Staff & Vestry
Rev. Suz Southern - Priest-in-Charge
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
Mother Suz is excited to be back on the Eastern Shore of Maryland after completing her Masters of Divinity at The School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
She was born and raised in Maryland on the Eastern Shore, specifically in the Salisbury area. She was baptized, confirmed, married, and ordained as a deacon all at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury.
For her undergraduate degree she attended UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County), graduating Cum Laude with two majors: Environmental Studies/Gender and Women’s Studies, and a minor in Music.
Her husband Dave (also an Eastern Shore native) is a professional woodworker by trade, owning his own business: David Southern Designs. See him for all of your custom furniture and historical wood restoration needs! Mother Suz and her husband have two “fur babies”: Hailey Grace Southern (Jack Russell Mix) and Brutus Blue Southern (Bluetick Coonhound).
Mtr Suz was ordained as a priest on June 24, 2023, and started serving as Assistant Priest at St. Paul’s shortly after. She is passionate about helping others find out what their call to ministry is.
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
Rev’d Dick Bunting was born and raised in the Selbyville, Delaware area. Graduated from Selbyville High School in June of 1963 receiving an Associate Degree in Applied Science, majoring in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Delaware in June 1965. Raised in The Methodist Church Tradition until meeting his wife to be Ellen Hudson, an Episcopalian, in Ocean City the Summer of 1965. In 1966 he was confirmed in the Episcopal Church at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City. Dick began his journey towards Ordination the fall of 2002. Prior to and after his Ordination as a Vocational Deacon on May 4, 2013, Dick followed his calling as a Hospital Chaplain, retiring from Atlantic General Hospital in March of 2015. In addition to his Diaconal Duties at St Paul’s is active in The Diocese of Easton currently serving as a member of the Commission on Ministry. Dick & Ellen have two grown children, Kathy Bunting-Howarth and Rick Bunting and four grand children.
Susan Wellman - Secretary/Treasurer
THE REV'D NORMAN R. (DICK) BUNTING, DEACON - Retired
Susan Wellman - Secretary/Treasurer
Susan was born in Berlin and graduated from Worcester Country School in 1984. She graduated from Salisbury University in 1988, majoring in Accounting. She has been the Secretary and treasurer of St. Paul's Episcopal Church since January 2002. She has been married to Wade since 1994 and they have twin daughters, Brooke & Brittany who are 5th generation members of St. Paul's. She has served on the Vestry and Finance Committee, taught Sunday School, and is currently the Treasurer of the Women of St. Paul's.
Patty Hammond - Vestry
Deb Ritz - Senior Warden
Deb Ritz - Senior Warden
My husband and I moved to Ocean City in 2002 from Lancaster, PA after purchasing a B&B in Downtown Ocean City. We moved our family here and lived at the B&B to operate and enjoy all that Ocean City has to offer. He passed away in 2007 from cancer and I sold the business shortly after. I then worked as a Client Service Manager for an Insurance Broker in Ocean City for 9 years.
I met Dave who became my best friend and eventually husband. When Dave became ill, I quit my insurance job to take care of him and help do administrative work for his business. During that time, I got my real estate license so we could form a team once he got back to health. I decided I like to be behind the scenes and would rather help him with the admin side of it and not sales. I recently began a new adventure as a part-time personal assistant and am extremely excited for this opportunity. I am a member of the Ocean City Lioness Club and a former board member of the Ocean City Downtown Association.
When we decided to go back to church, I was raised Catholic and Dave was Presbyterian, so Episcopal seemed like a great choice for us both. Someone I worked with recommended St. Paul’s and we gave it a try and fell in love with the congregation and Fr. Michael. We genuinely love our “church family” and as they say, “the rest is history”. If elected, I look forward to serving St. Paul’s as a member of the Vestry.
Dave and I live in West Ocean City with our two dogs, Molly and Leila. I have two children, both grown, a son Ian and a daughter Ally.
Deb Ritz - Senior Warden
Deb Ritz - Senior Warden
Deb Ritz - Senior Warden
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana September 1, 1957. Deb spent the first two years of her life in Bloomington, Indiana while her father earned his MBA from Indiana University. She grew up in Indianapolis and later Northeastern Ohio (in the Akron and Cleveland area). Her family church home was a Methodist Church in Indianapolis. She graduated from Revere High School in Bath, Ohio in 1975. Then, graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (marketing major) in 1979. She married Ron in 1979 and have two adult children, Alexandra and Nicholas. Their grandchildren, Matthew and Olivia, were both baptized at St. Paul’s. She attended Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio where she earned a Masters in Education, specializing in reading. Deb has taught in Medina, Ohio, Sussex County Delaware, Delmar and Snow Hill since her graduation in 1989. She had organized Meals on Wheels in Medina, Ohio, served on various parent support committees in their children’s schools, curriculum committees, was Snow Hill Middle School’s Teacher of the Year, have been the president, treasurer, vice president and representative in neighborhood’s homeowner’s association.
Deb has called St. Paul’s their church home for years, and were confirmed in the spring of 2012. We are dedicated to our children, our community and St. Paul’s. It is an honor to serve St. Paul’s.
