2025 BoD – Roark-Conner Association

Debbie Shafer Johnson

President

Debbie Shafer Johnson

President

Debbie served as Vice President from 2023-2024 and Director from 2020- 2022. Debbie descends from Nell “Margaret” Roark (President 1987) and Lee Shafer, Mattie White and Franklin Roark, and Virginia A. Conner and William Marion Roark. She has worked for over 20 years as a Registrar at Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care in Bloomingdale, IL. Her husband Gary has assisted during reunions, and their daughter Jessica served as financial auditor in 2020, photographer in 2019, and co-presenter for family presentations in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Debbie and her family live in Carol Stream, Illinois.

Connie Roark Perrin

Treasurer

Connie Roark Perrin

Treasurer

Connie served as Secretary and Treasurer since 2021. Connie descends from David C. Roark (President 2001-2002), Coulter A. Roark, and Jefferson A. Roark. She was President in 2013 and 2014, served as Vice President in 2011 and 2012, and as a Director. Connie is an Accounting Manager for Benwood Philanthropic Foundation. Connie and her husband Steve have been instrumental in cleaning several local cemeteries and ancestor's markers over the past few years. Connie and Steve live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

David Johnston

Director 2025-2026

David Johnston

Director 2025-2026

David Johnston served as President from 2021 - 2022, and as Vice President in 2020.. His wife, Cassandra Moon Johnston, Newsletter Editor, descends from Eleanor Woodard and William M. Moon (Past President 1972 & 1988), Lilly V. Roark and Benjamin F. Moon, and Virginia A. Conner and William M. Roark. Dave served 20 years in the Air Force retiring in 1994, as a Major. From 2002-2011, he worked for ancestry.com and Pro-Genealogists. Dave and Sandy live in Herriman, Utah.

Lyman Roark

Director 2024-2025

Lyman Roark

Director 2024-2025

Lyman has served as R-CA Director since 2024. He descends from Dallas and Elaine Roark, and Mattie White & Franklin A. Roark, and Virginia A. Conner & William M. Roark. He lives in Carrollton, Texas.

Carlene Delashmitt

Registrar

Carlene Delashmitt

Registrar

Carlene Delashmitt was born and raised in Birchwood, Tennessee. Carlene's parents were Faye Cofer and Albert Dale Roark. Her paternal grandparents were Jessie and Richard Carl Roark, and her paternal great grandparents were Nancy Jane and Newton N. Roark. Victoria D. Conner and John Lewis Roark were her great great grandparents. Carlene has been active in the R-CA since 2002, when she attended her first reunion. She performed in variety shows in 2001-2002 with David Roark. In 2013-2014, Carlene served as Vice President. Carlene served as President from 2015-2016, and as past President 2017-2018.

Meet 2025 Officers and Directors

Click each photo for more details.

Gary Johnson

Secretary

Gary Johnson

Secretary

Gary began his term as Secretary in February 2025, but he has been assisting his wife Debbie for several years in a variety of ways during reunions. Debbie is currently President, and she descends from Nell “Margaret” Roark (President 1987) and Lee Shafer, Mattie White and Franklin Roark, and Virginia A. Conner and William Marion Roark. In addition, their daughter Jessica served as financial auditor in 2020, photographer in 2019, and co-presenter for family presentations in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Debbie and her family live in Carol Stream, Illinois.

Cassandra Johnston

Newsletter Editor, ExOfficio

Cassandra Johnston

Newsletter Editor, ExOfficio

Cassandra “Sandy” Johnson serves as the R-CA Newsletter Editor. Sandy descends from Eleanor Woodard and William M. Moon (Past President 1972 & 1988), Lilly V. Roark and Benjamin F. Moon, and Virginia A. Conner and William M. Roark. Sandy and her husband: Dave, who served as President in 2021-2022, live in Herriman, Utah.

Bill and Mary Hotze Witt

R-CA Book Sales, Honorary

Bill and Mary Hotze Witt

R-CA Book Sales, Honorary

Currently serving as R-CA Book Director, William “Bill” Witt served as President (2007-2008), Vice President (2005-2006), Treasurer (2013-2020), and Director (2021). He descends from Woodrow Witt and Betty Lou Haley, John Lyle Witt and Lela Ann Jennings, Martha Jane Conner and Silas Witt, and Maximilian Haney Conner and Martha Palmer. He spent his career at University of Kentucky as a faculty member in the Department of Plant Culture. His wife, Mary Hotze Witt, served as Registrar (2013-2020). Bill and Mary currently manage the inventorying and mailing of R-CA books and DVDs. They live in Lexington, Kentucky.

This Could Be You!

We are always looking for cousins to serve on the Board. Interested? Contact Debbie Johnson, President, for more information.

This Could Be You!

We are always looking for cousins to serve on the Board. Interested? Contact Debbie Johnson, President, for more information.

John Blankenship

Vice President

John Blankenship

Vice President

John currently serves as Vice President, and he served as Secretary from 2023-2024 and as Director prior to that. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, and raised in Humboldt, Tennessee, John's roots run deep in West Tennessee. He is descended through Joseph and Juda Roark's daughter, Margaret Jane Roark Swafford. Joseph and Juda are his 4th great grandparents. John spent 19 years working in radio, and in 2021, he became the Humboldt Public Library Director. He serves as the historian of the local history museum, and has served as President of the Humboldt Historical Society since 2011. He also belongs to a number of historical organizations. John is married to Kasey, and they have one son, Colton.

Johanna Eggers Roark

Past President & Social Media Dir.

Johanna Eggers Roark

Past President & Social Media Dir.

Johanna served as President 2023-2024, Vice President from 2021-2022 & Social Media Director (Ex-Officio) since 2020. She also assisted her husband Terry in 2019-2020, while he served as President. Terry descends from Christine and Madison Conner Roark (past President), Mattie White and Franklin Roark, and Virginia A. Conner and William Marion Roark. Johanna retired in 2011, after 32+ years with the federal government having worked in various positions in four different agencies in Atlanta and Washington, DC: Dept. of Homeland Security, Customs & Border Protection, General Services Administration, and USDA/ARS where she met Terry in 1986. Some of the positions Johanna held during her career include communications, speechwriting, strategic planning, and program management. Johanna and Terry, (President 1986, 2019 & 2020), have been married since 1988, and they live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Email:BoD@Roark-Conner.org

Jane Ann Morgan

Director 2022-2025

Jane Ann Morgan

Director 2022-2025

Jane Ann has served as Director since 2022, and she also served as Director from 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. Jane Ann descends from Edna Burke Roark and Ray Hallmark, John Burke Roark and Pearl Lee Cox, Thomas Asbury Roark and Mary Maude Priddy, and John Lewis “Jack” Roark and Victoria D. Conner. She was married for 49 years to Wayne Morgan, and was recently widowed. Jane Ann is a semi-retired RN. She is the mother of 2 children and grandmother to 7 grandchildren ranging from 12 to 20 years old. Jane Ann lives in Swartz Creek, Michigan.

John A. Roark

Director 2023-2025

John A. Roark

Director 2023-2025

Currently serving as R-CA Director, John descends from Anne & John A. Roark, and Mattie White & Franklin A. Roark, and Virginia A. Conner & William M. Roark. John retired in 2023 from from Murray State University where he was the Director of Sponsored Programs. He is enjoying spending more time with his wife Elizabeth. They live in Murray, Kentucky.

Jere Glover

Legal Advisor, ExOfficio

Jere Glover

Legal Advisor, ExOfficio

Jere has served as Legal Advisor (Ex-Officio) since 2009. He descends from Betty Shropshire and William Glover, Laura Roark and Joseph ‘Bos’ Shropshire, Sr., and Virginia A. Conner and William M. Roark. He served as Chief Counsel for Advocacy for the Small Business Administration for seven years and received a number of awards. He and his wife Doris live in Annapolis, Maryland.

Vote for Board of Directors

The complete proposed 2023 Board of Directors includes:

PRESIDENT - Johanna Roark, VICE PRESIDENT - Debbie Johnson, TREASURER/SECRETARY - Connie Perrin, DIRECTOR - Jane Ann Morgan, DIRECTOR - John Blankenship, PAST PRESIDENT - David Johnston, NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Cassandra Johnston, EXOFFICIO - LEGAL ADVISOR - Jere Glover, EXOFFICIO - SOCIAL MEDIA DIR. - Johanna Roark, and EXOFFICIO - BOOK SALES - Bill and Mary Hotze Witt

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Board of Directors 2020-2024

Board of Directors 2010-2019

Board of Directors 1994-2009

Would you like to serve on the Board?

We are looking to fill current and future vacancies. If you are interested in joining us on the R-CA Board, please send your name and email address to: BoD@Roark-Conner.org or call 202-669-1802. Thank you for your interest in the R-CA.