Position
Minister to Children
Verse
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
-2 Corinthians 9:8
Info
Born: April 7 in Moss Point, MS
Married: July 23, 1977 to Gary
Children: Jonathan, Daniel, Millicent
Education: Bachelor of Science with a major Family and Consumer Science, double minor in Education and Marketing
Siblings: Ann
Hero: My grandmother, Clara Eley
Hobbies & activities: Church and family! I enjoy cooking when time allows. I enjoy reading spy thrillers and “who done its”.
Favorite movies: Sound of Music, Funny Girl
Favorite Starbucks drink: cafe carmel
Life Story
I was born and raised in Moss Point, MS, a small town on the coast of Mississippi.
I grew up in church, at First Baptist Church. I became a Christian when I was 8 years old, when a very wise Sunday School teacher sensed that of us girls were ready to make a decision and asked the pastor to talk us as a group. Bro. Van Hardin literally walked us through the baptistery, down to the communion table, explaining what all this was about. It was as though a light went on –” Oh, now I understand!”. Five little girls made professions of faith that day! Thank God for Mrs. Doris Bilbo and Van Hardin who valued us enough and had prayed for us enough to bring us to that point to respond to the Holy Spirit.
I attended USM after graduating from high school, planning on teaching. I married my high school sweetheart after graduating from USM. We both taught school for several years, then Gary decided to pursue a masters, then a Phd at Texas A&M. Following his graduate work there, we moved to Macomb, Illinois, where Gary taught at Western Illinois University.
We were then given opportunity to come home to Mississippi, and we jumped at the chance! By that time, two boys had been born, with our daughter born after our return to Mississippi.
Sensing a Call
God had lead to serve in all the churches where I have been a member. However, He began to open doors for me to actually be paid for my service when we moved to Hattiesburg! I first served as the part time weekday preschool director, but over time, God showed me that He wanted me to do more. It was in 2001 that I finally understood that God was calling me to minister to children.
Vision
My vision is for First Hattiesburg to be a place where children of all ages bring their parents to learn about Jesus and to be loved by His people.
