Our Key Personnel
Sherry Mansfield, Executive Director – Sherry became a volunteer and Board member in January 2015 and then Executive Director of the Shelter in May 2015. She is a Florida native, growing up in Mandarin and Orange Park. She has lived in the US Virgin Islands as well as England and is back home to Clay County. As an Elementary school teacher, Environmental Educator and wildlife rescuer for many years, Sherry strongly believes that “Pets Are for life… Not Just For Christmas” and that more education is needed in schools for children to learn how to be Stewards of the Animals and the Earth. When she isn’t working at the shelter, she can be found on the tennis court or gardening at home with her three kitties.
Board of Directors
Lee Oliver – Chair – Lee recently retired as a school Principal with the Clay County School District. She lives in Middleburg with her husband, Randy, and Doberman, Petra. They have two grown children, Chad, and Amber. At a very early age, Lee brought strays home and cared for them. Her love for animals continues. As a school principal, one of her favorite service projects was sponsoring a food drive for the Safe Animal Shelter in Middleburg. Lee graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Leadership.
Pete Wolf – Vice Chair – Pete Wolf is a 30-year Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, including 13 years of service in Jacksonville. Among the loves of his life is a hound dog named Lucy, acquired from Safe Animal Shelter, who hates cats, and yet has raised 2 abandoned kittens as if her own puppies.
Chris Sanders – Secretary
Robert Salay – Treasurer
Chris Scott – Chris has 40+ years Human Resources experience. Experience in employee hiring, employee mediation, employee benefits, compensation including employee life cycle. Includes Banking, Medical Management and a variety of client Human Resource Management. Chris and her husband Tim live in Middleburg with their 5 dogs, 4 rescues and 1 born at their home. The dogs have filled the void of their 2 sons as they started their families. Chris was the prior board chair.
Jim Kirkwood – Jim is the World’s greatest fighter pilot!!! Univ. of Pittsburgh 1965 BS Mathematics. Navy carrier pilot, and airline pilot. Proud owner of 6 rescue dogs. Bad golfer, but I try.
Lee DiGiovanni – Lee DiGiovanni has been a resident of Clay County for the past 20 years, relocating from Maryland with her husband and son. She was born in Pensacola, raised in Alabama, and graduated from the Uni. of Tennessee. She considers herself a true Southerner with a passion for volunteering. For the past 19 years she has worked as a substitute teacher in the Clay County school system. She has volunteered with her son’s many activities, various church activities(including vacation bible school, vestry duty, president of the women’s club), Hosanna House Teen Challenge, Neighborhood Watch and now Safe Animal Shelter. She has 4 cats, 2 whom were rescued as kittens and 1 adopted from the Safe shelter. Of course who owns who is debatable. She is looking forward to advancing the causes of the shelter and keeping the focus as always, on the animals.
Jack McEvoy – Became a Floridian in 2015 joining my Daughter and her family here in Jacksonville. Hail from the Northwest. Joined Air Force ROTC in College which turned into Flying USAF Transports around the world. All in all 40 yrs as a Pilot retiring as an Airline Captain. Have had a love for animals since childhood. Currently have 6 kitties guarding my back yard. Here in Jacksonville I have been involved with Feral Cats working on a TNR (Trap Neuter Return) team in Clay County. I have been very impressed with the good work being done at Safe Animal Shelter and want to be a part of making these animals lives full of love and happiness (Tail wagging).
Vickie Lurie – Vickie Lurie is a National Board Certified Counselor with 30 years of counseling experience. She is currently employed with the Clay County School Board. She earned a B.S. and an M.S. in Education as well as a Masters in Community Counseling. She has been a lifelong advocate for animals, rescuing numerous dogs and cats over the years. She currently live on Fleming Island with her dog, Tinka and her cat, Rusty.
Della Stout – Della was born in Baton Rouge, LA and has been an animal lover all her life. She has cats, a dog, a miniature horse and a Quarter Horse presently. She especially enjoys raising baby kittens for the Shelter. She has been a Realtor since 1984. She is with EXIT Real Estate Gallery, and donates 20% of her commissions to Safe Animal Shelter if the customer says they are for Safe Animal Shelter, too.
Nancy Moss
Amanda Stokes
Steve Conrad