About Us

Don Lloyd, Pastor [email protected]

Hello 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 3^rd 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 [email protected]

Don Milholin, Director of Ministries [email protected]

Don Milholin is pleased to have joined Centenary UMC as Director of Ministries. His career in full-time ministry began in 1995 after having had a previous career as a singer and educator, singing more than 100 professional roles in opera and oratorio around the United States. Don’s desire in ministry and life is to help people understand the incredible love of their creator. He is passionate about creating community that is kind, caring and loving. He desires to help rethink church and make it more accessible to individuals that do not feel the church has anything to offer them or their families. While it can be argued that we may not need the church, we all do need what our creator has to offer. Don believes the more simply we live our lives the more obvious our need for our creator becomes or Living Simply - Simply Living. Don and his wife Kristy have four children, Aurora, 6, Ava, 8, Grayson, 13, and Nathan, 20. Born in Fairfield, Iowa, he received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Degrees from the University of Iowa and recently received certification in Non-profit Management from Duke University's continuing education program.

Juli Odell, Director of Youth and Children [email protected]

Julie 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 6 years and loves working for the kingdom of God. She has been married to her husband CJ for almost 6 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 [email protected]

Melissa Burris is a North Carolina native who grew up in Winston-Salem and attended UNC-Chapel Hill (graduating with degrees in music and economics) before moving around the state with BB&T and finally settling here in Greensboro in August of 1990 and marrying Lee Burris in 1991. For ten years she and her family were members of Christ United Methodist Church here in Greensboro where she was assistance worship leader for children’s worship as well as starting two adult Sunday School classes, one of which encouraged folks to bring their babies with them to class. Melissa is music director and conductor for the Triad Tapestry Children’s Chorus, a group with which she has worked since its inception in 1993 and is accompanist for the Greensboro Community Chorus. She recently played at Methodist University in recital with colleague Don Milholin, baritone.

She has served as organist and choir director at many churches and most recently was Director of Music at Faith Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, from 2000-2010. She became Music Director and organist at Centenary UMC in Greensboro in September, 2010. Melissa’s 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. Melissa’s 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 riding horses with her homeschooled daughter, Abby, or driving her sons, Alex and Jack, to their lacrosse games or golf practices, while Lee works at MidCarolina Bank and takes his turn cooking dinner! The Burris Family is delighted to be at Centenary UMC and looks forward to many years of growing together in God’s love.

Debbie Robinson, Weekday School Director [email protected]

Shirley Jones, Office Manager/Finance Director [email protected]

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 [email protected]

Polly Bowman, Membership Secretary [email protected]

Dennis Englishmen, custodian/grounds