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.
Linda Merritt
Church Office Administrator
Linda Merritt serves as our Administrative Assistant. She comes to us with vast experience in education, administration, and the arts.
She and her husband Scott have been married for 31 years. They have two children, five grand-children and two Basset Hounds. Her hobbies include spending time with her grandchildren, anything art related, playing piano and organ, reupholstering small furniture, and writing.
