Mitchell Hedgepeth, Senior Minister
email: mitchell@fumcclinton.org
Mitchell Hedgepeth is a native of Laurel, MS. He is married to Catherine Bowlus Hedgepeth. The Hedgepeths have two children: Pamela Bliss and Will. Catherine and Mitchell enjoy travel, and have been on cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Will enjoys athletics and plays as many of them as he can at Madison Ridgeland Academy, where he is a Junior.
Mitchell is a graduate of Oak Grove Attendance Center in Hattiesburg, as well as the University of Southern Mississippi and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. He has served nine churches in various positions since 1981, most recently as Pastor of St Paul UMC in Ocean Springs, MS. Mitchell was recently appointed as Senior Pastor for FUMC Clinton, effective July 1, 2007.
Pastor Clint Ware
email: clint@fumcclinton.org
Clint is originally from Brandon, MS. He has been married to Cheri since 1995 and they have three children; Cara, Wesley, and Courtney. Clint is a graduate of Mississippi State and received his Masters in Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He began pastoral service in 2000 and was ordained in 2002.
“I love to help others come near to God. For I am convinced that that is what we are made for. “
Maggi Cowan, Program Director
email: maggi@fumcclinton.org
Stevie Jones, Director of Youth Ministry
email: stevie@fumcclinton.org
Stevie Jones was born in Greenville, MS, the middle of three children. He grew up in Clinton, graduating from Clinton High School in 2002. He will be continuing his education at MC starting in spring of 2008, majoring in Christian studies. He is married to the former Amy Loflin, whom he met at MC. Amy graduated from MC in May of 2008, and is currently attending medical school. Stevie enjoys making funny videos, and has a passion for ministering to youth.
Stevie began his career as an intern for FUMC from 2002-2004, working for the Youth program. He moved on to be the Youth and Children’s Minister at Forest UMC from 2005-2007. He started working at FUMC in August 2007.
Renee Neblett, Director of Family and Adult Ministries
email: renee@fumcclinton.org
Renee Neblett grew up in Jackson, MS. She is married to Rob Neblett and they have a daughter, Robin, and a son, Robsen.
She received a BA in Interior Design from the University of Mississippi, and then continued her education at the University of Southern Mississippi , earning an MS in Exercise Physiology. She worked as an Exercise Physiologist for 15 years at Baptist Healthplex, of which the last couple of years were exclusively with Outpatient Cardiac Rehab. She changed careers in November 2006 after becoming interested in teaching a class at FUMC, then accepted her current position.
Kathy Fisher, Director of Weekday Ministries
email: preschool@fumcclinton.org
A native of Enterprise , Mississippi , Kathy Fisher has lived in Clinton for the past 25 years. In 1976, she graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. That same year she wed Phil Fisher. After traveling the country with Phil’s duties in the United States Marine Corps, they moved back to the Jackson area in 1979.
Kathy and Phil have two children, Brian and Dana. Over the past 25 years, she has taught preschool, kindergarten and second grade at Morrison Heights , First Baptist Clinton, Hillcrest Christian School and Mt. Salus Christian School , where she was selected as teacher of the year in 1999. She is also a 2002 graduate of Leadership Clinton. Kathy joined the FUMC staff as Weekday Ministries Director in July 2007.
Tommy Steadman, Director of Music Ministries
email: tommy@fumcclinton.org
Tommy Steadman, born in Morton, MS, has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters of Music degree from Mississippi College. He is married to Angie Steadman and has two adult children, Tom and Jon. He enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.
He has served MS United Methodist churches in Forest, Brandon, McComb, Jackson, and Clinton during his 30-year career. Tommy heads a vibrant music ministry at FUMC which includes 12 choirs and groups. There are choirs for all ages, including singing choirs, handbell choirs, and orchestra.
Bill Burrow, Administrator
email: bill@fumcclinton.org
Bill Burrow and his wife, Amy Montgomery Burrow, were married while they were in college over 34 years ago. They have two sons; Pate Burrow and Andy Burrow. Andy is married to Hilary Hurley and their home is in Charleston, South Carolina. Bill and Amy have been members of First United Methodist church since September 1985. Bill enjoys people, loves to hunt and sometimes does a little fishing.
He received his accounting degree at Mississippi State University and worked with the State Auditor’s office and later with Hinds County in the Tax Collector’s Office. He retired after 25 years of service to the State of Mississippi. He joined the church staff in January of 2007.
Linda Pope, Administrative Secretary/Receptionist
email: linda@fumcclinton.org
Linda Pope was born in Jackson, Mississippi and has lived in Clinton since 1982. She has been married to Charles Pope since 1973. They have three children, Jeny (James) Wolford, Michael (Kelli) Pope, and Matthew Pope. Jeny, who is a stay at home mom, and her family live in Gulfport with one child, Jaron who was born in 1999. Michael and Kelli live in Clinton with one child, Lucy who was born in 2007. They are both assistant principals in the Clinton Public School System. Matthew lives in Jackson and is working full-time and attending college.
Linda worked for 32 years as an administrative secretary at Cardiovascular Surgical Clinic in Jackson and took the position of Administrative Secretary at FUMC in January 2007. Linda loves her job and her church family. Her hobbies are reading, cooking, sewing, star-gazing with Charles, and learning to crochet with the Prayer Shawl Ministry group here at FUMC.
Linda joined FUMC in February 1985. She is a member of The Beginnings Sunday School Class and serves as an FUMC Communion Steward.
Tom Edwards, Connection worship & praise team leader
email: tom@fumcclinton.org
Tom Edwards was born in Leland, Mississippi and graduated from Carroll Academy in Carrollton, Mississippi in 1996. He has been married to Jamie since 2000, and they have two children, Abbey and Molly, homeschooling them in Clinton. Their family likes to camp and visit family when they aren’t singing or playing. Jamie teaches piano lessons for children in their home.
Tom has been an itinerant worship leader for over 10 years, traveling throughout the country. Tom and his band have made three CDs. The latest one, ”Running and Chasing,” came out in 2011. ”As a worship leader, I long to bring people to a place where their hearts and minds connect with the gospel and then join together with their brothers and sisters in Christ celebrating our great God.”
Saul Burnett, Custodian
Saul Burnett, Jr was born and raised in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and has been in Clinton for the last 35 years. He and his wife of 48 years, Annie Louise, have six children, a whole host of grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Saul has been working at FUMC Clinton for 30 years. He also worked at University Medical Center for 30 years, until retiring in 1992. He is also a freelance handyman, doing all kinds of jobs when he isn’t working at the church.
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Dr Brenda Wilder, Pianist
Dr. Brenda Wilder is a Music Specialist, Piano Teacher, Church Pianist at FUMC, and Adjunct Music Faculty Member at Belhaven College. She holds degrees from Mississippi State University, MS University for Women, and the University of MS. Several of Dr. Wilder’s articles have been printed in national publications such as Pedalpoint and Church Musician Today, including an article about technology in her piano studio. She is listed in the 2000 Edition of Who’s Who of American Women and was a featured performer in Jackson, MS, for a National Steinway Tour in 2002. Dr. Wilder resides in Clinton, Mississippi, with her husband, Don. They have two children and eight wonderful grandchildren.
Dr. Wilder has served on faculty at Music Weeks in Glorieta, New Mexico, and Ridgecrest, North Carolina, for the Southern Baptist Convention and on faculty for the Mississippi Piano Camp at Hinds Community College. She has served as a National Piano Guild Adjudicator in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, and Connecticut, as well as adjudicator for numerous piano festivals.
Ginny Miller, Organist
Ginny Miller was born in Vicksburg , MS. She is married to Robert Miller, and they have two grown daughters, Vicky Sartin, and Elizabeth Van Egmond. She has three cats and likes to crochet, read, do sudoku puzzles, sew and travel.
Ginny has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi College, majoring in history, with a minor in music. She works at Foreman Perry Law firm as a paralegal. She has played the organ in many cities in Mississippi, and has been playing at FUMC for 28 years, since 1981.
Debby Conway, Coordinator of Communications & Media
email: debby@fumcclinton.org
Debby Conway was born in Germany to an officer in the US Army, and has since lived in 22 places, including Clinton during her senior year in high school. She married Jim Conway, and they did some wandering with his job-related duties before finally settling here in Clinton in 2000 to raise their four children.
Debby has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, in the field of Elementary Education. She has used this degree in a variety of career opportunities, few of them having anything to do with education. Her primary interest is computers and art, and she thanks God every day for a job that allows her to fulfill herself in that way in his service.
