Danny Dabbs, Sr. Pastor
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Danny is a native of Nettleton, Mississippi and found great joy in attending Shiloh United Methodist Church from an early age. After graduating from Nettleton High School, Itawamba Community College and Mississippi State University (B.S. & M.Ed.), Danny taught biology and coached various athletics in the Lee County, Mississippi Schools for eleven years. Sensing the call to ministry led to the achieving of a Master of Divinity Degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. For the past 25 years, Danny has served pastorates in northeast and northwest Mississippi. In 1995, Danny began to work in the Russia Initiative of the UM General Board of Global Ministries, visiting and leading mission teams to Russia over 20 times in an effort to promote, start, and support the formation of United Methodist Churches in the Volga and Black Soil UM Districts of Russia. Involvement in local and conference disaster response has been part of Danny’s desire to develop effective mission programs in the local church.
His wife, Sara, and he have three children, Neil, Dustin, and Lauren, and two grandchildren, Morgan and T. W.
Amy Daniels, Minister of Discipleship & Ministries
amy.daniels@hernandoumc.org
Amy Daniels, our Minister of Discipleship and Ministries, is from Tremont, MS. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Prior to seminary, Amy worked full-time on staff at Iuka UMC as children and youth director for 3 years. In 1995, she joined the staff at St. Luke UMC in Tupelo, MS as Program Director where her responsibilities included children, youth, and adult ministries. She worked for St. Luke for 3 ½ years before leaving to go to seminary. Since graduating from seminary in 2001, she has been appointed to HUMC as Minister of Discipleship and Ministries. Amy is married to life-long Hernando resident, Sonny Daniels.
Kristina Dorr, Director of Children’s Ministry
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Kris, our director of Children’s Ministry, is married to her husband Michael and has two children Andrew and Shelby. Kris is originally from Independence, MS and grew up in Independence United Methodist Church where she served in several volunteer positions that included Children’s Ministry, Communion Steward, member of the Administrative Council, and member of the PPRC. As a life-long Methodist, she feels blessed to be a part of this body of believers and be given the opportunity to work with such wonderful volunteers. Since becoming a part of the staff of HUMC, she has been inspired to grow the existing programs and introduce new ideas not only for the sake of her own children but for the members she is blessed to work with.
Carol Scott McGarrity, Evangelism & Assimilation
carol.mcgarrity@hernandoumc.org
Carol grew up at Hernando UMC while her mother, Daisy Louise Scott, was church organist for many years. She joined us from Christ UMC in Memphis in July 2005 where she served as Director of Evangelism Ministries. Carol has completed training as a Licensed Local Pastor and is participating in the United Methodist Course of Study. She is a Certified Lifestyle Counselor in the field of Stress Management and a member of The American Association of Christian Counselors. She leads Bible studies, women’s groups and retreats, and with her husband, Pat, loves working with young married couples. Evangelism is her passion – Carol truly believes God can miraculously change lives through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation – old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
Chris Camp, Youth Director
chris.camp@hernandoumc.org
Chris has been with HUMC since 2007 and has loved every minute of it. He worked for four years as a volunteer leader at Minor Memorial UMC, his home church, before graduating from Arkansas State University and making the move into full-time youth ministry. He has an undying passion to fulfill God’s calling and feels extremely blessed to have been led to this group.
Pat Alvarez, Ministry Secretary
hernumc@hernandoumc.org
pat.alvarez@hernandoumc.org
Pat Alvarez, our Ministry Secretary, was born in Anniston, AL. and moved to Memphis, TN at the age of three years old. She graduated from Central High School in Memphis, TN, attended the University of Memphis for one year, and worked for Binswanger Glass Company for 26 years. Pat’s hobbies include fishing, making jewelry, knitting, decorating, shopping, and working in her flower beds. She loves to travel, spend time with family, and listen to her husband’s band play on weekends.
Holly Beck, Director of Hand Bell Music
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Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Holly Beck credits her love of music to her parents and to the various cultures and experiences to which she was exposed. She has performed in school, the community, and church as a soloist and as part of choirs, hand bell choirs, ensembles, and worship teams. She attended Southwood Middle School, a school for the arts with an emphasis in voice, piano, and music theory.
In high school, Holly attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School where she was a member of the Tri-M Music Honors Society, the Concert Choir, Omega Singers (Show Choir), Girls Trio, and a singer for the Jazz Band. During this time she was also actively involved in the music program at her church, Old Cutler Presbyterian, where she was a member of the high school age choir, vocal ensemble, and hand bell choir.
After graduation, she attended Florida International University on a vocal music scholarship where she studied Opera. Holly later transferred to Lee College (now University) where she was a part of the Evangelistic Singers, Choral Union, and the Campus Choir. While in Campus Choir, she traveled extensively across the eastern half of the United States and even Jamaica. She also had the opportunity to record with Christian artists Ron Kenoly and Alvin Slaughter for the Trinity Broadcasting Network. She graduated from Lee in December of 1996 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.
After being hired by DeSoto County Schools in June of 1997, Holly spent four years teaching general music at Walls Elementary, five years teaching vocal music at Horn Lake Middle, and is finishing her fourth year as the Director of Choral Music at Horn Lake High School.
In 2008, Holly graduated with a Masters Degree in Music Education from the Florida State University. During her time at FSU she had the opportunity to study at the Tallahassee, Florida campus and the London, England campus with world-renowned conductors, composers, and music educators like Dr. Kevin Fenton, Dr. Judy Bowers, and Dr. Andre’ Thomas.
Hired in the fall of 2009 as the Director of Hand bell music, Holly is one of the newest staff members at Hernando United Methodist Church. She is enjoying the opportunity to bring her experience to the hand bell ministry.
Reese Norris, Director of Music
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A Mississippi native, J. Reese Norris is in his thirteenth year as director of choirs at Hernando Middle School and seventh year as director of music at the Hernando United Methodist Church. Under Reese’s direction, the Hernando Singers have performed in many esteemed concert venues throughout the United States, including a featured performance in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall in March of 2005. This March, Hernando Middle School’s advanced girls choir, Sa Belle Chanson, will perform at the 2010 ACDA Southern Division Convention.
J. Reese Norris received a BME from Delta State University and an MME from Florida State University. Reese has enjoyed the privilege of studying with Nancy Moore, Judy Bowers, Kevin Fenton and Andre Thomas. In 2005, Reese was named Delta State University’s Music Alumnus of the Year.
Reese has served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference and R & S Chair of the Mississippi chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. In that capacity, Reese coordinated state-wide choral festivals, all-state honor choirs, and state solo and ensemble festivals. Reese has been honored to serve as a guest clinician and adjudicator. In 2006, he completed his tenure as chair of the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Junior High Honor Choir in Charleston, WV. Reese and his bride Joelle reside in Senatobia, MS with their pet snake Zeus.