Meet the crew at JML

Board of Directors

President: Virginia Vaitones

Vice President and Treasurer: Christopher Brewer Williamson

Secretary: Elaine Wilson

Board Members:
Courtney Farnum
Lynna Henderson
Tracy Leavitt
Elizabeth May

Board Bios

Virginia Vaitones, President

“Ginny” retired six years ago after a long career as a Oncology Social Worker. She holds B.S. from Springfield College and a M.S.W from Simmons College School of Social Work. Her career has primarily been here in Maine, where she has worked in small community hospitals. She has had the opportunity to develop two oncology social work programs, providing psychosocial care and navigation services to cancer patients and their families.

Ginny is a Past President and a founding member of the Association of Oncology Social Workers. She represented AOSW at the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the accrediting organization for hospital cancer programs for 12 years. It was during this tenure where she was instrumental in the development of the patient centered standards for cancer care. Her interest in policy, education and advocacy lead her to become active with the Association of Community Cancer Centers where she became their first oncology social worker to serve as President. A new and different role for her was her appointment to the Oncology Nursing Certification Board. She has authored and co-authored articles and book chapters, served on national panels and presented lectures and workshops at the local, state and national level.

Ginny married a local (Scott) and moved here in 1979. She was elected JML Board President in 2023.

Christopher Brewer Williamson, Vice President and Treasurer

Chris graduated from Williams College with honors in history in 1970, earned a Masters Degree in English from The University of New Hampshire in 1975, and took graduate courses at Boston University in Education and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in drama. After teaching, directing plays, coaching and serving as Arts Chair, Director of College Counseling and later Director of Admission and Development at schools in New Hampshire and Ohio, he was appointed Head of The Wardlaw-Hartridge School (Pre-K – 12 in Edison, New Jersey) in 1994, then The Applewild School (Pre-K – 8 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts) in 2005. After retiring in 2015, Chris has done some educational consulting and returned as Interim Head at Applewild from February 2018 to June 2019.

Chris has served as Vice President of the Jackson Memorial Library Board of Directors since 2023. He has also served as Treasurer from 2022 to the present. Additionally, he served two terms as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) and two terms as President of the Patriot (New Jersey) Athletic Conference. More recently, he was elected a Vice Chair of the Williams College Alumni Fund and served on the Board of the Fitchburg Greenways Committee, the Nashua River Watershed Association, and the Midcoast Community Chorus.

Chris and Peggy have lived on Patten Point Road in Spruce Head since 1978, mostly in the summers until retirement, and have enjoyed the Jackson Memorial Library (JML) with their children and now grandchildren for over 40 years. He was elected to the JML Board of Directors in August, 2020, and appointed Vice President and Treasurer in 2023.

Elaine Wilson, Secretary

Elaine served as Vice President of the Rockland Midcoast Children’s Museum in 2008, which she helped form into the Coastal Children’s Museum in 2009. She served as President of the Board for the Coastal Children’s Museum from 2009 to 2018.

Elaine has a Bachelors in Science in Education K-8 from Cortland State Teacher`s College and enjoyed a long career in education, working as a third, fourth, and fifth grade teacher and student teacher trainer, among other positions. After earning a Master’s degree in Human Development and Counseling from University of Rhode Island, Elaine also began working as a Children and Family Therapist. She also studied Comparative Education abroad through Temple University.

Elaine joined the Board in 2023 and shortly thereafter was elected as Secretary. In her free time, she enjoys reading and sailing.

Board Members:

Courtney Farnum

Courtney Farnum grew up in Spruce Head and is a resident of St. George. She attended local schools and after graduating high school went on to attend the University of Maine at Augusta, where she studied Early Childhood Education with a minor in Literature.

She worked in early education settings for 12 years and then moved into management at a financial institution for 9 years.  For the last 5 years she has been a stay-at-home mom, raising her daughter.

The library has been an integral part of Courtney’s life since being at home, serving as a place of education and community inclusion for her and her family. She was elected to the JML Board of Directors in August of 2020.

Lynna Henderson

Lynna is a second-generation Southern Californian, transplanted to the East Coast since graduating from the University of California, Riverside, in 1974 with a B.A. in Theater (Acting). Her work history includes lifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons through high school; putting herself through college cataloging books at the university library; positions as a news person/commercial voice in Bangor and Portland; and over 20 years as a legal assistant, specializing in managing solo practices.  She retired in 2011 and moved with her husband to St. George. She has volunteered at Jackson Memorial Library since 2012, behind the desk and as a cataloger.

Lynna has been active in community theater starting at the age of 11, including with the Washington Street Players (WSP) in Holliston, Massachusetts. She spent 15 years on the Board of Directors of WSP, as Secretary for 10 years, then 5 years as President. She is now as an actor and director with Watts Hall Community Players in Thomaston.

Lynna has served on the JML Board of Directors since August, 2017, including terms as Vice President in 2018-19, Acting President in 2019-20, and President from 2020-2023.

Tracy Leavitt

Tracy moved to St. George with her husband in 2001. With a background in marketing and advertising, she worked for Camden National Corporation for 10 years until 2010, when she decided to focus on raising her two daughters and spend more time in the St. George school community, as a member of the Parent's Group and a substitute teacher. She was the JML Pre-K assistant teacher from 2013 until 2018. She currently works part-time at Maine Coast Petroleum and Leavitt Property Services & Consulting, a company she owns with her husband, Chris. 

Tracy enjoys reading, growing food for her family and spending time camping and fishing with her husband and two daughters, Audrey (16) and Hannah (13). She was elected to the JML Board of Directors in August, 2020.

Elizabeth May

Elizabeth May started and ran her own company, Mira, Inc, specializing in designing, fabrication and installation of organizational furniture. She has had a successful work career in art, design and fashion, and has travelled around the country training, speaking and inspiring groups. She now sits on the Budget Committee for St.George township. Throughout her life she has volunteered at local animal shelters, training and working with rescue animals, and has adopted appropriate animals. She has been trained as a First Responder for Animals in Knox County, Maine. Now, semi retired, she has the time and opportunity to start a foundation to further causes for caring for animals.