About Us

Rev. Dr. Bob Lee

Rev. Dr. Robert Lee (Bob) has served as Senior Pastor of HRBC since 2015. Bob was born at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where his father served in the U.S. Army. When Bob was an infant, he and his parents returned home to the Philadelphia, PA area. For a short while, Bob and his family lived outside of Atlanta, GA, but he spent most of his life in South Carolina. Bob graduated from Westside High School in Anderson and earned a B.A. in Political Science from Winthrop College (now University) in 1989, where he and Melanie were college sweethearts.

After college, Bob went to work as a Claims Adjuster for a large insurance company. He and Melanie were married in 1990 and settled in Orangeburg, SC where they joined First Baptist Church and continued in their respective careers. After sensing a call to pastoral ministry, Bob and Melanie left their jobs and sold their home. They moved to Richmond, VA, where Bob enrolled in seminary and Melanie would work in the printing and marketing industries.

In 1998, Bob earned a Master of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. That year, he was called as Senior Pastor of New Highland Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA, where he served over 16 years. Bob also earned a Doctor of Ministry from Union Presbyterian Seminary, graduating in 2011. His doctoral project was entitled, “Shepherding Congregations through Loss and Grief during Change and Transition.”

As a pastor, Bob’s leadership style blends the heart of a shepherd with the mindset of a pioneer. His personal mission statement is: 1) To be a faithful shepherd-leader (Psalm 78:72; 1 Peter 5:2-4); 2) To be effective and productive in ministry (2 Peter 1:5-8); and 3) To equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Locally, Bob is involved in both interfaith and ecumenical groups, and he serves at the local and state levels in Baptist life.

Bob and Melanie make their home in Midlothian, VA, and they have one daughter, Isabella. Melanie continues to work as a Marketing Consultant with a local agency. Bob is a runner and ran his first half-marathon in 2008. Bob is a regular listener of the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast. He also enjoys the outdoors and working in the yard. His favorite movie is the original “Back to the Future” and he enjoys Classic Rock music. Bob is a big fan of both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dukes of James Madison University. He enjoys spending quality time with Melanie and Isabella, especially trips to the beaches of both North and South Carolina.

Tanja Cottrell

Tanja’s journey at the CDC Preschool began in the fall of 2012. Having just moved to the area, she joined the preschool staff as a long-term substitute teacher, moving into a classroom the following year. Tanja has enjoyed teaching all the age levels in preschool and became Director in June 2014. In addition to my role as Director, she is a member at large of RECA, & VAEYCE, and just relinquished her post as co-president of PACED. All are organizations for professionals in Early Childhood Education. As a wife and mother of 7, yes 7 amazing children and 10 grandchildren, her life and work is a delight in the knowledge of loving and growing God’s children. She enjoys traveling just about anywhere, especially if visiting family.

As Director of the part-day preschool, Tanja strives to foster a strong foundation of learning in a faith based educational environment.

Bob Ford

Bob joined the HRBC staff as organist/music assistant in October, 2022. He is the accompanist for the community senior-adult choir, Ovation which presented its premiere concert on August 21, 2022. Having been warmly received and conferring with the personnel committee, it was decided that he would assume the position of organist/music assistant at HRBC. Bob is a retired United Methodist director of music ministries/ organist and a graduate of VCU. He received further training in the US Army and is a native of Goochland county. Hobbies include reading, walking and watching Turner classic movies.

Teresa Chiever

Teresa was born and raised in the Richmond area. A member of Weatherford Memorial Baptist Church and only child of Ruth and Maynard Guill, who became members of HRBC. She has been married to her husband, Rick for 18 years and has one son, Seth.

Teresa worked for the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia prior to moving to Southern California. While in CA, she worked for The Hertz Corporation as an Executive Assistant. She returned to the Richmond area in 2013 to be closer to her parents in their later years and worked for Sheehy Ford of Richmond. Teresa is delighted to be returning to Baptist work here at HRBC!

Rev. David Cameron

David Cameron served as Minister of Music and Worship for Chatham Heights Baptist Church, where he has served for over twenty-three years, and for First Baptist Church of Martinsville, where he served in a shared staff position with CHBC for three years. 

David believes that living out the Love of Christ together is both our greatest command and blessing and is confident that through God’s grace and power this will change our world.

David was raised by two loving parents in the small midwestern town of Fairfield Illinois, where he grew to know God and was baptized at FBC Fairfield.  Following high school graduation, he attended Southwest Baptist University, in Bolivar MO, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in church music.

After college graduation and a term spent as a summer missionary in Neosho MO, David entered Seminary at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY.  He earned a Masters of Church Music degree, with an emphasis in voice and church music drama. He studied voice with Dr. Rebecca Russell, church music drama with Dr. Mozelle Sherman, and conducting with Dr. John Dickson.  He was in the auditioned Seminary choir with both Dr. Milburn Price and Dr. John Dickson as director.

After Graduating Seminary David served for a little over a year as associate minister for Westside Baptist church in Corsicana Texas. David was ordained to ministry by Westside Baptist Church.

David accepted the call to minister with Chatham Heights Baptist Church of Martinsville in 2001, and from First Baptist of Martinsville in 2022.

While in Martinsville David has served on various committees of the Henry County Baptist Association and has been a member of the Virginia Baptist Male Chorale, Gaudete choir, Smith River Singers, and Still Water vocal ensemble.  He has also acted in four TheatreWorks productions.  TheatreWorks is a Martinsville community theater company.

While at Seminary, David managed to win the heart of Mary Helen Scott.  They have been happily married since 1997.  Mary Helen currently serves as Minister of Music at Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church of Bassett and as a reading paraprofessional at Drewry Mason Elementary School.   

David and Mary Helen take great joy in the children of their church families but have not been blessed with children of their own. They have one spoiled housecat named Mewsette.

In his free time David enjoys cooking, reading, woodworking, and traveling.

Emma Larkins

Emma Larkins grew up in Chesterfield, VA where she was poured into greatly at Swift Creek Baptist Church and grew in her faith and love of God. Years later spent her formative years in Springboro, OH, then her family moved once again to Chandler, AZ where she graduated from high school. Finally, landing back in Virginia, she went on to study at Liberty University to receive her Bachelor of Science and Business Administration with a Marketing specialization.

During her senior year at Liberty University Emma was offered an internship at Huguenot Road Baptist Church working in Family Ministries and Church Management. Emma gained a true sense of passion and hunger for serving and ministering to the next generation, understanding the importance of building a strong foundation of faith. She fell in love with working with the children and youth, building connections and relationships with them as time went on. Emma will be serving as Minister to Families and is greatly excited to be a vessel for the Lord in whatever way He will use her.

When not working, Emma loves to be around her friends and family, listening to country music, baking and cooking, as well as being outside in the Lord’s creation, hiking and exploring new places.