Meet Our Staff
Jim Nord
Interim Organist/Choirmaster
Jim Nord served as Organist and Choirmaster at the Church of the Good Shepherd from 1981-2023. In 2004 he became the Music Director of Storyland Theatre. He has also served as Artistic Director of the Augusta Choral Society. His choirs have performed major works by J.S. Bach, Handel, Haydn, Durufle, Faure, and others. In 1997, his church choir was invited to spend a weeklong residency at Westminster Abbey, London, where they sang daily services and he performed on the Abbey's organ recital series.
Mr. Nord holds membership in the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Royal School of Church Music, the Organ Historical Society, the American Choral Directors Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society. He is presently serving a term on the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Lara Fort
Business Administration
Lara is responsible for all the financial aspects of the church, along with Treasurer, Jane Taylor. She has been with us since 2017 and also works with other area churches with their financial operations. Lara is married to Kevin, who works for Columbia County. They are the proud parents of two boys and a girl.
Jane Taylor
Treasurer
I grew up in Huron, South Dakota. I married Robert Taylor in 1968. We have 2 children: Matthew Taylor and Christine Hicks (Nathaniel). I graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in math education and taught school for several years. I graduated from Augusta College with a business degree and became a CPA. I worked for Fuller, Frost & Associates, CPAs, PC until retiring in 2017. We have been members of St. Augustine’s since moving here in 1981. I have been on Altar Guild since then, as well a participating in various other projects and activities.
Donna Tum
Communications & Administration
Since retiring from the Medical College of Georgia in 1999 after 40 years of service Donna has been able to be more active at St. Augustine’s. She is a member of the Altar Guild Team, Daughters of the King, and served on the Vestry. She also completed EfM, served as a delegate to the 2021 and 2022 Conventions and is currently serving on the Diocesan Council. Donna coordinates the Flower Ministry, assists with the summer Storytime activities, church gardens, and volunteers at Laundry Love. After being introduced to iconography a few years ago Donna discovered a new spiritual journey through writing icons. She loves dabbling in all forms of arts and crafts, and spending time outdoors gardening and walking. Her greatest joy is spending time with her grandchildren Molly, Margot and Charles.
