Newsletter

Dr. Bell’s Biography

Dr. Robert (Robby) Wilson Bell was born in Spartanburg, SC, while his father, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) minister, was pastoring the Sandy Plains ARP Church near Tryon, NC. His childhood years were spent at the Tirzah ARP Church in York County, SC—where he came to faith in Jesus Christ—and his teen years at the Old Providence ARP Church in Spottswood, VA.

A 1972 graduate of Riverheads High School, Augusta County, VA, he attended Erskine College, graduating in 1976 with a degree in Medical Technology. He worked as a Med Tech at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Staunton, VA, before entering Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC, where he earned the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1982. Ordained by Virginia Presbytery in June 1982, he served as pastor of the Pressly Memorial ARP Church in Statesville, NC (First Presbytery), from 1982-89. He attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, where he earned the Th.M. (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) degrees in Psychology of Religion. His Ph.D. dissertation is entitled: “A Pastoral Care Approach to Anger in Crisis: Contending with God.”

He taught pastoral care and counseling courses at Erskine Theological Seminary from 1994 until 2015, where he also served as Dean of the Seminary for a total of seven years.

After supplying pulpits for several churches in 2015, and Young Memorial from January 2016 – May 2017, he was called as senior pastor of the Young Memorial ARP Church (Second Presbytery) in July 2017.

He was married to his high school sweetheart, Karen Anita Graves, from 1976 until her death in 2008. He has two married children, Richard (Lori) and Cynthia (James), and five grandchildren.

He is married to the former Alice Frances Perry, who attended Erskine College before transferring to the University of South Carolina to pursue a degree in nursing. She is a registered nurse (RN) and, prior to retirement, spent the bulk of her career working as a case manager in palliative and hospice care. She has four adult children, three daughters and a son, and enjoys gardening, flowers, water color painting, and getting to know people.

In his spare time, Dr. Bell enjoys tinkering with old tractors, cars, and trucks. Alice enjoys flower gardening and cooking at their home near Level Land, SC.

Mrs. Seeger’s Biography

Linda was born on April Fool’s Day to John Harris and Gladys Latham Lowe. An only child, she grew up on a farm near Saylors Crossroads in Anderson County, with loving, Christian parents and lots of cousins living nearby.

Linda graduated from Honea Path High School and attended Erskine College.

Her first marriage produced two children: Lisa Fleming Tavernier (Kurt) and John Fleming (deceased). She has three married grandsons: Joshua (Meghan), Jared (Kayla), and Jacob (Brooke), and two great-grandchildren.

Most of her work history has been in banking: bookkeeping, teller, customer service representative, and secretary. She had the pleasure of working with Tom Richie for three years while he was Stated Supply Pastor at North Anderson Community Church, Presbyterian.

Linda is married to Bob Seeger (retired from SCN Bank) and lives here in Anderson.

For the last two years she has enjoyed getting to know this family of faith here at Young Memorial.

Mrs. Castellano’s Biography

Lauren Castellano was born in Long Island, NY in 1990. She spent her childhood years learning Judaism and music, and enjoyed her summers at the Usdan Center for the Performing Arts where she studied piano, choir, and various other artistic ventures. Lauren also attended the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division for piano and theory studies for 3 years.

A 2008 graduate of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, NY, Lauren attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ for Music Education. She became a Christian in 2009 and worshipped with Calvary Chapel New Brunswick during her undergraduate career. She graduated in 2012 with a Bachelors in Music Education with Piano and Choral concentrations.

Lauren taught as an elementary school music teacher at two schools in New Jersey, and earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education at Boston University in 2014. She and her husband Dennis Castellano wed in March of 2015. She served on the worship team or as the worship leader for several NJ Calvary Chapels, as well as Budd Lake Chapel in Morris County, NJ.

Lauren and Dennis moved to Cheraw, SC in the summer of 2016 and Lauren became the worship leader for open-air chapel Sunday Services held at the Little Pee Dee State Park, where Dennis gave the Word to campers and visitors. Lauren joined two community choirs and enjoyed singing with the altos, giving sectionals, and assisting the directors. Lauren also taught Chorus at Chesterfield and Cheraw High Schools.

Lauren and Dennis migrated to Honea Path, SC, and are expecting their first child in July, 2018. Lauren is the Middle School Choral Director for Anderson County School District Two, serving Honea Path and Belton Middle Schools. She is also a member of the GAMAC Chorale.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys playing music with her husband at local venues throughout Anderson County, crocheting, and anything crafty. Dennis enjoys woodworking, cooking, and studying the Word, and is both a Pastor and a Chaplain. Lauren and Dennis love singing karaoke and traveling to see friends in the Tri-state area.

Mr. Pettigrew’s Biography

Starting at a young age, Alston Pettigrew found a love in music that has never left.  Throughout his formal education, Alston Pettigrew has had many opportunities to perform alongside some of the world’s best musicians while touring the country for various festivals and events.  While attending Anderson University (SC), Alston had the opportunity to work for various music programs around the upstate including: Belton Honea Path, T.L. Hanna, Westside, and Wren High School.  Alston Pettigrew graduated from Anderson University in 2011, and was named Most Outstanding Music Major.

Since graduating, Alston served as Director of Bands at Palmetto High School in Williamston, SC.  While at Palmetto High, he grew the band program from seventeen members to seventy.  In addition to the program growth, Alston  qualified the Mustang Regiment for the SC State Marching Band Championships for the first time in fifteen years, began a winter guard program that placed third in the Carolina Indoor Performance Association Championships during their inaugural season, had a winter guard place first overall in the Carolina Indoor Performance Association Championships during their second year of existence, had a school record number of Superiors during the South Carolina Band Directors Association Solo and Ensemble festival, and served as an assistant coach on the 2A State Championship winning softball team.  In addition to these achievements, Alston Pettigrew was awarded the Golden Apple award for teaching excellence during the 2016-2017 school year.

While serving as the Director of Bands at Palmetto High School, Alston  decided to pursue higher education by starting his Master’s in Educational Leadership through Arkansas State University.  Since receiving his Master’s degree, Alston has received his Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.  Alston Pettigrew is currently in the dissertation process within the Doctoral Program at Liberty University.

Alston’s love of music was vital in the sequence of events that led to him meeting his wife Allison.  Since their marriage in 2012, Alston and Allison Pettigrew have been blessed with two beautiful girls:  Anna Claire (3) and Caroline (1).