Board of Directors & Management Staff

Shannon McAllister

Executive Director | SMcallister@john316center.org

Shannon McAllister began working for CARE/The John 3:16 Center in January 2005 as Assistant Director following her graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Wingate University. During the course of her studies, she realized what a tremendous impact students’ home lives have on their academic performance and felt the desire to serve families in need. She sees the ability to blend her Christian faith and service as a blessing. Shannon became Executive Director after Juli Jenkins, the founding director, retired in January 2010. Since that time, Shannon has been dedicated in her role, seeking to ensure organizational sustainability and provision of exceptional services for the community. She is passionate about creating opportunities and educational experiences for children to fulfill their potential, as well as educating the community about how positive, supportive relationships can help prevent and mitigate the effects of trauma, leading to increased resilience. In August of 2021, Shannon completed her master’s degree in public administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shannon oversees the Center’s daily operations, fundraising, programming, and community outreach opportunities. She and her husband, Jason McAllister, live in Roanoke Rapids.

Carolyn Ross-Holmes

Program Director | crossholmes@john316center.org

Carolyn Ross-Holmes serves as Program Director for CARE/The John 3:16 Center in Littleton, North Carolina. Recently recognized as one of the 2022 Emerging Afterschool Champions by the NC Center for Afterschool Programs. Her 30 years of experience in youth related service is channeled in programs to engage, educate, and encourage children and their families. Programs such as “Wired for Success” afterschool program and J316 Summer Camp experiences are loaded with fun activities and enrichment. Table Talk brings parents together for dinner and conversation to build stronger relationships within the group. Her experience in leadership covers a broad spectrum of roles from PTA to school board member and community activist in establishing the Ella Baker Educational Project of N.C. She shares her passion for exploring various cultures through the arts and cuisine wherever possible in programming. She is always seeking to understand technology and the value of its language in coding and encouraging civic engagement as an expectation of all. Establishing relationships and collaborating with various resources to provide experiences for the families served is a trademark of many of the programs she has developed. Her strong faith is the foundation of her fearless spirit.

Carolyn is devoted to her husband, Donald of 37 years, and their two amazing daughters Ashley and Erica that have extended her family to include two wonderful sons-in-law, Bruce, and Brandon and so far, one grandson, Jordan (aka the Prince) and grand-dog, Tyson! She and Donald reside on Lake Gaston.

Sara Little

Littleton Center Coordinator | slittle@john316center.org

Sara joined the team as Center Coordinator for Littleton location in 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and in 2015 graduated from Southeastern Seminary with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies. Through her many experiences of serving in her church with youth/children her passion has only grown deeper especially after returning from serving overseas on the mission field for 5 months. Sara’s role is to build relationships with the families and children that we serve through our Afterschool and Summer Camp programs along with other day to day activities in Littleton. Sara along with her husband David live in the Littleton area.

Holly Yandle

Roanoke Rapids Center Coordinator

Precious Peele

Program Assistant