Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother practicing hymns at the piano and letting me pick out melodies by ear. I was fortunate to have the consistent example of mature Christians to guide my spiritual development.

At age eleven, I made a profession of faith and was baptized. I sang in children’s and youth choirs, played handbells, and studied piano and organ.

My wife and I started dating when we were in church music activities together, and she has been a faithful soprano in every choir I have directed. We both value the church experiences we had as children and youth, and it is very important to us to provide a similar environment for our children. My diverse interests have taken me down many interesting paths in life, but God has patiently provided opportunities for me to serve in ministry. No matter what I did, I found myself drawn more and more to serving in the church. I once asked a wise pastor friend how the Lord calls one to ministry, and his reply was, “He is relentless.” Looking back, I realized that I had already been following the call one step at a time. Whenever I least expected it, God led me to new places of service with new challenges and opportunities for growth. I am excited to be the Minister of Music at First Baptist Jasper.

I was born in Washington DC and enjoyed a unique childhood growing up in six countries. I earned my bachelor in International Business and Foreign Languages and MA in Spanish from Mississippi State University where I taught Spanish labs as an undergraduate and lower level courses as a grad student.

I have since lived in four southern states and gained invaluable experience working first as an office administrator with a small, family-owned business and then with executive level management of a national company and teaching at The University of South Alabama. After the birth of my twins, I shifted career tracks and began teaching at a Christian college preparatory school in Mobile, Alabama. When we relocated to Georgia in 2001 I was a stay-at-home mom for ten years and occupied my time with my children, PTO, volunteer work, part-time computer work, and writing. In 2010 I began teaching all levels of Spanish at Wildwood Christian Academy in Marble Hill until the school’s closing in the fall of 2016. In 2016 I joined FBCJ as their Office Administrator.

In my free time I most enjoy reading, writing, and learning new skills. My motto is “Aun aprendo; siempre aprendo.” (“I am still learning; I am always learning.”) I have a wide range of interests, a keen curious nature, and I am always enjoying learning something new.