President - Kathy Messer

Born in Galax, Virginia, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Kathy is most proud of her Southern heritage. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management School of Leadership and Instruction. Kathy moved to Delaware in 1969 and has had the privilege of teaching Elementary Education for Smyrna School District for 30 years. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Wilmington University for eight years. Additionally, she served on the Clayton Planning and Zoning Board for seven years. Served three terms on the Smyrna Opera House Board of Directors during the time of renovating and building the addition to the Opera House. Kathy’s hobbies are collecting antiques, gardening, & entertaining in their 18th-century home “Somerville”, which was built by Nicholas Ridgely, one of the ratifiers of the Constitution. She resides there with her husband of 36 years, Kenneth G. Messer, Jr. & dogs Copper, Daisy, and new Havanese puppies Biscuit & Gravy. She shares, “My goal is to bring the past knowledge and experience I have gained on previous Boards to our long-time dream of a Regional Library for our wonderful and deserving Smyrna- Clayton Communities.”

Vice President - Pat Musto

Pat is a native Delawarean and has spent most of her life in her hometown of Smyrna. After graduating from Smyrna High School she attended Delaware Beauty College and started her own business, Talk of the Town Hair Stylists in 1973. She has two children, Kevin and Amy, who also work in the Smyrna area. Amy is a Math Specialist at Clayton Elementary School and Kevin owns Atlantic Apothecary pharmacy in Smyrna.

Treasurer - Dana Wattay

Dana Wattay is a native of Delmarva and a resident of Smyrna. He graduated with honors from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Accounting and thereafter pursued his C.P.A. license. Dana currently owns his own Certified Public Accounting firm, Wattay Accounting and Financial Strategies, located in Smyrna, DE. He is a member of the Delaware Society of Public Accountants, as well as the AICPA. Dana currently serves on the board of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Smyrna-Clayton Rotary and the Dover chapter of BNI. Outside of his professional career, Dana has a great love of music and has played in the Praise Band and Asbury United Methodist Church for 12 years now. Dana and his wife Molly have 4 children, 3 in college, all of whom graduated from Smyrna High School, and the youngest at Smyrna Elementary School

SECRETARY - Regina Brown

Regina has resided in Smyrna since 1987 when she married the late Col. Kenneth P. Brown. She has 2 sons, 3 daughters, and 4 grandchildren. After graduating from St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington in 1959, she was employed by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. as a benefits analyst and an executive secretary. Upon her voluntary early retirement in 1992, she enrolled at Delaware State University where she graduated with honors in 1997 with a degree in accounting. She was recruited by J. P. Morgan Chase where she worked as a tax assistant, chargeback analyst, and in general ledger reconciliation. She once again retired in 2005.
Regina was Town of Smyrna Vice Mayor from 2012-16 and District 1 Councilwoman from 2010-16 when she chaired the following committees/commissions: Economic Development, Personnel, Design & Construction of Police Building, Charter Review, Ethics, Shade Tree, and Chief of Police Search. She was also a member of the Finance Committee and AFSCME & FOP Unions Negotiating Team as well as being Council Liaison to the Smyrna Public Library. Currently, she is District 1 representative on the Kent County Library Advisory Committee.
Regina is affiliated with the following organizations: Friends of Belmont Hall as co-founder and Vice President, Delaware State Association of Parliamentarians as Treasurer, National Garden Clubs, Inc., Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs as secretary to the Flower Show Judges Council, Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs as former Executive Director, Duck Creek Gardeners as co-founder and former president, and life member of Duck Creek Historical Society. Regina is a member of The Book Club in Smyrna; and she maintains a keen interest in antiques, especially those related to Delaware. She is looking forward to the day when the Duck Creek Regional Library is a reality in Downtown Smyrna.

Director - Marion Casella

Marion has lived in Delaware for five years after moving from New Jersey. She leaves behind in Jersey two sons and two granddaughters. Her husband’s business remains in New Jersey. She attended Bergen Community College, Montclair State College, and William Paterson College. She has worked as a Registered Nurse for almost thirty-five years. She became involved with the mission to build a new library when she met Ruth Ashby and worked in the Friends Bookstore in Dover. She loves reading and gardening.

Director - Marsha Cauthen

Marsha comes to us as a retiree with 33 years of corporate paralegal experience. She has served as Vice President of the Spring Meadow Community Association (SMCA) since 2022 and a board member since 2020. She was also part of the Delaware Community Fund Grants Committee from 2014-2018. With her extensive experience in a number of areas, we are excited to have her join the DCRL Board of Directors.

Director - Darlene Hitchens

Darlene Siler Hitchens was born and raised in Troy Alabama. She moved to Smyrna in 1981. Darlene is a Member of Powerhouse Ministries and an Ordained Deacon. Darlene volunteers with many charitable organizations.

Director - Rick Horsey

Rick Horsey grew up in Smyrna, Delaware, and attended Smyrna public schools. He graduated from Delaware Technical and Community College with an associate degree in Business Administration. Rick met his wife Sharon in college. They have two children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Rick and Sharon were married for 40 years. She passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2013.
Rick has worked at Parkview RV Center since 1973 and has been President since 1986. The company was founded in 1968 by Rick’s parents, Robert and Lucille Horsey. The company is a recognized leader in the RV industry. They sell and service recreational vehicles and employ about 40 people.
Rick was Past Chairman of the National RV Dealers Association and served 19 years on their Board of Directors. He was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame in 2005 for his volunteer work with the RV Learning Center. He was recognized in 2008 as one of the 100 most influential people in the RV industry in the past 50 years by RV Business magazine. He is a certified facilitator for the Covey Leadership Center teaching the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “Great Leaders, Great Teams, and Great Results.” He has facilitated strategic planning for the RV Dealers Association, Florida RV Trade Association, and Retail Dealers Exchange.
He regularly worships at Asbury UMC in Smyrna. He has chaired various administrative committees for the church and has taught small-group Bible Studies. He helped start the Smyrna & Clayton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and has chaired it since 2018.

Director - Joanne Masten

Joanne Masten was born and raised in Smyrna and graduated from John Bassett Moore High in 1966. She is married with one son, four grandchildren, three great-grandsons, and a pooch, Muffin. Joanne worked for 41 years for Hercules Incorporated in Wilmington, DE, and traveled extensively throughout the world as Manager of Customer Care. Joanne retired on September 30, 2010. Joanne’s hobbies include traveling and boating. She is active in the community, including serving as a Kent County Levy Court Commissioner for District 1 for a term of four years. Joanne also served two years as a Smyrna Town Councilperson and two terms as Mayor of the Town of Smyrna. Joanne is a charter member of Smyrna High School Alumni Assoc., Secretary of Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association and is a board member of Belmont Hall, Kent Economic Partnership, and Lillian Smith Senior Center, and a member of Duck Creek Historical Society.

Director - Charlotte Middleton

Charlotte was born in Philadelphia PA and graduated from Bok High School. In 1970 she graduated from Helen Fuld School of Nursing and also has an Associate degree from Camden County College where she was on the Dean’s List. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Thomas Edison University and a Master Degree in Community Health and Nursing Education from West Chester University. She has been employed as a Home Care Nurse Case Manager at Bayada Home Health Care Service and as a Nurse Manager at Regal Height Rehab & Long-Term Care. Charlotte is Board Certified as a Medical Surgical Nurse. She was also an adjunct Professor at Widener University School of Nursing. She has been honored by receiving recognition as Outstanding Clinical Excellence as a Nursing Student in PSY Nursing, an Unsung Hero Award by Kent County Republicans, a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Community Health Nurse, and a Certificate of Appreciation for Medical Surgical Nurse. Other appointments include Board Member of Smyrna Clayton Boys and Girls Club, Chairperson of District 28 Republican Committee and has been a candidate for School Board in Black Wood, New Jersey, Kent County Levy Court District 1 Commissioner, and DE District 28 House of Representatives. She is a Board Member of the Academy of Medical Nurses and serves as Treasurer. She is also Chairperson of the Slum Clearance and Redevelopment Committee for the Town of Smyrna. Charlotte is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing and the Delaware Board of Nursing.

Director - Beverly Ratty

We moved to Clayton in 2004 from Staten Island, NY, and love living in a small town. I am an avid reader and am looking forward to being part of our beautiful new library.

DIRECTOR - Jane Schneider

Jane is originally from Fairmount, West Virginia where she grew up with four brothers and four sisters. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1959 and moved to Washington, D.C. where she met her husband of 54 years, Roger. They have four children Roger, Sunday, Jeanette, and Sarah, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. They moved to Delaware in 1966 to be closer to her husband’s family. They lived in Claymont, DE for ten years and then moved to Smyrna in 1976. Jane has always been involved with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and their school activities. When her youngest grandson was in kindergarten she became involved with the foster grandparent program and for the past 15 years has been a foster grandmother to many children at North Elementary School. In 2008, she started working at the Smyrna Public Library. In 2013, she was chosen as the Delaware American Mother of Achievement. Everyone knows Jane as “me-mom,” a name given to her by a granddaughter. All the children call her by this name and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Jane is a cancer survivor and participates in the Relay for Life. She is also currently active with Asbury Methodist Church, and Blackbird Club and is a strong advocate and board member for the Friends of Duck Creek Regional Library.

Director - Nancy Swift

Nancy is a native of Delaware. She moved from Wilmington to Clayton 12 years ago to be near her daughter and grandchildren. She graduated from Goldey-Beacom with a business degree. She retired from Flight Safety International. Nancy has been a volunteer for many years. She volunteered at the Newark Senior Center, blood bank Bay Health and Read A Loud. Nancy enjoys reading and is fully committed to building a new library.

Director - Samuel Vodoor

My wife Chandra Vodoor and I moved from NJ in 2017 to Smyrna. We have two grown up boys.
I did my under graduate study in Engineering and Graduate Study in Business Management.
I first started as a Marine Engineer working on board the Cargo Ships, Cruise ships and Oil tankers. During my time as a Marine Engineer I realized I like working with people and not a solo like most Engineers do. So I switched my career path to management.
I worked in manufacturing sector for companies such as Intertape Polymer Group, Temple Inland, and International Paper. After Temple Inland and International Paper merged I left and started my own manufacturing company. After selling my business I joined Holland Manufacturing a NJ based company as the President and Chief Operating Officer. I retired as their Co-Chairman in 2020.
During my time with all the companies I enjoyed (at times it was tough, that is the reality) working with labor unions, customers like Amazon, 3M, and International companies. Dealing with Vendors was never easy either. Most importantly working with people, listening to their problems, solving them and making them happy was very fulfilling. I do miss that part even today.
I had been told many times through my career it is my uncanny laugh that made people at ease to work with me. Even today I work hard at it and that is who I am. I am the current HOA President for Village of Eastridge (Smyrna) Home Owners Association. I also served as part of the Board of Directors at Wisconsin Paper Group for two years.
I have developed (wrote the programs) Business Database Programs using Microsoft Platform and Oracle.
Playing Golf (not necessary I am good at it), watching Football, Golf, Tennis and Soccer. I am passionate about wood working and do my own wood projects.

Fundraising Consultant - Kay Wheatley

Kay Wheatley is a native Delawarean, having been born and raised in Rehoboth Beach. Kay is familiar with the fundraising business, as that has been the family business since 1954. She earned her business degree with a marketing concentration from Salisbury State University. Kay worked for the Outlets in Rehoboth Beach and was responsible for their property management, marketing, and leasing. For 10 years, she was part owner of a construction company, where she gained valuable knowledge of the construction industry. In 2011, Kay started her own fundraising and development consulting business, Giving in the Spirit. Over the years, Kay has been involved in many non-profits and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Rehoboth Beach District Library and is a director on the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Board. Because of work and life experiences, Kay brings a unique perspective to the table and loves working with non-profits in order to help them make their dreams become a reality, especially libraries. Kay is most proud of her daughter, Emily, and the woman she has become. Kay’s wish for Emily is that her life is as rewarding as Kay’s has been.

IN MEMORIAM: Mary Turner

November 22, 1948 - August 29, 2016

Mary M. Turner grew up in Smyrna. Every Tuesday and Friday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. would find her at the Smyrna Public Library pursuing her goal of “reading every book on the shelves.” Since leaving Smyrna, she has had a varied career including a Costume Designer of more than three hundred Equity and non-Equity productions for a variety of theatres and stars including Jose Ferrer and Melina Kanakaredes. She was also Associate Professor and Technical Design Coordinator for the Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts Department of Point Park University; President of the Faculty Senate; and the author of America’s Forgotten Leading Ladies (MacFarland) and a number of academic papers. After leaving academia, she was the first Executive Director of the Smyrna Opera House serving for the decade that spanned the grand re-opening to the celebration of the 10th season of entertainment in the historic structure. She was a past president of the Board of the DCRL&CC, a writer, and freelance grants consultant.