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Staff

Reverend Ben Beasley

Ben Beasley was born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 21, 1964. He received his BA in English in 1997 from Georgia State University where he studied creative writing under former Poet Laureate of Georgia, David Bottoms.  His love of the Arts carried him to Savannah, Georgia where he received an MFA in photography from The Savannah College of Art and Design in 2001.

Feeling called to ministry, Ben received his Master of Divinity (M.Div) in 2010 from Columbia Theological Seminary.  While at Columbia, Ben did a yearlong pastoral internship at Ormewood Park Presbyterian church in East Atlanta, and completed his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) unit working with the homeless at Central Presbyterian Church’s Outreach and Advocacy Center in downtown Atlanta.

After graduation Ben served as the summer pastoral intern at First Presbyterian Church in St. Mary’s Georgia before being called to serve as the Pastor of Allenhurst Presbyterian Church in Allenhurst, Georgia. He was ordained on November 7, 2010 at his home church, First Presbyterian Church Savannah, and was installed as the Pastor of Allenhurst Presbyterian Church December 12, 2010.

Pianist Laura Martin

Laura is from Ludowici, GA. Her parents were Blakely and Francis Thornton, who were both educators. Laura is married to Fraser Martin, who is from Flemington, GA.

Laura is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, where she earned a B.S. in education, then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in administration and supervision from the University. She worked as an educator and administrator in the Liberty County School System for thirty years, retiring from education in 2000. 

Fraser and Laura are members of the Flemington Presbyterian Church. Laura considers Allenhurst Presbyterian her second home. Fraser and Laura never had children, but they raised many animals to whom they were very attached.

Laura has had 12 years of musical training, continues to teach piano, and has been a substitute pianist for Flemington Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church in Hinesville, and First Presbyterian Hinesville.  

Laura knew when Pastor Beasley asked her to take the musician job, that it would be a good fit. Laura knew how much she liked the Allenhurst congregation from her help with substituting on many occasions. Laura hopes that her health will allow her to play for many years to come!