Staff and Clergy
All staff may be reached by calling (504) 947-2121
The Rev. Allison Reid, Rector
Mother Allison is a progressive, Anglo-Catholic priest with a sacramental focus and a heart for social justice ministry. She currently serves as Chair of the Commission on Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. Prior to her call at St. Anna's Mother Allison served as Canon for Congregational Development at EDOLA, as well as Priest in Charge at St. Mark's, Harvey, LA. Prior to her ordination in 2021 she spent over 20 years in non-profit leadership in the museum field, serving primarily at the New Orleans Museum of Art and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art.
Anita Johnson, Office Manager
Anita grew up in South Carolina and lived in various places along the Gulf Coast for the past 40 years, ending up in the New Orleans area in 2001. She lives with her long-term partner Walter and has one grown daughter, Jill, who lives in Idaho. Anita holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MBA from University of Louisiana Lafayette. Joining St. Anna’s staff in early 2011 as a bookkeeper and Anita is now Office Manager. Although she prefers to stay out of the spotlight and work “behind the scene”, she’s a member of the Mission Fundraising Committee, coordinates St. Anna’s section of Gulfcoast Bank’s Auctions in August, assists with GiveNOLA Day, and steps up to help wherever she’s needed (which sometimes feels like everywhere, haha).
The Rev. Deacon Leroy “Buck” Close, Deacon
Deacon Close comes to Saint Anna’s from Saint John’s in New Port, RI where he also serves. Deacon Close was the Chair of the Dodwell House Restoration Committee at St. Anna’s. Born in South Carolina, he graduated from Tulane University with a BA in Economics and Latin American Studies. He and his wife, Lucy, served with the Church World Service in Nicaragua and have also started a not-for-profit job creation agency, "1000JobsHaiti". The Closes live in Little Compton and New Orleans and have three grown children.
The Rev. Deacon Ben Nobles, Deacon
Ben has served people living HIV for 33 years in many capacities, on Community Planning Groups and including serving as a State wide board with State both Region 8 Health Department and Region 1. Joining St. Anna's in 2022, he now heads the outreached to the unhoused.
Anna’s Place NOLA
All Anna’s Place staff may be reached by calling (504) 947-2121
Darryl Durham, Founder, Arts & Community Engagement Coordinator
Darryl founded Anna’s Arts for Kids in 2010 (renamed Anna’s Place NOLA) as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty which affects many of the youth in the city of New Orleans. Currently the Program Director for Anna's Place NOLA, he is a professional musician and an educator with a Master of Music Degree from Boston University. It was while a student in Boston that Mr. Durham began utilizing the arts as a means of educating youth about African American history and culture. He has held the role of Program Director of “Project SEARCH” at The Boston Conservatory and Executive Director of the Harlem School of the Arts and has traveled the world as a professional clarinetist. Mr. Durham is a recipient of the 2012 Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana Angel Award for his work with Anna’s Place NOLA. He is also coordinator for the Down in Treme Concert Series, founder and Board Chair of the Tremé Artists Collective, and has served on the board of numerous community organizations.