Raised in Nashville, the daughter of Methodist clergy, I just kind of grew up in church.  Daddy, as an ordained elder, served the general church as Director of Children’s Ministries for the Board of Discipleship and Mama retired as an ordained deacon in Christian Education.  I married at 18 and worked to put my husband through engineering school.  Over time we started our family and I held part-time positions within the office of local church.  In 1996, I eventually had to stop telling God “no”…

So with my children, William and Lea, entering 2^nd Grade, I began my undergraduate studies, finishing in 3 years (summa cum laude); and entered Candler School of Theology at Emory University.  William and Lea are not twins; they are 20 months apart.  William is cognitively delayed and so he began school a year late.  Lea is the complete opposite and so she started school almost early.

William was diagnosed in October 2010 (a month before his 23^rd birthday) as Asperger’s disordered (on the Autism spectrum) and IQ of 70… it doesn’t mean he can’t learn; he just learns differently.  He graduated from Roane State Community College May 2011 with his Associate degree in Biology.  His passion is paleontology.  We made a trip last July to Montana to dig up dinosaurs – and we did!!!!  William has worked at Good Samaritan Society since they opened – first as their only dishwasher for five years, and now in housekeeping.  He loves being able to have a sense of purpose and contribution to his community.

Lea graduated 10^th in her class from high school and then from Auburn University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology/pre-vet.  She is passionate about elephants and particularly animal behavior and research.  She is a delight and joy to her brother and me!  She has within her a wonderful reservoir of humor and good sense that have helped her face all of life’s ups and downs.  She is an amazing young woman.  She and Sam have been married just over two years and live in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

I was appointed to Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church as Associate Pastor in 2002 just after graduating from seminary.  Fairfield Glade has a very special place in the hearts of my children and me.  It is the church where William and Lea were confirmed into full membership of The United Methodist Church, it is where they grew into their faith and were nurtured by a host of extra “grandparents,” it is where I found God’s unconditional love expressed by a congregation.  I served as associate pastor for twelve years, with three different senior pastors.  In 2014 I was appointed to Shelbyville First United Methodist Church.  It has been a good time learning and professional growth as I helped a congregation heal from years of pain and grief.  I am humbled and honored to serve as the senior pastor of this wonderful congregation.