Reverend Tresco Shannon, Senior Pastor
I am very much looking forward to ministry with First United Methodist Church in Clover, SC. First UMC Clover has a wonderful history in the South Carolina Annual Conference, and I am sure that this tradition will continue for many years to come. What an incredible opportunity to serve a church with such an outstanding witness of Jesus Christ.
I would like to take this brief opportunity to share with you a little about myself and my family. I have two incredible children; my daughter Rachael, 36 (Ryan), my son Tresco Jr., 31 (Katie). I also have three grandchildren, a granddaughter Iris, 5 and two grandsons Henry, 21 months and Watson, 15 months.
I graduated from Duke Divinity School in 1990 and have served in the South Carolina Annual Conference since 1989. I have delivered papers and studies at several national sociological meetings and symposiums, including: The Emory University Sociological Symposium, and I addressed The National Council on Family Relations annual conference held in Atlanta. I have also published with St. John’s University Press Journal of Worship: “Ministry and Care for Person with Developmental Disabilities.” I have been recognized by “Outstanding Young Men of America.” I have also had the blessing of teaching sociology at the university level for several years. I enjoy all sports. Presently, my greatest hobby is to enjoy the outdoors life, especially camping and fishing, in the mountains of North Carolina.
With all of this said, I find it most important that I share with you my excitement in serving you, and with you, as your pastor. I look forward to exploring additional opportunities for sharing Jesus Christ with this world, our community, and in our church. I cannot be more excited to serve this truly great church, that I know First UMC Clover to be.
April Patek, Director of Christian Education/Youth
I am looking forward to working with all of you in Christian Education of all ages. I am from Illinois but have enjoyed the Southern Hospitality of Clover. I grew up in Metamora and Germantown Hills, small towns outside of the city of Peoria. I also spent much of my adulthood in the suburbs of Chicago as well as downstate in the capitol Springfield and Decatur, IL.
I have known I was called to be a teacher from a very young age. My first career was in music education with flute as my primary instrument. I received my Bachelor of Music Degree from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb and was certified K-12. I taught 13 years in the public school system in which I taught band, orchestra, choir, music and sponsored drama in three different school districts and have taught kindergarten through 12 grade.
While teaching music, I first started attending a United Methodist Church. Here I found my calling into ministry. On the encouragement of one of our deacons, I attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL and eventually graduated with a Masters in Christian Education in 2012. I also began the candidacy process and am now a commissioned deacon. A deacon exists with one foot in the church and one foot in the congregation which explains me well. I want to be a part of the community, love on families, and be in mission!
After I graduated from Garrett, I have served 4 churches in Illinois as Director of Family Ministries, Associate Pastor, and solo pastor. I have also served on the conference’s youth committee.
In my free time, I love spending time with animals, especially my three cats, BB, Shadow, and “Theo”philus. You may even see me out walking Theo. I love all kinds of games, board, card, puzzles, especially Spades, Euchre and Canasta. I also love to play trivia. I am excited to build relationships with the people of Clover, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, and finding and exploring ways to work together as the Body of Christ with all our unique God-given gifts and talents to serve God and be more like Jesus. This includes the children and youth who are not just the future of the Church but the church of today. Let us all do what God has commanded that we love God and love each other.
Reverend J. Richard Gibson, Pastor Emeritus
OT 1960, FE 1962, WI: 1958 SLP, RE 2001, SC: 1960 In School, W NC: 1961, NC: 1967, SC: 1962 Grace-North Augusta Min. Ed., W NC: 1966 FE, NC: 1967 FE, SC: 1980 Rock Hill-St. John’s Min. of Educ., 1990 Intentional Growth Center, 1993 Clover, Associate, 1997 First, Clover. Min. of Edu, 2001
Retired. jrgibson@umcsc.org
Shirley Davis, Administrative Assistant & Financial Secretary
I have lived in the Bethany Community of Clover all my life and am a lifelong member of Bethany ARP Church. My three sisters and I were raised in a loving Christian home. I have three children and six grandchildren. My husband, Bob Davis, is deceased. I love to read, listen to music and spend time with my family. I have been blessed by being a part of the staff of First UMC for almost 28 years.
Christine Payseur, Business/Technical Coordinator
I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. I married Chuck Payseur in Dec. 1992 and moved to Clover. I have two children Blake (24 years old) and Randi (20 years). Blake and his girlfriend Katie Hopper have two children Gunner Hopper (6 years old) and Madilyn Reese Payseur (9 months). Randi is attending Winthrop University, studying to me an Elementary Teacher. I love to read, watch NASCAR racing, going to the beach and spending time with family and friends. I have been a member of First UMC for 15 years.
Cathy Allen, BIG/Tweens Coordinator
Cheri King, Director of Music Ministries
Cheri received her B.S. In Music Education from Erskine College, and has studied voice for the past 10 years with professors from the University of Tennessee, Winthrop University, and Erskine College. While at Erskine she performed as both a soloist and a choir member of the Erskine Chamber Choir and toured Scotland and the East coast with the Erskine College Choraliers. Cheri has also performed in productions of “The Mikado”, “Suor Angelica”, “Celebrate Life”, and “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. In 1999, she performed in the opera “Aida” with the Knoxville Opera Company. Cheri has previously served as Music Director at Dacusville United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church of Clover. She has also served as a children’s choir director at several churches and has created and developed children’s music and drama productions for afterschool programs. Cheri has taught piano and voice for children and adults for the past 10 years. She and her husband served as full time missionaries from 1993-1997. During that time, she helped lead praise and worship music at conferences and events. Cheri is married to Jason and enjoys being a mom to two wonderful children.
Tracie Kite, Sexton
Hope Long, Nursery Care/Coordinator
Dr. Nannette Carnes, Organist
Nannette Carnes began piano lessons at the age of 5, and later began studying the organ. She held her first interim organ position at the age of 12. Her music education continued with Dr. Jess Casey and Dr. David Lowry at Winthrop College during her freshman year of high school. Nannette received a BA in Music and a BS in Education from Winthrop College. She continued studies in the education field at Cambridge College in Massachusetts, receiving a Master of Education and an Education Specialist degree. A doctorate in Instructional Leadership was completed at Argosy University. Nannette has held positions as organist, pianist, and interim music director for over 45 years. During this time, it was her privilege to serve as musician for the SC United Methodist Men’s Conference for several years, and as organist for the SC United Methodist Women’s Spiritual Retreat at Lake Junaluska in 2006.
Nannette retired from the Lancaster County School District, where she taught a variety of subjects for 28 years and was chosen as a STAR teacher by the Palmetto State Teachers Association. She spends her time studying piano and organ, loves the outdoors and animals, spends time with family and friends, and enjoys reading thrillers and non-fiction.