Senior Pastor Fred Durham

Fred’s appointment at First Church Garland began July 11, 2010. He is married to Teresa who is a former teacher with Dallas ISD and currently teaching in Tyler Street Christian Academy. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

Rev. Durham graduated from SMU and Perkins School of Theology in 1973 with a Master in Theology. He previously served as Assistant to the Bishop/Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Texas Conference and was the Sherman-McKinney District superintendent prior to that appointment. Rev. Durham’s appointments as a senior pastor have taken him throughout the North Texas Conference. As a pastor with deep roots in the conference, including growing up at Tyler Street UMC in historic Oak Cliff, Rev. Durham continues to forge strong bonds with local churches and communities. Throughout his 37-year ministry he has valued his connection with communities he served and is especially proud of having been elected as mayor of two of these, Trenton and Winnsboro.

E-mail: fdurham@fumcgarland.org

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Senior Associate Pastor Clay Womack’s

ministry spans more than 19 years over two appointments at First Church. His knowledge of Garland and the people is as extensive as his gentle and caring spirit. Clay’s call to ministry  grew out of being raised in the church as his father is also a United Methodist pastor. Clay is married to Gail who is a teacher in the Garland ISD and they have a son, Justin, who is a student at Texas A&M University majoring in meteorology, passing calculus, and singing in a popular choral group.

E-mail:  cwomack@fumcgarland.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor Caroline Noll, Minister to Families and Children

grew up in First Church, left for Texas A&M and returned as a seminary student.  Caroline is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church whose focus is on children and their families. She also provides oversight for our Day School and Mothers Day Out programs which are among the finest in Garland. Caroline is married to Patrick and they have a son, Bennett and a daughter, Margaret.

E-mail:  cnoll@fumcgarland.org

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor George Topper, Pastoral Care

This kind face belongs to long time pastor in the North Texas Conference, Reverend Georgy Topper. George has been our visiting pastor for more years than we can remember. After retirement and moving to the Garland area, George began serving the First Church congregation visiting those in hospitals, others who are in long term recovery,  or no longer able to come to church regularly.  In addition to these duties George teaches  the Wesley-Friendship Sunday morning class.

E-mail:  geogaytopper@verizon.net

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Randy Adair, Minister to Youth & Families

has more than 15 years experience in youth ministry and he is a PK (that’s preacher’s kid) with a great sense for the ministry and mission of the church, and a proven track record for relating youth to the church. In addition to serving small and large churches with dynamic growth of youth programs Randy has written and published youth ministry curriculum, directed planning teams for major national and regional Youth Conferences attended by over 1200 youth, written small group manuals for regional and local conferences attended by youth and adult leaders, and much more. Randy is married to Daphne and they have two teenagers: Tyler and Morgan.

E-mail:  radair@fumcgarland.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kitty Williams, Director of Music Ministry

has been at First Church for three years but her history her goes back  much farther. She grew up in First Church, graduated from South Garland, and her parents still sing in the choir she directs. Kitty has served in more than five United Methodist Churches as well as being an adjunct vocal music instructor at Texas A & M Commerce and the Greenville High School Choir.  She has performed as director, soloist, and chorus member in a variety of musical venues and has taken choirs on tour across the United States.  Kitty is married to Reverend Wally Williams, and they have three very talented children, Kenna who is an advertising executive in Austin, Ryan, who teaches in Boston, and Lindsey, who attends McMurry University in Abilene.

E-mail:  kwilliams@fumcgarland.org

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Betsy Henderson, Director Children’s Music

works with an excellent staff of volunteer professionals in choral music. Betsy recently retired from the Garland Public schools where she directed the arts program for the entire district. Betsy not only helps to shape our children’s love of song but is a source of inspiration to all those who work with her.  We are delighted to have this rare talent on our staff. Betsy is married to Jim who in retirement is also a choral director.

E-mail:  jimbets1@verizon.net

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Katrina Onstot, Day School Director

 

E-mail:  dsdirector@fumcgarland.org

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________

Connie Miller, Assistant Day School Director

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Lana Halbert, Nursery and Mother’s Day Out

supervises First Church’s excellent nursery staff as well as our Mother’s Day Out program. If you have small children, Lana will be one of the first staff you meet on Sunday morning. Lana is originally from Honolulu, she is married to Clayton and their children are:  Jason and Jared.

E-mail:  lhalbert@fumcgarland.org

______________________________________________________________________________

Shelton Weeks, Organist

accompanies the music program and plays the organ for worship on Sundays.  Music is an avocation for Shelton as he works for a national company in commercial real estate.  He has played for churches in several states as his professional life has called for him to move around the country. Shelton is married to Elsa and they have two teenage children.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Glenda Rhodes is our Administrative Assistant

who manages the office and designs in just about every area of communications including the worship bulletins, updating the web pages, media announcements, newsletter, and brochures. Glenda also coordinates the church calendar and use of the building for weddings, receptions, and meetings.  Glenda has three sons and five grandchildren, Charlie, Chris, Madyson, Jordan and Evie.   Her E-mail is  grhodes@fumcgarland.org.

E-mail:  grhodes@fumcgarland.org

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Programs Secretary Dianne Mood

is the voice you are most likely to hear when calling the church office. Dianne manages the endless number of records, lists, mailings and production of documents that are necessary for the church to stay informed. She is in the office on Monday morning and in the afternoon Tuesday through Friday. E-mail Dianne at dmood@fumcgarland.org. Dianne lives in Garland, she is married to Robert and they have a son, Robbie, who is in graduate school.

E-mail:  dmood@fumcgarland.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Manager Harriette Chavez

oversees banking procedures, paying bills, managing the contributions and giving statements, and producing reports for the Finance Committee. Harriette is married to Rev. Frank Chavez and they have four grown children: Diana, Brady, Kirk & Melissa.  She will be in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail Harriette at hchavez@fumcgarland.org

E-mail:  hchavez@fumcgarland.org

______________________________________________________________________

Church Office Volunteers–We are blessed to have a staff of five volunteers who answer the phone on various days of the week: Shirley Andreasen, Fay Danahy, Jane Grigsby and Julia McCormack, with Sarah McAuley coming in on Mondays and Wednesdays to proof the paper and bulletin.