Lake Prince Woods has welcomed its new director of spiritual life, Gary Newsome.

Newsome grew up in Long Island, N.Y., and attended Holy Family Preparatory High School. He attended the University of Hawaii, where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. He then moved to San Diego and became a pharmaceutical specialist in oncology. It was during this time that he pursued the call of God on his life and became a deacon, elder and ordained associate pastor.

Newsome has received a master’s degree in pastoral studies and clinical pastoral education training at Bon Secours Maryview in Portsmouth. Newsome was a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator for seven years prior to coming to Lake Prince Woods.

“My hope is that I am able to make a difference in this community,” he said. “I love what I do and consider it a personal ministry. I believe that I have been placed here for a reason.”

He has been married for 35 years to Amanda and has one daughter and two grandchildren. He likes to read and go to the movies and out to dinner and enjoys basketball and football.