Army as an artillery officer (6years) and as a Presbyterian Chaplain (20years) retiring in 1992. Presently, he is sole minister of Lake Shore Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville. He and AnnaBelle have two grown daughters, Rebecca and LauraBeth. They have been involved with Marriage Enrichment since 1975. They took their advanced training with David and Vera Mace. AnnaBelle enjoys scrapbooking and Jack enjoys carpentry; together they are avid sailors.

 

“Mary, John, How Does Your Garden Grow?” is being led by Mark & Rita Warren. Mark and Rita have been with Marriage Enrichment since the 70’s. They have previously led workshops on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and are currently working on Couple Communication certification. They have been married for 28 years.

 

“Shelter in the Storm” is being led by Bob & Elaine Button. Bob and Elaine have been working in the Marriage Enrichment movement for over 25 years. They have led retreats and seminars for faith-based and non faith-based groups throughout the country. Elaine is the Director of Inpatient Diabetes Services for the Moses Cone Health System. Bob is a Presbyterian minister who also works in the area of home repair and remodeling. Together they have founded Marriage Enrichment Ministries in an effort to assist faith-based groups develop strong marriage enrichment ministries. They have two married children and three grandchildren.

 

The “Mini-Retreat” is being led by Harrel & Sally Morgan. Harrel is a benefits consultant for Healthease Health Plan and has worked in campus ministry. Along with school and community volunteer work, Sally served as a Hospice and hospital chaplain and as Director of Mother’s Morning Out. Currently she tutors and reads to a second grade class. Harrel and Sally have been married since 1975 and have a daughter at UF and a son at the US Air Force Academy. They had premarital counseling and made a commitment to attend a marriage enrichment activity each year. The Morgans have been active in the state and national levels of ACME. Harrel enjoys sports, gardening and a good conversation. Sally likes reading, crafts and hearing a good joke.

 

“Experiencing the Seasons”, the afternoon session, is being presented by three couples.

Communication – Bill & Jean Cooley. Bill and Jean have been married 34 years and members of ACME for almost 28 years. They became certified ACME leaders 17 years ago and have enjoyed leading retreats, workshops and MEGs. Their two sons are grown and have benefited from their parents’ marriage enrichment. Bill and Jean are both Presbyterian ministers co-pastoring in one church in Lutz where they have the opportunity to practice good communication and conflict management skills every day.

 

Conflict Resolution – Charlie & Debbie Parsons. The Parsons have been married 25 years and marriage enrichment facilitators for over 15 years. They were ACME certified this past year and enjoy doing marriage enrichment workshops numerous times throughout the year. They served as Florida’s ACME President couple in 2000. Charlie owns a landscape contracting business and Debbie manages a medical billing company. They have two grown daughters who are the reason they joined marriage enrichment. They believe the greatest gift a couple can give their children and each other is a loving, happy marriage.

 

Commitment – Bob & Sally Harris. Bob and Sally have been married 10 years. They have been in marriage enrichment 10 years. They were certified the same year as the Parsons as they took the leadership training together. Bob is retired from IBM and Sally retired from the school system. Together they run a pre-school that truly nurtures children. Between them they have 8 children from ages 4 years – 32 years.

Interfaith Worship - Ken & Martha Cook. Ken Cook received his Doctor of Ministry from the Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Martha cook has many years experience with the Social Security Administration within the Federal Government. Ken has served as chaplain in several facilities for the U.S.Army Reserve and has most recently retired as a chaplain for Hospice of North Central Florida. They have four children and eight grandchildren who live in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.