The Museum Advisory Committee (MAC) is a standing committee appointed by the Brownsburg Community Association to govern Museum activities. The MAC is responsible for operating and maintaining the Museum building and its inventory of materials. MAC members strive to build upon a timeline of important events in the village and assist with genealogy requests by connecting inquirers with established local resources. There work has earned the Museum awards and followers from near and far. Here are the committee members and their biographies:
Harry Shannon. Harry is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. After practicing as a lawyer in the United States and Germany for over 30 years, he retired to Rockbridge County in 2016. He has an undergraduate degree and a law degree from the University of Virginia and a doctor in law degree from the University of Munich in Munich Germany. He is a member of the board of the Lexington Historical Society and former chairman of the Alumni Association of the University of Virginia Law School.
Julie Fox. Julie’s husband grew up in Fairfield, and they moved back to the area a few years ago after several years overseas. Julie serves on both the BCA Board and the Brownsburg Museum Advisory Committee. The Museum has re-opened under Julie’s watchful hand. Virginia’s COVID-19 distancing guidelines are followed and masks are required. Julie has ole of the country store in rural areas. The Museum is open by appointment for private tours which have been enjoyed and acclaimed by many visitors. Call Julie at 774-279-9742 to make a reservation.
David Wade. David was a career Army officer serving overseas and in the U.S. His last civilian position was with IBM. Several factors brought him fulltime to Lexington and the county four years ago to include several years living in Waynesboro as a child. His grandfather was from Brownsburg and both grandparents are buried at New Providence Church. David is involved in his church and other activities in Lexington. He continues his hobby of traveling up to half his time domestically and internationally.
Nancy Hahn. Nancy and her husband, Paul, moved to the Brownsburg community in 1997 and immediately became actively involved with the startup of the Brownsburg Community Association. Later, when the all-volunteer Museum developed we served on the Museum Advisory Committee in various roles from fundraising to managing the museum greeters. Twenty-two years as expatriates in the Middle East has created an interest in the people, history and culture of the communities in which we reside. I enjoy cooking (lots of ethnic menus), tending my herb and greens garden and fussing over our menagerie of rescued cats.
Nancy Armstrong. Nancy grew up in Staunton, attended school in South Carolina and Georgia, traveled some, and landed again in Staunton. She started her educational career at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind teaching deaf children with multi-disabilities. After six years she attended James Madison University for a masters in Learning Disabilities, then went to the University of Virginia for a masters and doctorate in Administration, Supervision and Policy Study from the Curry School. Nancy continued her career as an administrator in Montessori Education, elementary, middle and high school at various schools in Staunton and Augusta County. She ended her career at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind as Superintendent after 14 years. Nancy now enjoys breathing new life into old historic homes in Staunton. She currently lives in a house built in 1880 and is completing renovation on another dating back to 1884. In her spare time, she travels to Myrtle Beach and Charlotte to visit her children and grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, studying Spanish, teaching yoga, reading, golfing, and walking with her labradoodle, Mia. Nancy serves on various non-profit boards, and one of her favorites is the Brownsburg Museum.
Dick Barnes. Dick has B.S. & M.Ed degrees in education. He served on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University in the School of Education. He later became Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Order National Fraternity where he served for 25 years before retiring in 1998. Dick owned Old South Antiques in Brownsburg for thirty-two years. He also served as a National Vice-President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association with Jerry Lewis and Ed McMann. Dick is a member of New Providence Presbyterian Church, where he was a member of the choir for 20 years and a member of the Session for a number of terms. His hobby has been restoration of early commercial and residential properties.
Karen Parker. Karen joined the BCA Board in 2020. She has lived in the Brownsburg area since 2002. Karen earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Mennonite University in Management and Organizational Development. She worked in business and finance until she retired in 2018. She and her husband Max Snarr enjoy gardening and caring for their home in Fairfield. Karen serves as Treasurer for the Brownsburg Community Association and the Brownsburg Museum. This is her second year as Treasurer, and her fourth year of service on the Brownsburg Calendar Committee.