The Rev. W. Reginald Simmons

Rector

Fr. Reggie is a native of Mullins, South Carolina, a small tobacco town located on the banks of the Great Pee Dee River in Marion County, born the oldest of three sons to Warren and Fannie Simmons.

After graduating from Mullins High School in 1983, and The Citadel The Military College of South Carolina in 1987, Fr. Reggie was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor and Cavalry. Subsequent to his commissioning, he went onto serve our country as an Army Officer both in the Continental United States and abroad. After his time on active duty, he then transitioned into Healthcare Sales for the next ten years as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Medical Device Sales Representative and Territory Sales Manager for the likes of Eli Lilly and Company, Guidant Corporation and Bard Electrophysiology.

He entered seminary at The Divinity School at Duke University in August of 2006 and graduated in May of 2009 with a Master’s of Divinity and a Certificate in Anglican Studies. Similarly, he matriculated and graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Post Graduate Degree in Anglican Studies in May of 2010. Fr. Reggie, then, went onto serve the Church for five years as a Theologian-In-Residence for several parishes throughout the Southeast before being ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on May 30, 2015 and to the Priesthood on November 21, 2015.

After ordination, he was called to be the Curate at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, DC for a year of service. Further, after this year of service as a Curate, he was called to be the Assistant Rector at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Southport, NC on August 1, 2016. There, he largely served as Rector until August 1, 2017.

Fr. Reggie and Kim are the proud parents of Savannah and Winston.

He began his ministry at St. Aidan’s on August 1, 2017.

The Rev. Joshua D. Hilton, Curate

director of familY MINISTRIES

Fr. Josh is a native to Georgia, growing up in Cobb County. He grew up in a half-Hispanic household, his dad originally from Atlanta and his mother from Havana, Cuba. Fr. Josh spent his late teens and early twenties touring the country, playing bass in a band. He also spent 18 years working in the restaurant and hospitality industry prior to coming to St. Aidan’s. Raised in the Baptist Church, Fr. Josh became Episcopalian in college after seeking an expression of Christianity which upheld both Protestant and Catholic teachings. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, with a Minor in Non-Profit Management, in 2017 from Georgia State University. Fr. Josh then went on to complete a Master of Divinity in 2020, with a certificate in Episcopal Studies, from The Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Fr. Josh was ordained to the Priesthood June 24, 2023. He lives with his wife, Rachel, and son, Levi, in Atlanta.

Charles Higgs

Director of Music Ministries

Charles is a native of Clarksville, Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton. He holds a Master’s of Sacred Music from Mercer University in Macon, GA. He studied under Ken Cowan, Diane Meredith Belcher, and Robert Parris.

Upon graduation Charles was appointed Associate Organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where he served for nine years. Charles was St. Luke’s primary organist,  accompanying the chancel choir, directing the Junior Chorister Choir, and  collaborating on weekly liturgy with the music staff and clergy.  In addition, he planned and played at funerals, weddings, and organ demonstrations for groups touring St. Luke’s historic sanctuary. At present he maintains an active studio, teaching piano and organ to students of all ages.

Anita Hilbun

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION

Anita is from Alexandria, Virginia and holds a Bachelor of English from Georgetown University. She has spent most of her adult life in the Atlanta area, and she has raised two adult daughters and has a beautiful granddaughter. Anita spent most of her working life in the corporate world as VP of Customer Service with several Fortune 100 firms. She and her husband Andy moved back to Alpharetta in 2021, and immediately joined St. Aidan’s church family as congregation members. Anita is active in our choir, in the Folk Ensemble, and participates in many parish activities. She is a Hospice volunteer and is on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. Greater Atlanta. She is delighted to have stepped down from larger roles in the corporate world and to be in a role supporting our church and our Lord.

Tom Reynolds

Lay Worship Leader

Martha Wright

Postulant In Residence

Martha will serve St. Aidan’s till Spring of 2025. She will be preaching, teaching and will perform many of the duties of our Priests. We are so excited to welcome her!

She grew up in Auburn, Alabama. She graduated from Candler, and was ordained a United Methodist minister in 1983, and received an Episcopal appointment back in the AL-West FL annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served two years in the parish before returning to Atlanta and beginning the educational process of becoming an ACPE Certified Educator of clinical pastoral education. She presently works as an ACPE Certified Educator at Northeast Georgia Health System.

She helps train pastors, lay people, and religious leaders from other denominations and faiths to be better equipped to offer pastoral or spiritual care to people who are hurting. She has been an associate on staff and a Pastor-in-Charge, serving churches as small as ten active members and as large as 2,700 active members. She has served as chaplain and/or educator in level 1 trauma centers, retirement centers, children's hospitals, a rural county hospital and an inner-city ministry working with people who were unsheltered and marginalized. 

Her hobbies include making stained glass pieces, throwing pottery, painting, weightlifting, and swimming. Her greatest joy has been the honor and privilege of raising and being the mother of two wonderful boys. 

Julie Aleksandrowicz

Director, St. Aidan’s Preschool

Julie Aleksandrowicz is originally from the Chicago, Illinois  area. She has lived in Cumming since 1993. She and her husband, Steve, have 2 children, Heather & Stephen. Being the eldest of 8 children, Julie has spent her life around children. Before coming to St. Aidan’s in 2012, she was a preschool teacher and director for over 10 years. Her career has been dedicated to caring for and working with children.

Julie would love for you to come in and tour the school! Our preschool is a loving, warm and secure environment with dedicated teachers!