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HIGHLAND VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
STAFF
STAFF
Rev. Wade Shownes
Senior Minister
WShownes@hvumc.org
Family: Married to Debbie Coleman Shownes since December 27, 1980.
Two Adult children:
Elise Williams - who lives in Cabot (she is the cirector of the Child Development Center at FUMC Cabot.
Patrick Shownes - who lives in Sherwood. (He works for the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church as the Communications Coordinator and Websmaster).
Two grandchildren: Sarah who is three, andScarlett, who was born May 26, 2011. (They live in Cabot with their Mom and Dad).
Education: BA History, Arkansas State University (Jonesboro), Master of Divinity, Memphis Theological Seminary.
Hobbies: Antique cars, genealogy, reading, acting in Little Theatre
Favorite Food: Barbecue (pork! You can't barbecue beef - it's just not barbecue!)
Favorite Restaurant: Murray's (family-owned steak house on Hwy 70)
Favorite Music: Anything by Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr or Neil Diamond and late 60's and 70's oldies
What I am reading right now: Upcountry by Nelson DeMille. I have about five authors I read all the time: Clive Cussler, John Grisham, James Patterson, Stuart Woods, and Patricia Cornwell. I have a new Cussler book waiting to be read after Upcountry.
Most people don't know... my dream job would be being a professional singer with a big band.
Senior Minister
WShownes@hvumc.org
Family: Married to Debbie Coleman Shownes since December 27, 1980.
Two Adult children:
Elise Williams - who lives in Cabot (she is the cirector of the Child Development Center at FUMC Cabot.
Patrick Shownes - who lives in Sherwood. (He works for the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church as the Communications Coordinator and Websmaster).
Two grandchildren: Sarah who is three, andScarlett, who was born May 26, 2011. (They live in Cabot with their Mom and Dad).
Education: BA History, Arkansas State University (Jonesboro), Master of Divinity, Memphis Theological Seminary.
Hobbies: Antique cars, genealogy, reading, acting in Little Theatre
Favorite Food: Barbecue (pork! You can't barbecue beef - it's just not barbecue!)
Favorite Restaurant: Murray's (family-owned steak house on Hwy 70)
Favorite Music: Anything by Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr or Neil Diamond and late 60's and 70's oldies
What I am reading right now: Upcountry by Nelson DeMille. I have about five authors I read all the time: Clive Cussler, John Grisham, James Patterson, Stuart Woods, and Patricia Cornwell. I have a new Cussler book waiting to be read after Upcountry.
Most people don't know... my dream job would be being a professional singer with a big band.
Rev. Brittany Richardson Watson
Associate Minister
BWatson@hvumc.org
Family: My husband’s name is Clark Watson and he is a medical resident in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. We have two dogs, Penny and Pearl. We both grew up in Little Rock and are pleased to be back in the same city as our parents.
Education: I grew up in Little Rock and attended Little Rock Central High School. I went to college in Lake Forest, Illinois at Lake Forest College. I graduated with a major in Psychology and a minor in both politics and classical studies. I stayed in the Chicagoland area for seminary. I attended Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, a United Methodist seminary on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. I graduated with a Masters in Divinity.
Hobbies: I have played tennis since my early days and was lucky enough to play on my college tennis team. I also love to read. I am currently trying to learn to play the piano, to speak Spanish, and to become a runner. So, I guess learning is a hobby for me as well.
Favorite Food: I love the stuffed artichokes at Capers. I love the burritos at Chipotle. I love the chocolate bars at Community Bakery.
Favorite Restaurant: Taziki’s Greek Fare
Favorite Music: I never grow tired of Queen.
What I am Reading Right Now: “The Prophetic Imagination” by Walter Brueggemann and “Jesus and the Disinherited” by Howard Thurman
Most people don’t know… that if I did not pursue my call into the ministry, I would have been an entomologist. I find bugs fascinating and I think I would have been good at finding and researching this part of God’s creation.
Betty Morgan
Director of Music Ministries/Organist
Betty@hvumc.org
Family: husband of 45 years, Jerry Morgan; Pet, Biscuit (West Highland White Terrier) 6 years old – cutest dog ever!
Education: Master of Music Degree in Piano Peformance, Southern Methodist Unviersity, Dallas, TX; Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Peformance, Hendrix College, Conway, AR
Hobbies: reading, playing piano/organ FOR FUN, not work!
Favorite Food: Tie between steak and ribs, both from the home grill
Favorite Restaurant: Red Lobster, Olive Garden
Favorite Movie: Titanic
What I am Reading Right Now: "Irresistible Forces" by Danielle Steele
Most people don't know... I started teaching piano and began playing the organ in church every Sunday at the age of 14.
Gwen Watkins
Director of Youth Ministries
Youth@hvumc.org
I went to Ouachita Baptist University where I majored in Business Administration with a minor in Sociology. I later went to UCA where I earned a degree in Accounting. I love to study people. I think I missed my calling by choosing the wrong major twice. God was patient and got me back on track. I am now happier and more fulfilled than I have ever been in my life! Working with the children and youth at Highland Valley has been a great blessing.
My husband John and I have two sons, Joshua 20 and Will 8. We have many cats as well as our Highland Valley rescue dog, Sugars.
I love to read books and magazines, work puzzles of all sorts and listen to contempory Christian music. I try to keep what goes into my brain as positive as I can. My favorite food is whatever someone else has prepared.
What most people don't know....I love to go treasure hunting with my Dad. We go to thrift stores and flea markets looking for items to add to our collections.
TAMMY J. FELDER
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
tammy@hvumc.org
Family: I have been married to my husband, Russ, for 10 years and we have two daughters; Autumn (6) and Charlotte (2). We have a black lab named Georgia. With both of us working full-time and raising the children, we stay pretty busy! In our free time we love to entertain friends at our home and go camping. We love to sing and play and be silly.
Education: I obtained a degree from Texas A&M University in Business Management in 1998. Continuing Education is very important to me so you'll often find me in meetings with other ministry leaders or in conferences and seminars. Striving to make our children's department the best!
I first came to Christ six years ago in this very church. I am so thrilled to be doing the Lord's work! If you would have told me ten years ago that I would be where I am now, I would have laughed out loud. I have come a long way in the short time I have known God, now I can't imagine going one day without Him. I was a volunteer in the children's department and a Sunday school teacher for several years before taking this role. I knew that my efforts were making a difference in the life of the church, but I kept feeling this persistent nagging. I needed to be doing more, but couldn't figure out how. After much soul searching and two cross-country moves, we are settled back here in Little Rock, and I am hard at work in the ministry! I work hard to be a humble servant and I am rewarded every time I am blessed to be among my students, witnessing their budding spiritual journeys.
SHARON BURRALL
Pianist/Accompanist
Julie
Administrative Assistant
Julie@hvumc.org
Milinda Brown
Sunday School Teacher/Childcare Attendant
Emily Bishop
Childcare Attendant
Jay Little
Custodian
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