Born in Sylva . North Carolina. Attended public schools until I became deaf at the age of 12. Graduated from NC school for the Deaf. Graduated in 1967. Attended Gallaudet University. 3 time president of GA Baptist Conference of the Deaf. Present TriState School of Theology Assistant Director. Director of Deaf Ministry at Union Baptist Church, Winder, GA.
Lynn Brooks is currently the Secretary and Treasurer for TriState Deaf School of Theology. As an aspiring interpreter in 1997, she met Joyce Smith who recruited her to assist with TriState where she began as Administrative Assistant and eventually also became the Treasurer. With a true heart for deaf people, she quickly realized the best way to reach the Deaf was to see them trained to share the Gospel themselves rather than simply interpreting for them. Lynn has been the co-founder of In HIs Image Ministries, Inc since 1984. She and her late husband, Rev. Gary Brooks, began this revivalist style ministry with a heart for pastors and a desire to see those who love and serve God grow into a deeper relationship with Him according to 2 Cor 3:18 and has maintained their original ministry by serving as a chaplain.
Dr. High received her B.S. degree from Mars Hill College, certification to teach the Deaf from Lenoir Rhyne College, Interpreter training from Gallaudet University and the Northeast Florida Consortium on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and her M.Div., Th.M. and Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her dissertation is entitled “A Visual Hermeneutic: The Contribution of Sign Language Studies to Biblical Interpretation.” She has worked with Deaf people for approximately 40 years as a Teacher, Chaplain, Home Missionary, Coordinator of a Deaf Program in a Bible College as well as a professional interpreter and Interpreter Educator. She was with Gardner-Webb University as an Interpreter Educator from 2000 - 2021. She retired in May 2021. She has beem actively involved in a variety of professional organizations related to teaching ASL, interpreting and the training of interpreters. She has taught workshops in many states across the country and has written for the Deaf Sunday School Teacher’s Quarterly and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Dr. High has achieved the Masters Certificate in teaching ASL from ASLTA, holds Certification in both Interpreting and Transliteration from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and Level 5 from NAD. She has passed the Sign Language Proficiency Interview at the Superior Level and is a Sign Language Proficiency Interviewer and Evaluator.
I graduated from the NC School for the Deaf in 1980. I married my high school sweetheart (Deborah Turner). We have been married for 42 years. I am a current student of TriState Deaf School of Theology, former seminary student of Southern Seminary, and working toward a BA degree with Gardner-Webb University in NC. I serve on the board of TriState Deaf School of Theology. Before becoming a fulltime minister of the Gospel, I worked for 25 years at Sypris Technologies, Inc. as an advanced Computer Numerical Control Operator. On April 30, 2007 I felt God calling me into fulltime Deaf Ministry. I lead a Bible study once a month on Monday nights for deaf students on the campus of NC School for the Deaf - Morganton. I serve as the Director of Deaf Camp at Camp Caraway (NC) every year during the month of May. I have also led numerous international mission trips for deaf believers in NC each year. I have served as a short term missionary for the Baptist IMB ministering to the Deaf in Honduras (32 times), South Africa (11 times), Puerto Rico (2 times), Russia (2 times), Leon, Mexico (2 times), Barranquilla,Colombia (9 times), Mexico City (4 times), Quito, Ecuador (7 times), and Bangkok, Thailand (2 times). I have also conducted mission trips to the Urkaine, China,Taipei,Taiwan (Deaf Olympics), Zambia (Africa), Lilongwe (Malawi), Guatamala, Mexico City, Cancun (Mexico), Cordoba (Argentina), Belize, and Puebla (Mexico). I also work part time for the NC Baptist State Convention serving as evangelism events coordinator for the Deaf Community of NC. I have served as an associate pastor for three years to the Deaf at First Baptist Morganton - NC. On January 24, 1993, I received a Certificate of License to Preach from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. Then later on, May 4, 2008, I received a Certification of Ordination to be the full time evangelist from First Baptist church in Morganton, NC.
Leonard Earl Wright (Earl) is a retired administrator at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind. He graduated 1971 at the Va. School for the Deaf and the Blind – Staunton. He completed his B.A. in History in 1975 (Gallaudet University) and M.ED in Deaf Education in 1985 (W. McDaniel College - WMC). After his graduated from the Gallaudet University, he worked as a Residential Advisor in Gallaudet University, Virginia School for the Deaf – Staunton, and the Maryland School for the Deaf. After getting his Master’s degree, he worked as a teacher at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Bind at Hampton and at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. He has served as a teacher, administrator, Adjunct Professor (Hampton Institute, Presbyterian College, and Converse College) and as an advisor/consultant to the SC Department of the Deaf, SC Department of the Mental Health, and numerous organizations/churches serving the Deaf. He also had served on several boards related to the education of the Deaf children and adults, and the Deaf Community at-large. He also served as a quest lecturer to the deaf schools at Cali, Columbia in South America through the Partners of the Americas, and El Salvador through Gardner Webb University. The activities, related to the church and the SC Baptist Conference of the Deaf, he served as a Sunday School teacher/ a deacon of the First Baptist Church – Spartanburg and the workshop leader/ the officers at the SC Baptist Conference for the Deaf. He is currently a member of the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, and a member of the TriState Deaf School of Theology. His wife is Debbie Bulian Wright from South Dakota. They have two daughters and 4 adorable grandchildren (3 boys and 1 girl).
Bo Sherrill has been working in Deaf Ministry at Parkwood Baptist Church in Concord, N.C. for 38 years. He has been full time Pastor for the Deaf for 23 years at Parkwood and has been working as a Consultant for Deaf Ministries for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina since 2020. Married to his wife Glenda for 49 years. Has been on numerous International Mission teams to China, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and several Mission trips in the U.S. Enjoys spending time with family, fishing and wood working.
Blaire Johnston has been Charlotte’s Regional Center Manager at the Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing since June 2016. In this role, she has been successful in supporting DSDHH’s mission to ensure that North Carolinians with hearing loss have full communication access, especially in the areas of their well-being and health. Prior to her role at DSDHH, Blaire served for nine years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the deaf and hard of hearing, where she worked with people to obtain or maintain employment. She is also serving various organizations that advocate for people with disabilities in education, independent living, and community involvement. Her passion and commitment to self-advocacy is powered by her experience as a Deaf woman. Blaire obtained her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University in 2011 and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Blaire, who became Deaf at age three, is a dedicated leader in the Christian Deaf community. She has served as the elected Secretary and Treasurer for the NC Baptist Conference for the Deaf (NCBCD) and on the Board of Directors for Signs for Hope.
Laramie Burris currently works as maintenance director at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. He has been living in Georgia for almost his whole life. He was involved with many church activity leaders for over 15 years such as teaching Sunday School, leading bible study, sometimes preaching, and was active in a few officer positions at Georgia Baptist Conference for Deaf for a few years. He really enjoys teaching directly from the bible because have such a desire to help Deaf understand about Jesus Christ by using our heart language through American Sign Language. He is a happily married man with a lovely wife and three children.