Church Staff

John W. Cushwa, Interim Pastor   

John W. Cushwa was born and raised in Berkeley County, West Virginia. He grew up on a dairy farm west of Martinsburg which has been in the family since the 1830’s. After graduating from Shepherd College, he initially taught in Pendleton County, West Virginia. In August of 1970 he married his wife Jeanie, who is now retired from teaching.
In 1971 he returned to Berkeley County to become the band director at Hedgesville High School. After teaching for several years, John returned to manage the family farm and orchard. In 1982 he acquired the Martinsburg Printing Company, which he operated until 2002 when he entered Wesley Theological Seminary from which he graduated in May of 2005.
In March of 2006 he was called to the historic Falling Waters Presbyterian Church, where he served as pastor retiring in September of 2013. He is a Past Moderator of Shenandoah Presbytery and serves on several Presbytery Committees.
John and Jeanie are the parents of three sons and eleven grandchildren. John has been called back to Falling Waters as Stated Supply Pastor and is looking forward to working with the Session and Congregation and concentrating on church growth.

Gary Mullenax – Organist

Gary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance with an emphasis in Performance Pedagogy, as well as post-graduate work. He has served on the adjunct faculty of Shepherd University since 1998. Gary began his career as a church musician at the Upper Tract Presbyterian Church at the age of 11. From 1990 to 1998, he served as pianist/organist for St. James and St. George’s Episcopal Churches in Virginia. Gary served as music director at Burke Street Reformed UCC in Martinsburg from 2001-2016. He also serves as pianist for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Halfway, MD, as is a member of the American Guild of Organists.

Radonna Mullenax – Choir Director

Radonna has taught in  public schools  for 30 years, all but one of those years teaching music. She has taught all grade levels from Pre-K through high school, including high school choir. She currently is teaching General Music at Tuscarora Elementary (K-2) and Burke Street Elementary (K-3). Radonna has taught in Berkeley County schools from 1998 to the present. Prior to coming to Berkeley County, she taught on the Eastern Shore of Virgnia for 8 years, both General Music and choir. She also played the organ for two churches and was a choir director at Noami Makemie Presbyterian Church. Radonna was a member of the choir at Christ Reformed UCC in Martinsburg and has performed frequently as a soloist.

Fawn – Secretary

Fawn has considered her work as secretary of FWPC since 1985 as her “vocational calling.” It is her privilege and pleasure to serve in this capacity and it is her hope that she will always walk worthy of this calling.

Ruth Berg – Clerk of Session

Ruth Berg is a lifelong Presbyterian. She and her husband Bill joined with the Falling Waters congregation in 1984.  Ruth served as an elder at Falling Waters; when a six year term expired, Falling Waters needed someone to serve as the Clerk of Session.  She felt honored to be asked to serve and accepted. Ruth has also served on and chaired several committees of the Presbytery of Shenandoah.