Meet the Staff
of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church...
of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church...

The Rev. Cheryl Peeples, Forest Hills' Pastor, was graduated by Rhodes College (formerly Southwestern at Memphis) in Memphis, Tennessee with a Bachelors in Arts Degree, majoring in English Literature and was graduated by Memphis Theological Seminary, with a Master of Divinity Degree, Summa Cum Laude.
Pastor Cheryl has been blessed to serve in churches in which each was an opportunity to follow God in doing important ministry in that place at that time. She served at Farmington Presbyterian Church in Germantown, TN as Associate Pastor for two and a half years before moving to Christiansburg, Virginia where she served at Christiansburg Presbyterian Church as Associate Pastor for Youth and Christian Education for nine and a half years before moving to Trumansburg NY where she served for ten and a half years as Solo Pastor.
Pastor Cheryl and her husband, John, came to Martinsville in February 2020, returning to Virginia after living for ten years in the Fingerlakes District of New York. Before that, they lived in Christiansburg, Virginia. They are glad to be back in Virginia where their children and grandchildren live and are enjoying spending more time with them than they were able to do when they lived so far away.
While in New York, she served as the Moderator of the Presbytery of Geneva and on various Presbytery Committees including among others - General Council, Mission Funding, Personnel, Budget and Finance, and Congregational Vitality. She was an officer of the Trumansburg Area Churches Council throughout her time in Trumansburg.
She is thrilled to be a part of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and enjoys participating in the ministries of FHPC and the opportunities of service available in the community of Martinsville and Presbytery of the Peaks. She is currently a member of the Church Partnership Commission of the Presbytery of the Peaks. This commission encourages partnership in ministry, a cause that is dear to Pastor Cheryl's heart.

Betsy Haskins, FHPC's Choir Director and Organist, graduated from Salem College with a double major in math and economics and then 20 years later graduated again but this time with a major in Piano and Organ Performance. She also has a master’s degree in Organ Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She is currently studying organ with concert organist Dr. Timothy Olson.
She has been playing the piano for 65 years and the Organ for 57 years. She has served as organist and She loves making music with people. She has directed several adult and children’s choirs and handbell choirs and loves sharing the joy that music can bring.
She teaches piano and voice privately and accompanies all music programs at Carlisle School. She has been a devoted member of Forest Hills for 8 years and loves the closeness and the wonderful congregation. She and husband Jim have 4 adult children and 4 beloved grandsons. She feels truly blessed.
Please contact Betsy about singing at FHPC with the Adult choir - you’ll be glad you did!
She has been playing the piano for 65 years and the Organ for 57 years. She has served as organist and She loves making music with people. She has directed several adult and children’s choirs and handbell choirs and loves sharing the joy that music can bring.
She teaches piano and voice privately and accompanies all music programs at Carlisle School. She has been a devoted member of Forest Hills for 8 years and loves the closeness and the wonderful congregation. She and husband Jim have 4 adult children and 4 beloved grandsons. She feels truly blessed.
Please contact Betsy about singing at FHPC with the Adult choir - you’ll be glad you did!

Barbara Mitchem, FHPC's Office Manager, is a graduate of Patrick & Henry Community College. Barbara and her husband, Phillip, have one daughter. She loves reading the Bible, attending church, going to the beach, and spending time with family and pets.

Karen Carter, FHPC's Custodian, has been working here for approximately twenty years. We are very thankful for the care she gives to keeping our church clean and ready for worship and activities.