Bios

HEATHER DOOLEY

Heather, a Norfolk native now lives in Bedford with her husband (a Bedford native) and her 2 sons. She plans to raise her family here and wants to see Bedford grow for her own family. She came to Bedford Get Together through a community event with her agency where she is has helped to empower individuals with disabilities for over 17 years.

JULIE STANLEY

Julie grew up in Bedford in the 1950s and 1960s before leaving in 1968 for college in Richmond, law school in Williamsburg, and what turned out to be a lengthy career in several capacities with the Commonwealth of Virginia. She retired in 2010 and moved with her husband back to Bedford to be near her family, all of whom have been Bedford residents their entire lives.

CAROLINE KHELLA HOPE

Caroline moved from New York City in 2017 but has been coming to Bedford since her father Maj Gen Murdoch retired here in 1972. After a career as an opera singer, she coaches singers and actors; in 2013 she became an interfaith Chaplain in Harlem. As a founding member of Bedford Get Together she is passionate about creating opportunities to honor our community’s past while creating new paths to the future.

SARA BRAATEN

Sara has been a member of Bedford Get Together since its beginning. She hails from North Carolina, but Sara and her husband, Bruce Johannessen have lived happily in Virginia for many years. Sara team taught in an elementary gifted program in Roanoke and upon retirement served as a volunteer director of the Bower Center for the Arts.

IVAN GREENE

Ivan is a lifelong resident of Bedford Va. He attended college in Charlottesville and later was employed with the U S Postal Service in various positions in Roanoke VA, Richmond VA, and Lynchburg VA where he retired after 39 years as Manager In-Plant Support. He resides in the town of Bedford with his wife of 47 years, Patricia.

WENDY ROWDEN

Wendy moved to Bedford in 1997 from the West Coast by way of Texas. She retired in 2022 after 37 years as a property claims adjuster. She and her husband Ted love hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling when they are not remodeling their home. Wendy enjoys volunteering and learning new skills. She has been with Bedford Get Together from the beginning.

CRYSTAL JOHNSON

Crystal was born and raised in Bedford County and still lives here with her husband Josh and their two cats who are her babies. She is active in the community and loves helping others in need. Crystal was the recipient of one of our 2023 Community Service Awards for her work organizing a fundraiser that raised over $10K for a local business that caught fire. She works in Bedford at Rowlett’s Auto and also has her own jewelry & art business on the side.

JENNY HORNE

Jenny is a Bedford native, and graduate of William and Mary. She has served as the administrator for St. John’s Episcopal church in Bedford for 17 years. Pre-Covid, She worked with Bedford County Public Schools to start their “Angel Fund” program to ensure every child has access to a hot breakfast and lunch regardless of ability to pay, and is passionate about ending food insecurity for children. She also served as a volunteer CASA advocate for children in the court system.
A is a self-described history nerd, she has one teenage son who she also successfully turned into a history nerd. They enjoy visiting historic sites near and far, and drag her fiancé, a business and estate planning attorney, with them whenever possible.
She also enjoys storytelling, poetry writing, and cats.

KATIE VIEMEISTER

Katie came to Bedford County in 2019, after having lived and worked in Greene and Madison County, Va for many years. She is originally from Long Island N.Y. Her dad came to Bedford in 1979, and mom followed in 1995. Katie has worked with many species of animals in varying capacities for most of her working life, her primary focus being horses. She continues to work, semi-retired, with beef cattle and other animals on her farm. Katie is also involved with the Bower Center for the Arts as well as Bedford Chapter AR of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization). She and her husband enjoy mountain biking together.

ANDREA CHESSON PLAMONDON

Andrea has been working with Bedford Get Together collecting Bedford stories for a couple of years. She believes in the power of stories to help us make connections and build community. When she's not collecting stories in Bedford, you can find her at home in St. Charles, IL, gardening and weaving, or on the road riding her motorcycle.

LONI WRIGHT

Loni is a Bedford native whose family has resided in the area for many generations. She was fortunate to grow up surrounded by storytellers who breathed color and whimsy into small-town life. As a member of Bedford Get Together she is excited about uncovering and telling the stories of our community to a broader audience.