Meet Our Staff
The Nashville UMC staff is committed to welcoming you to our family of faith, helping you find your connection to ministry and worship, and supporting you in time of need . We have a dedicated, talented and caring staff to help you with your spiritual journey. Below is a list of our clergy, program directors and administrators. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Our staff can provide you with additional contacts among our many devoted volunteers. We look forward to hearing from you!
Pastor Ralph is a native of Willmington, NC. He attended East Carolina University and graduated in 1974 with a Batchelor of Music Education. Ralph met his wife Jeannie at the Wesley Foundation at ECU in 1976 and they were married in 1977. He taught music in the public schools before responding to the call of ministry. He attended Oral Roberts University, received a Masters of Divinity in 1980 and entered the NC Methodist Annual Conference the same year. Ralph has ministered in churches in the New Bern, Greenville, Fayetteville, Rockingham and Rocky Mount districts. He was appointed to NUMC in 2011. Ralph and Jeannie have two sons, Joshua (wife Linsday) and Phillip. Ralph is scriptually based in is preaching and brings interesting stories and examples to bring Biblical teaching into real life. Ralph and Jeannie come together in God’s love and ask you to join them in seeking His will for their walk and growth together at Nashville UMC. They pray that Christ might be at the center of every conversation and relationship to the glory of God. |
Luke Whitehead Luke is a product of Eastern North Carolina and proud to call “Down East” home. He grew up in Scotland Neck (where they park in the middle of the street) and graduated from Hobgood Academy in 2004. From there he would graduate from High Point University in 2008 with a B.A. in Organizational Communications and Leadership. After teaching at the high school level and visiting an orphanage in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia he felt “the tug” towards seminary. Luke is currently in his 3rd year at Campbell University Divinity School where he is working on his M.Div. in Christian Education. |
Joanna Hale Joanna brings a wide range of God given gifts and talents into the ministries of NUMC. She not only leads our Contemporary Worship team, Rockfish, but also directs our children's Christmas plays. |
Gary studied trumpet as a youth and joined the American Federation of Musicians at the age of 16 so he could be paid to play in swing bands and dance orchestras in the western half of Ohio. He also sang in these bands gaining experience as a vocalist. He directed the First Baptist Church of Sidney, Ohio for twenty years. During this time he went to the Ohio State University as a trumpet player but with a strong emphasis on vocal music receiving a Bachelor's degree in Music Education in 1991. Gary began teaching in the public school system and received a Master's degree in Music Education from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 2004. He taught two years in North Carolina before he began teaching in the Franklin County School system in Bunn, N.C. where he works at present. |
From an early age, Ellen’s musical abilities were nurtured in the small United Methodist church of her youth in eastern North Carolina. She started singing there as a young child and learned to play their old Conn organ while growing up. Upon moving to Nashville thirty-seven years ago, it was only natural that she began to sing in the Chancel Choir and to help with various children’s choirs over the years. A frequent substitute organist, this is her second time serving as organist. She understands that praise and worship of Him in all things come first and enjoys helping others to come into the presence of the Lord during times of worship. In her spare time, Ellen volunteers by sharing music with the Church’s Weekday School children, serving as the church’s membership secretary and volunteering in the church office. The church library, Stephens Ministry, Kairos and the Walk to Emmaus are other ministries in which she is involved. Ellen is a graduate of East Carolina University and a retired Social Work Supervisor from the Nash County Department of Social Services. She and her husband, Lynn are blessed by their four children, Brian and his wife, Tobey and Beth and her husband, Drew and four special grandchildren who keep them involved and on the go. They enjoy time on the road between Nashville, Pittsboro and Snow Hill watching them grow. |
Dot has been bookkeeper for NUMC since 2003. She brings a love of the Lord and also plays bass in our Contemporary Worship Team, Rockfish. |
Dana Nethercutt Dana joined the staff of NUMC in 2008. Prior to working at NUMC, she worked as a Software Engineer at Sprint and a Systems Analyst at RBC/Centura. After the birth of her third child, she became a full time mother. When her daughter enrolled in pre-school at NUMC, the administrative assistant position also became available. The Lord blessed Dana with this position and she enjoys working for the church where she also worships. |
Janet has been director of our preschool and Kidspace programs since 2005. She has worked with children for over 20 years in various positions, such as daycare teacher and assistant daycare director, substitute teacher, special needs class room teacher and one-on-one instruction, and long term PE substitute. She has also assisted students in remediation in math and language arts. She was a Montessori pre-school teacher for 2 years and has also coordinated and hosted summer camps in her home. Janet has attended workshops and seminars for recognizing and preventing child abuse and neglect, teaching children with oppositional defiant disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and Autism and Asberger syndrome. As well as training on Positive Behavior Management, Transition to Kindergarten and Effective Teacher Training. God has blessed the children's programs at NUMC under Janet's direction. There is often a waiting list for all classes. Janet insures that we have empowered Christian teachers to guide the children in a loving Christian atmosphere. |
Ann Kirkman
Ann Kirkman has been a part of NUMC since 1983. She has been involved in various ministries. Ann has been very involved as a volunteer and substitute teacher at our weekday school and Kidspace program. She became our nursery coordinator in 2010. She ensures that your children are in good hands in a safe and loving environment. |
Gerladine Patterson
Gerladine has been employed by our church since 1998. Geraldine began working and the nursery and now also works with the Kidspace programs. She brings since of security to our nursery in offering a consist ant friendly face for the toddlers and infants in our church. |
Ellen Ward 
