Staff
Ministers | Program | Music and Worship | Administration | Facilities
Ministers
Jim Whedbee, Senior Minister
Extension 120; jwhedbee@fountaincityumc.org
A native of Knoxville, Jim was appointed to our church in June, 2002. Immediately prior to this pastoral appointment, he served as District Superintendent of the Knoxville District of the United Methodist Church, 1998-2002. He was ordained elder in 1969, after having completed his seminary education at Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1969 and receiving his B. A. from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1966. (He distinguished himself only by graduating — no Sorority Sweetheart or Mr. TWC title or anything like that!).
Jim began considering ordained ministry as a child of five when his mother caught him preaching to the weeds in their backyard. He answered the call to ministry while a jr. in high school because of his love for the Lord and his desire to help people come to experience God’s love through Jesus Christ and then to share and live that love with others. Jim says, After 5-l/2 years, I continue to be excited about working with the staff and congregation of such a vital congregation as FCUMC.
Jim met his wife, Judy Cox, while a student at Tennessee Wesleyan College. She, too, is a native Knoxvillian. In fact, she was a member of this congregation until Jim took her away in 1971 to travel around the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church with him. Jim and Judy have two daughters. Mary Beth and Gabe Evans were married on July 12, 2008, and live in Cleveland, Tennessee. Amy and Jason Gattis live in Athens, Tennessee, and have given Jim and Judy their three grandchildren. They are Bradley, 9; Mary Haisten, 4; and Nick, 3. Pictures are available by insistence! Jim and Judy’s empty nest has been filled with two Maine Coon cats and an Indian Ringneck Parakeet. Jim is very humble about the fact that the other pastors are quite fearful of him around the Ping-Pong table. His skills, especially for one several years their senior, far outrank theirs.
Don Hanshew, Associate Minister
Extension 110; dhanshew@fountaincityumc.org
Reared in Pulaski, VA, Don graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1996 with a degree in Business and Religion. During college he began to discern a call in his life to full time ministry and accepted an offer to serve as a Youth and Program Director in a mid-sized church. Soon after he enrolled at Candler School of Theology where he graduated in 2002 with a Masters of Divinity with a specialization in Black Church Studies and Christian Education. In June of 2002 Don was appointed to Fountain City UMC, and in 2005 he was ordained an elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. Don currently serves the Holston Conference as the Peace with Justice Coordinator.
For Don, being on staff at FCUMC is fulfilling a vocational calling that far outweighs the challenge of working with a crazy ping-pong player named Jim and a great story-teller like Melissa. In spite of these interpersonal hurdles, together as a team they are excited and enthusiastic about serving the Lord in such a special place.
Don’s better half for over 10 years is named Carol, and they are the proud parents of two of the smartest, cutest, most loveable kids in the world (Thomas and Grace). As a family they enjoy spending time outside, playing games, and visiting family and friends.
Melissa Smith, Associate Minister
Extension 116; msmith@fountaincityumc.org
A native of Johnson City, Tennessee, Melissa made her way to Knoxville in 2001 after 10 brief years of living in Louisville, Kentucky. While living in Kentucky, it is widely known that she “bled orange” and was easily swayed to move back to “Big Orange Country.” Melissa has been in ministry at Fountain City UMC since 2001 in a couple of different ways. She first came as the youth minister in June of 2001 and she directed the youth ministry programs until January of 2006. After a brief sabbatical to add some more seminary classes to her experience, Melissa came back to FCUMC full-time in July of 2006 as an associate pastor. Her primary roles are providing missions experiences, offering leadership in the contemporary worship service, and building a ministry with young adults.
Melissa was appointed as a local pastor through the Holston Conference in June of 2004 and served in that capacity until June, 2008. At that time she became a provisional elder and is working on completing requirements for being a full-connection elder within the United Methodist Church. The most exciting part of her ministry at FCUMC is seeing how God is using the varied ministries of the church to allow people to connect with God and with this particular congregation of believers. She has a passion to make God very real to people so they can love him more and is excited about people loving and serving God together.
On any given day, you may find Melissa playing hide-and-go-seek with her cat Smokey, playing practical jokes on the other church staff members or just telling another one of her “hilarious” mission trip stories. Melissa is widely considered to be the best arm-chair sport critic in Knoxville and will readily give her opinion on the football Vols or the Lady Vols basketball team, especially when the opinion is not solicited. Unless she accepts the job as an analyst for ESPN or the Vol-Network, Melissa plans to continue to “make disciples of all nations” and help others find the joy in knowing and serving Christ.
Program Staff
Jennifer Smiddy, Director of Early Childhood Ministries
Extension 115; jsmiddy@fountaincityumc.org
“Everything I know about the Bible I learned from teaching children’s Sunday school.” That is the absolute truth. I grew up going to church every Sunday but learned very little about the Bible and we hardly ever talked about Jesus. I did know that God loved me and that He was always by my side and that I could talk to him anytime. My grandmother‘s faith was a tremendous witness. Thank goodness I had her example and the example of attending church every week. There are children who have never been to church and have no grandparent faith models as a foundation. My goal as a staff person in Children’s ministry at FCUMC is to make sure our children at FCUMC know God, call Jesus friend, feel empowered to serve in the name of Jesus, and have a church home where they are welcomed and loved by an intergenerational church family.
Did I attend seminary? No. I have an English degree from the University of Tennessee. I worked in the restaurant industry for ten years working as a server, corporate trainer, manager, and general manager. Following the birth of our oldest daughter I decided I wanted to stay home. Following the birth of our second daughter I realized that I wanted to work where my children attended school. Thus a second career of educating children began.
How did I get involved in children’s ministry? God called me. I began as a volunteer at FCUMC teaching the two-year-old Sunday school class. Then I became the interim children’s ministry director, returned to volunteering and then became the Children’s Ministry Director on a full time basis. After five years as the Children’s Ministry Director I left and became a volunteer again. When the part-time position of Director of Early Childhood Ministries opened up God called again. The rest is history.
I am a real life example, “living proof”, that you don’t have to know everything about the Bible in order to teach it. You don’t have to have had a “perfect” Christian journey to be “qualified” to serve the Lord. You just have to be in relationship with God so that when he calls you to do something you know him well enough to trust him and recognize his voice when he calls.
You may be asking, “where do I begin?” Come to church. We will help you get started. We have worship, study, fellowship and service opportunities for children, youth and adults of all ages.
I am married and live with my husband, Robert, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah Catherine, and two cats, Tom Kitty Smiddy and Tux. We live in Fountain City just around the corner from the church.
Susan Todd, Preschool Director
Extension 105; stodd@fountaincityumc.org
“After receiving my MS in English Education from the University of Tennessee, I taught English at Halls High School for 5 years. After our son Matthew was born in 1978, I stayed home with him and his sister Becky (born 1979). Both of our children attended FCUMC Preschool. I applied for the position of part-time director the year that Becky was in the four-year-old class and again the year she went to kindergarten; both times, someone else was hired. A month after the second application, I was called to see if I were still interested. Here I am, 24 years later! The two staffs I work with, both Preschool and Church, are family to me; I am truly blessed to work at FCUMC!”
I love working with both the Preschool staff and the church staff – this family laughs, cries and works with me and supports me in my spiritual journey. The children and their parents are my ministry as we work together to grow relationships and support families. Children are so honest and loving – there is always laughter in the Preschool hallway.
I have been married for 36 years to my best friend, Dick. Our daughter Becky and husband Michael live in Fountain City and have a 5-month-old son, Samuel. Our son Matthew and wife Valerie live in Moshi, Tanzania where Valerie is Director of Amani Centre for Street Children. Our dog Lucy, sometimes known as “Speedbump” because she loves lying in the middle of the traffic flow, provides lots of hugs and is always looking for treats to motivate her good behavior. I love quilting, reading and mission trips/retreats with our youth group.
Sherri Smith, Director of Children’s Ministries
Extension 117; ssmith@fountaincityumc.org
Sherri came on board the staff in the fall of 2007 as the interim director, and accepted the call to full-time ministry - she does a fantastic job! She loves to do craft projects, organize events, and has a gift when it comes to talking to children about Jesus.
Sherri is originally from south Alabama. She and her husband Mark have three wonderful girls - Gibson (a graduate of Elon University), Kate, and Mary Pruett.
Andrew Cooper, Director of Youth Ministries
Extension 107; acooper@fountaincityumc.org
Coop moved from Lexington, KY to join the staff of Fountain City in June of 2006. A native Kentuckian, Coop grew up in Lexington and attended the University of Kentucky. He considers himself a big Blue missionary in big orange country. He began working with teenagers as a college volunteer in his home church and joined the staff of Youth for Christ while still in college. Coop has served churches in Georgia, South Carolina and in Kentucky prior to Fountain City.
Coop’s favorite things about youth ministry are lock-ins and free pizza. Not really, actually his favorite part of youth ministry is seeing youth fall in love with Jesus then helping them grow in their faith and sharing God’s love with others. This could be the person sitting next to them in school or with a child in Nicaragua.
Coop lives in Maryville with his wife Amy. Amy is a Tennessee native and works for the Denso Corporation. And yes - it is a house divided. Although UT has gotten the best of UK recently, Amy has not rubbed it in.
LeRoy Hatcher, Director of Leisure Ministries
Extension 111; lhatcher@fountaincityumc.org
LeRoy and his wife Sandra joined FCUMC over thirty years ago. They have been active through worship, members of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School class, as youth workers and coordinators, as teachers, and as members of several committees. Leroy’s first staff position was that of Interim Youth Director, for a summer many years ago. The “Interim” became “Part Time” Director of Youth and Leisure Ministries, a position he kept until a full-time Director of Youth was hired. He continues to serve as Director of Leisure Ministries. His title is currently in the process of change to Director of Family and Life Ministries, a title more descriptive of the opportunities and ministry activities being offered through his ministry area.
In 2001, LeRoy retired after 38 years in public education. His experience includes teaching math, health, physical education, physics (one year), coaching baseball and football, and counseling (twenty-five years at Gresham Middle School). Some of his most gratifying time was in teaching adults, as they worked toward passing their GED. Through the combination of training, professional experience, life’s hard knocks, and church involvement, LeRoy has a very strong belief that family support and use of unscheduled time are critical to the success and happiness of any individual. It is this belief that drives him, as he works with other staff, church members, and persons in the community in offering ministry activities that provide personal spiritual growth, fellowship, and service opportunities.
LeRoy and Sandra have three grown children, nine grandchildren, and three grand-dogs. He is an avid fan of college sports, especially those of UT. His thumb is anything but green. The little boy in him comes out as he plays with the grand kids in the back yard. He enjoys ball games, live plays, soft rock, and singing in the shower.
Jean Payne, Director of Singles and Senior Ministries
jpayne@fountaincityumc.org
Jean is a native of Fountain City and a life-long member of FCUMC. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in secondary education and taught courses in United States Government and comparitive political systems in the local high school. After retirement, a second career followed when she was asked to initiate a six-month trial program for seniors at FCUMC. Now, some twenty-three years later . . . !
After thirty years of spending each day with 150 high schoolers, Jean enjoys being in ministry with the older friends in the church and community. With these groups, she serves as cook, program planner, trip coordinator, newsletter editor, cheerleader, nurturer, advocate and friend - all experiences she thoroughly enjoys.
Jean is married to a “Gene” whom she met in first grade at Fountain City Grammar School. They are parents to a four-legged challenge named Barkley. Travel has been a hobby, and for several summers, foreign travel with students occupied their time. Today Jean would like to take a trip that leads to nowhere in particular.
Patricia Paden, Director of The Net
Extension 119; ppaden@fountaincityumc.org
Patricia is a recent graduate of Berry College in Rome, GA. This past May, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. While at Berry, Patricia was very active in the on-campus ministry, the Wesley Foundation, as well as the student work program where she gained many new skills and learned some valuable lessons. Patricia has lived in Knoxville all her life and has been a member of Fountain City for about twelve years. In the summer of 2006, she also served as a youth ministry intern here at Fountain City UMC.
Now, as Director of the Net, Patricia is excited to see this after-school ministry continue to grow and flourish. She is excited to work with some awesome middle school students and with great volunteers that really make this ministry happen. Through the Net ministry, she hopes to impact the lives of the teenagers and is grateful to serve her community in this capacity. Thank you, Fountain City, for your support of this vital ministry that is sure to make a difference in these young people’s lives!
Music and Worship Staff
Andrew Duncan, Director of Music Ministries
Editor for “The Spirit” and Webmaster
Extension 108; aduncan@fountaincityumc.org
A native of Hendersonville, TN, Andrew came to Fountain City UMC from Cincinnati in August of 2003. He did his undergraduate work as a pianist at Middle Tennessee State University, and received a double Masters degree in piano performance and choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has been a church musician since age 15, when a small Methodist church down the road from his childhood home announced that they needed someone to play for their worship services.
Andrew loves working with the many different groups and ages that participate in the music ministry, and does a lot of composing and arranging for the various ensembles. Working with the youth in choir and handbells was (and is) a challenging experience, but one that he loves! The adult choir is a particularly rambunctious and talented group here, and they get rowdy if there are any foreign languages in the music!
Andrew has a wonderful wife named Rachel, as well as two energetic children (Natalie and Matthew) that like to push buttons and spread peanut-butter on electronic things. He is also a self-proclaimed geek and tinkerer, and has often taken mechanical things apart and not put them back together.
Mark Seals, Contemporary Worship Music Leader
Extension 118 (voice-mail only); mseals@fountaincityumc.org
I came to work at FCUMC in August of 2008 as the Contemporary Worship Music Leader. I was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and graduated from Oak Ridge High School. I joined the U.S. Army in April, 1989 and left in December 1991. My “Monday through Friday” job is at Clinton Housing Authority where I do maintenance for 150 apartments and homes.
On July 12, 2008 I married the most amazing woman that everyone knows as the Financial/Membership Secretary, but I know her as my wife, and my best friend, DeLisa (Dee Dee) Seals. I have two children and two beautiful grandchildren. Joshua, my son, has a little boy, Daniel; Elisabeth, my daughter, and her husband Luke, have a little girl, Caitlyn.
I come from a very musical family and started playing the drums when I was 9 years old. It was also around this time that I started playing in a small Baptist church with my family. I have always had my musical roots in some form of Christian music and it has always been my source of feeling grounded. During the 34 years of playing music, I learned how to play the piano, bass and guitar, but playing the drums has always been my first love.
I am very excited to be here at FCUMC, and I am looking forward to and will work very hard to see The Journey grow and reach out to those who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
Stephanie Wayland, Organist
swayland@fountaincityumc.org
Stephanie is a proud graduate of our own Central High School and returned to Fountain City after 25 years of living in Massachusetts. She began as a church musician at age 15, when a local church gave her the opportunity to play for early services and to do summer substituting. Sometimes sour notes were struck or the hymn was on the opposite page, but nevertheless the congregation set aside funds for her college tuition.
She did major studies at Indiana University in Organ and Music Education. Her post graduate work was at Harrt School of Music and Columbia University. After recently retiring from 32 years of teaching public school music, and 13 years as a member of the Knoxville Opera Company chorus, Stephanie is finding more time to spend with her supportive husband, Rick Miller, and their seven grandchildren.
Travel, gardening, and serving her 50th year as a church organist are delights. Being a part of the ministry of FCUMC is a blessing.
Leslie Graves, Pianist
lgraves@fountaincityumc.org
A native Knoxvillian, Leslie has been pianist at FCUMC since 2000, but has been a United Methodist her whole life. Growing up with a mother who was a choir director and a dad who led the bass section with a booming voice, she had no choice but to become a church musician. Leslie is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Lincoln Memorial University. She spends her weekdays teaching choral music at Gibbs High School, and her evenings being a mom to Todd and Claire. Her husband, Jeff, is also a United Methodist musician; he directs music at Clapp’s Chapel. Leslie’s favorite thing about playing piano at FCUMC is the great musicians and friends with whom she shares music every week. Well, that, and the way that Andrew keeps her sightreading skills up to par with special music surprises at the early service!
Church Administration
John Patterson, Church Administrator
Extension 109; jpatterson@fountaincityumc.org
“I am truly blessed to be the church administrator for Fountain City UMC. My previous 25 years of professional working career has prepared me for what I consider the perfect job. I was born and raised in Charleston, SC where I was the eldest of three children of a lower middle-class working family with traditional Southern Baptist beliefs. After graduating from high school, I left home to work toward a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University. While attending college, I was very active in Air Force ROTC leading to a commission as an Air Force Officer. While at my first duty station, I met the most beautiful woman in the world, Angela, who eventually became my wife. Angela had to wait for me to finish an overseas tour in Korea for us to get married 22 months after we met. That was over 23 years ago now.
Angela and I are blessed with three wonderful and talented children. John is 21 years old and a senior at Trevecca Nazarene University majoring in Church Music. (Watch out Andrew, he could be the next music director.) Nathan is 19 years old and a skilled musician and song-writer aspiring to be a worship leader and/or elementary school teacher. He is currently attending Walter State Community College. Our baby, Megan, who by the way is told that she looks like her mother’s younger sister, is 17 years old. She is a senior at Seymour High School and dual enrolled in Walter State Community College taking college-level Math & English. She is active in school leadership & the music program but wants to be an orthodontist when she “grows up.”
My hobbies include camping, hiking, working outdoors, handyman or DIY projects, and singing. Those of you who have been to my office know that I listen to music that ranges from jazz to contemporary alternative Christian music.
We live in Seymour and are actively involved in many areas of our home church, Seymour UMC. I have been the Lay Leader for the past 3 years and a member of the praise team for over 5 years. Angela and I have been active youth parents for the past 11 years and are expected to continue for a while longer as we train the new and upcoming youth parents. We are excited to be connected with such a family-oriented church and look forward to meeting everyone!”
Harriet Byrd, Church Secretary
Extension 102; hbyrd@fountaincityumc.org
A native of Fountain City, Harriet attended Fountain City Elementary School and Central High School. She joined the staff of Fountain City United Methodist Church as the receptionist in 1990, and is now the church secretary. She enjoys being able to provide support to the pastors, other staff members, and especially to the congregation. Being a part of the ministry at FCUMC is a blessing. The staff and church are like family to her.
Speaking of family — Harriet is married to Roger, who is the Fire Marshall for the City of Knoxville Fire Department. She and Roger spend most all of their spare time with their family, which includes four grown children, eleven grandchildren (so far), and one great-grandson. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment at their house.
DeLisa Huffaker Seals (Dee Dee), Financial/Membership Secretary
Extension 104; dseals@fountaincityumc.org
I came to work at FCUMC in March of 2004 as the receptionist. As a ‘81 CHS graduate, I already had the privilege of knowing many church members, but I enjoyed getting to know everyone and felt a church family welcome from the very beginning.
I married an amazing Christian man, Mark Seals, this summer. I have two fantastic sons, Adam and Luke, and can add to that family recipe a wonderful daughter-in-law Heather, and beautiful granddaughter, Kadance Grace. God has richly blessed my life.
As of August 07’, I became the Financial/Membership Secretary. I am learning a lot of new things and continue to enjoy working and serving the sweet family of FCUMC. This church has a great community relationship that I am proud to be a part of. The staff that I work with on a daily basis is one of the key elements in enjoying my work. It is a family unit that is supportive through good times and bad.
I very much enjoy the contemporary worship style and support the The Journey as it is getting started this year at FCUMC. Contemporary Christian music is among my favorites along with the 80’s genre and country music. I love to scrapbook photo albums of family and friends memories’ and plan on doing a lot more of that as time allows. My life’s philosophy is, Live Simply, Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Helen Jordan, Receptionist/Administrative Support
Extension 101; hjordan@fountaincityumc.org
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Helen came to FCUMC from First Baptist Church of Knoxville, where she served for 12 years as Finance/Administration Ministry Assistant. She also served several years at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and Immanuel Baptist Church in Knoxville as Pastor’s/Financial Administrative Assistant.
Helen approaches her job with a servant’s heart. She enjoys being able to provide support for pastoral staff and the church body, as well as meeting the challenges and opportunities for ministry that happen daily in a church office.
Helen has a wonderful husband, Bob, and together they have four children – Rob and his wife, Tammy, Jeremy, Jenny and Joshua. They also have one beautiful granddaughter, Sarah.
Facilities Support
Ralph Paden, Manager of Facilities
Extension 113; rpaden@fountaincityumc.org
Originally from Knoxville, Ralph Paden has been a member of FCUMC for over 12 years. He has an undergraduate degree in Personnel Management from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was a member of the UT Pride of the Southland Band for four years. Previously, he was in restaurant management and also worked for a law firm. He is very passionate about FCUMC and his church family.
Ralph is in charge of overseeing the maintainance of the FCUMC facility. His daily duties include making sure that the building spaces are available when requested and in good working order and also supervising housekeeping staff. Occasionally, there are days when this can be a difficult task. One of Ralph’s most memorable days at FCUMC was Easter Sunday, 2007, when there was a huge flood of water from the second floor raging in the early childhood ministry area of the church. Unfortunately, due to the flood, there were over 1,000 worshippers in the building without restroom facilities. From this experience, Ralph still does not like the sound of gushing water, except from a gentle mountain stream.
Ralph has an incredible wife, Tracey. They have been married for over twenty-six years. They have three children, Clint, Kathryn, and Patricia. Clint, a doctoral student at Emory University, lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Katie. Kathryn is a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee, where she now works in the Residential Life division. Her twin sister, Patricia is a graduate in Psychology from Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
Doug Shipman, Director of Food Services
Extension 114; dshipman@fountaincityumc.org
Bio information coming soon!
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Bernie Hanson, Maintenance
bhanson@fountaincityumc.org
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John Fine, Custodial/Security
jfine@fountaincityumc.org
John Fine has served on the custodial staff of FCUMC since 1991. He grew up in Fountain City and currently lives in Maryville with his wife, Jamie. They have three children Chelsea, Timmy and Zachary.
As a child, he attended Vestal UMC. John’s Christian walk began at the age of fourteen. He and his family currently attend Bright Hope Tabernacle.
John graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College with a degree in business administration. He also has a degree in paralegal studies from Knoxville Business College.
John considers employment at FCUMC as a blessing. He also regards the church members to be a loving and caring family. We are pleased that John serves Jesus with us at Fountain City United Methodist Church.