Mitchell Hedgepeth, Senior Minister
mitchell@fumcclinton.org
Mitchell Hedgepeth is a native of Laurel, MS. He is married to Catherine Bowlus Hedgepeth. The Hedgepeths have two children: Pamela (Barry) and Will. Catherine and Mitchell enjoy travel, and have been on numerous cruises. When Mitchell isn’t at the office, you will find him spoiling his granddaughter, Holly.
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 appointed as Senior Pastor for FUMC Clinton in 2007.
Pastor Clint Ware
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. “
David Greene, Staff Pastoral Counselor
& District Coordinator for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)
dgreene@mdrs.ms.gov
David is a Mississippi Methodist Conference appointed Licensed Local Pastor and Mississippi licensed professional counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor (LMFT). David received Masters Degrees in counseling from Florida State University and Mississippi College. He is also employed as a counselor by the Mississippi Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind. Church duties include counseling members on personal and family concern including help with physical disability issues, marriage and family and job search counseling. As District Coordinator for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, David works with all the Methodist congregations in the West Jackson District in development of cooperative local community and international mission efforts.
Mark McNair, Program Director and Director of Children’s and College Ministries
mark@fumcclinton.org
Mark grew up in Helena & Escatawpa MS. His wife Nancy, of Ocean Springs, MS also works at FUMC Clinton as the Mothers Morning Out Supervisor. They have three natural children; Matthew, Kristy, and Evan, as well as multiple spiritual children.
Mark is a graduate of Moss Point High School. He also is a former paramedic; trained at MS Gulf Coast Community College in Long Beach MS. He has a bachelors degree in general studies with emphasis in music and religion from William Carey University in Hattiesburg MS. His masters of divinity is from Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis TN. Mark has 20 years of ministry experience that includes lead pastor, youth pastor, and Wesley Foundation (College Ministry) director.
When Mark is away from the office, he enjoys carpentry, hunting, fishing, softball, basketball, and watching his children perform and play sports.
Vicki Rundlett, Administrator
vicki@fumcclinton.org
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Renee Neblett, Director of Family and Adult Ministries
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
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
tommy@fumcclinton.org
Tommy Steadman, a native of 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 they have two adult children, Tom and Jon, and one grandchild, Mary Scarlet. He loves playing tennis and basketball in his spare time.
He has served MS United Methodist churches in Forest, Brandon, McComb, Jackson, and Clinton during his 33-year career. Tommy heads a vibrant music ministry at FUMC which includes 10 choirs and groups. There are choirs for all ages, including singing choirs, handbell choirs, and orchestra.
Josh Gray, Director of Youth Ministries
josh@fumcclinton.org
Josh Gray is from Ocean Springs, MS, and is a graduate of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College with an Associate of Arts, Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Mass Media, and is currently in pursuit of a Masters of Divinity specializing in Discipleship at Asbury Theological Seminary (ExL). He is engaged and soon to be married to Kristen Valentine, a 2nd Grade School teacher at Steen’s Creek Elementary in Florence, MS. They met at Mississippi College. Josh enjoys sports, music, learning as much as possible, and playing golf.
Josh began his ministry in 2008 as a part of the Mississippi Annual Conference college ministries where he served as Student Liaison President for three years. He served as the Youth Director at First United Methodist Church, Canton, in 2010, and was appointed as the pastor of Singleton United Methodist Church in 2011. He may also be a familiar voice on Star 93.5, Jackson’s Christian Radio, where he has been a DJ since 2009. Josh began working at FUMC Clinton in June of 2012.
Linda Pope, Administrative Secretary/Receptionist
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. Charles is currently the pastor at Hermanville United Methodist Church. They have three children, Jenny (James) Wolford, Michael (Kelli) Pope, and Matthew Pope and are blessed with three grandchildren.
Linda took the position of Administrative Secretary at FUMC in January 2007 after working many years at a surgical clinic. She loves her job and her church family. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, sewing, and learning to crochet with the Prayer Shawl Ministry group here at FUMC.
Tom Edwards, Connection worship & praise team leader
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.”
Wendy Copeland, Coordinator of Communications & Media
wendy@fumcclinton.org
Wendy Copeland is a native of Moss Point and received her Bachelors and Masters from Mississippi College. In 2006, she was named to Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 and was awarded Mississippi Public Relations Association’s Practitioner of the Year. She has worked as a public relations director for state and non-profit sectors but finds church work most fulfilling.
She is married to Bob Copeland, a chef and caterer, and they have two beautiful blessings, Hardin and Sara-Anna.
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.
