James Akerson

I attended OSU and graduated in forest management. My career included two years in the Peace Corps - Liberia (forestry), 18 years with the BIA at Warm Springs IR and Portland area offices, then 16 years with Shenandoah National Park. We live in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

For the last 11 years I've been the pastor of a small country church near Elkton, VA, Beldor Mennonite Church. I completed my DMin in 2018. My work as pastor and district overseer amount to about ¾-time, which feels about right for now.

Emily and I have been married 43 years. She continues her faculty position at James Madison University and clinical work as a nurse practitioner. Emily is active with me in church visitation and leading Bible studies. Our sons give us real joy as we see them exploring the world and making sense of life.

Emily and I would love to make contact with you by phone or together if you find yourself in Virginia. We head to Salem/Jefferson every couple years to visit my sister Janice Wells. I'd love to look you up if you'd contact us. Feel free to come out to Virginia as well. Blessings to you.

The teachers I remember best are Mr. Grobe (math; so cool with an MG and golf clubs), Miss Barquist (biology; who said she could ID our forgeries should we try it!), Mr. Johnson (band), and Mrs. Smith (French; who excused me from a second term because I wasn't making good enough headway!).

I attended Baker, McKinley, and Salem Heights elementaries, then Judson JH before going to South. After that sophomore year my family moved to Boise, ID for a year, and to Corvallis, OR my graduating year. Family fracturing was in those moves. Thankfully after two years of divorce, my parents were reconciled for the rest of their lives!

I loved playing trumpet in Judson marching band. From it, I was recruited into the Flamingoes Drum & Bugle Corps. I made so many friends there--from South and North HSs. There were bugle practices every week, first at a building in West Salem, then Elks Club downtown, and finally the Salem Armory and South Salem HS practice fields. We had competitions in Portland, Seattle, and drove up to Nanaimo, British Columbia for their Victoria Day parade.