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Ministry StaffHello I am Don referred (I hope lovingly) to at Centenary as Pastor Don. I am truly honored and appreciative for the opportunity of beginning my 3rd year in ministry here at Centenary United Methodist Church. My call to servant leadership began at age 19 by an invitation of my mentor and friend Dr. JL Williams of the New Directions Inc out of Burlington NC. The New Directions partnership caused me to begin to think faith and relationship not simple on Sunday’s but instead everyday of my life. In the New Directions I was expected to have an ability to communicate my belief and that has become a life blessing, passion and opportunity within the United Methodist Church. I attended Elon College (now University) and Duke Divinity and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1979. I am married to a beautiful young blonde singer that I met in the New Directions by the name of Mollie; we have two great adult children Andrew and Katie they are married and have blessed us with wonderful grandchildren, Devin and Nathan (greatest kids on earth!) along with yours. Centenary has been our church home for two years beginning three and we hope God willing many more. I would invite you to join us here at Centenary on the corner of Elam and Friendly and the Intersection of Thee, you and me. ~~ Don Lloyd, Pastor Don Ellis, Pastor Emeritus Clarndon@triad.rr.com
Juli Odell, grew up in Danville, VA, where her family still lives. Juli grew up in the Methodist Church and attended Fairview UMC until going away to school in Virginia Beach. She graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach and majored in Religious Studies. She felt called to ministry at 14 and was encouraged by her youth pastor at the time to pursue this dream. Although she questioned it for a while God showed her He had plans for her and showed her His true calling. She has served in professional ministry for 7 years and loves working for the kingdom of God. She has been married to her husband CJ for almost 7 years (July.) Julie and CJ do not have any human children but do have 2 dog children, Mocha and Duncan.
Melissa Burris, Director of Music melissa@centenaryumcgreensboro.org Melissa Burris is a native Tarheel who grew up in Winston-Salem and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in 1987 with degrees in music and economics. After living briefly in Raleigh and Asheville , she came to Greensboro in 1990. She married Lee Burris in 1991 and was a Vice President with BB&T before leaving the banking world to start a family. For ten years, she and Lee were members of Christ United Methodist Church here in Greensboro, where Melissa was an assistant music leader for children’s worship and, along with Lee, helped to start two new adult Sunday School classes, one of which encouraged parents to bring their infants with them to class. Since 1993, Melissa has worked with the Triad Tapestry Children’s Chorus, an ecumenical chorus founded by the Piedmont Interfaith Council. Melissa is director of the children’s chorus and is also accompanist for the Greensboro Community Chorus, founded and conducted by colleague Don Milholin in 2010.
Melissa acted as interim organist and choir director at several local churches before taking a permanent position as Director of Music atFaith Presbyterian Church in Greensboro , where she served from 2000-2010. She became Director of Music at Centenary UMC in Greensboro in September, 2010. Her love of music goes back to when she began playing piano at the age of three and often sat beside her church organist as he played the postlude each Sunday. When not at work, she can usually be found with homeschooled daughter Abby, taking care of the family’s two horses, two dogs, cat, and three birds – unless she is driving sons Alex and Jack to golf practice or watching their lacrosse games. Husband Lee is a commercial lender for American National Bank (formerly MidCarolina Bank) on Green Valley Road , enjoys golf, tolerates all of the animals, and does his share of cooking dinner and cleaning the kitchen. The Burris Family is delighted to be at Centenary UMC and looks forward to many years of growing together and sharing God’s love. Debbie Robinson, Weekday School Director Weekdayschool@centenaryumcgreensboro.org Shirley Jones, Office Manager/Finance Director Shirley@centenaryumcgreensboro.org At this stage in my life, I find it hard to focus on what we call the “accomplishments” in our lives. They all seem so unimportant now. I know the only one that really matters is that at an early age, I accepted the Lord Jesus into my heart and have attempted to live my life so that others can see Jesus in me. I ask myself—Have I lived my life according his plan or mine? Have I made a difference in someone’s life? Will he say “Well done, my good and faithful servant? I am a native of Henderson, NC (not Hendersonville). As an accounting major from Vance Granville College and Certification in Governmental/Non-Profit Accounting from the UNC-Chapel Hill, I have pursued careers in this field in the corporate, retail, medical, federal and state government and 15 years in religious world. I came to Centenary from a Baptist Church (5,000 members) in West Monroe, La, as their Director of Finance. I have lived in Miami, Fl, Tulsa, OK, West Monroe, LA, and Greensboro. I have been married to my husband, Ron for 51 years. Ron recently retired after 47 years as a Tech Service Engineer from Saint Gobain Containers. We have 2 lovely daughters and 4 wonderful grandchildren. (Just ask me about them when you have several free days.) Ron and I are members of Cornerstone Baptist Church, where we serve as called. My passion is my family and my church. I love traveling, reading, eating, shopping and spending special time with family, friends and church. God is Good, All the Time. Donna Battaile, Office Secretary/Newsletter Editor Donna@centenaryumcgreensboro.org Polly Bowman, Membership Secretary Volunteer@centenaryumcgreensboro.org Dennis Englishmen, Custodian/Grounds |
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Juli Odell, Director of Youth & College Students