Steve West - Senior Pastor
Steve West is a husband, father, minister, musician, and writer who has served as our senior pastor since July of 2020. He became a follower of Christ at age ten at nearby Camp Lee. He was deeply shaped by his experiences in youth group, the Grissom High School band, and retreats at Sumatanga. He studied sociology and music at Birmingham-Southern College, graduating manga cum laude, and graduated cum laude with a Master of Divinity from Emory University. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Sewanee in 2020.
Steve and his best friend, Sandy, met in seminary and have been married since 1988. Sandy grew up in Louisiana, while Steve is from a pastor’s family in North Alabama. He comes from a long line of Methodist ministers, including an early settler and preacher in Alexandria buried in the Old Methodist Graveyard. Steve and Sandy have two grown children, Deborah and Quinn, who live in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Before coming to Jacksonville First UMC, Steve served as pastor of Fyffe UMC, associate pastor of Vestavia Hills UMC, founding pastor of Morningstar UMC in Chelsea, and senior pastor of Grace UMC in Huntsville, Saint Mark UMC in Birmingham, and Arab First UMC.
While he loves preaching and pastoring, music is his way of “praying twice.” In Jacksonville, he is a member of the JSU Civic Chorale and the JSU Trombone Choir. He is a vocalist, pianist, and trombonist who has been a choir director and a baritone soloist in major choral works, led worship at the piano for clergy retreats, Annual Conferences, SoulFeast, and Academies for Spiritual Formation, and played in community band and pit orchestra for local musical theater. He was the producer and primary musician of a CD called “Living Stones” and the “Songs for Morning Prayer” CD for the Academy for Spiritual Formation. He has a number of devotional articles published in Upper Room resources and columns published in local papers. His blog, “Musings of a Musical Preacher,” can be found here. His book, Something Happens Here, can be found here.
Sandy and Steve enjoy family, genealogy, walking around the neighborhood, having the “grand puppies” for a visit, and camping in their teardrop camper. Steve also enjoys mountain biking and coin collecting.
Did you know ...
Steve has a strange fetish for Star Trek. He has seen every episode of every incarnation. And yes, he owns a uniform.
To talk about spirituality, music, Star Trek, or ministry matters at JFUMC, call the church at (256) 435-6021 or email Pastor Steve.
Connie Thompson
Program Coordinator
Connie joined Jacksonville First UMC in January of 1991. She is married to Evin Thompson, an active volunteer in our congregation. She is retired from Jacksonville State University, where she had numerous positions such as Assistant Director of Development, Alumni Director, and Assistant Director of JSU-Gadsden. Naturally, she is a huge fan of JSU.
Connie grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and has one daughter, Katie Stotts. Her mother is one of the oldest living members of Jax FUMC. She sings in the Chancel Choir, plays in the Handbell Choir, and assists with the children’s Christmas program every year. She serves on the planning committee for our local Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Her half-time position on the church ministry staff involves regular support of our part-time staff in hands-on ministry with children and youth, as well as assisting the pastor with administrative tasks and adult studies. She also works with visitor follow-up and new member involvement and directs funerals.
Did you know …
Connie loves sports (especially JSU sports). She also enjoys working in the yard pulling weeds and planting flowers.
She donated a kidney once.
People remember her as a local television personality! She was on a show called Alabama Traveler and also co-hosted an early morning show called “Wake Up Alabama.” Both of these were on our local station, TV24.
To talk about organ donation, how to maintain a “beautification award” quality yard, caring for the elderly, or ministries you’d like to get involved in as a new member of Jacksonville First UMC, call the church at church at (256) 435-6021 or email Connie.
Russ Waits - Music Director
Russ is married to Shannon Goforth Waits and lives in Jacksonville. They are blessed with two children, Austin (26) and Sara Margaret (18) as well as their sweet pup, Tipper!
Russ has over 30 years of experience in music ministry and is grateful to have served the congregations of Gadsden First UMC, First UMC in Attalla, and Ohatchee UMC before coming to be part of the ministry of Jacksonville First UMC in 2018 part-time. At Jacksonville First UMC, he directs our wonderful Chancel Choir that leads worship for the 9:00 am traditional service and conducts our excellent Fay Ann Handbell Choir that enhances our worship often.
Russ is a full-time educator and proudly serves as the principal of Jacksonville High School. He has over 30 years of experience in education, and his previous roles include those of high school band director, high school assistant principal, elementary principal, and middle school principal. He is a proud alumnus of Jacksonville State University (B.S.) and also holds graduate degrees from Auburn University (M.Ed.) and The University of Alabama (Ed.S).
Russ enjoys history, traveling, tailgating/spending time with family and friends, and getting sawdust on his hands.
Did you know …
Russ is a collector and aficionado of specialty pencils. Seriously. It’s a thing.
He also has an interesting irritation with odd numbers that leave him hanging. If there is a dial somewhere near him, such as a volume control, he wants it to rest on an even number.
To talk about interesting pencils, or woodwork, or music ministry at Jacksonville First UMC, call the church at church at (256) 435-6021 or email Russ.
David Dempsey - Organist
David has been our organist since August of 2011, succeeding his childhood piano teacher. He grew up in our church, and his parents were active in Chancel Choir and various ministries. In addition to participating in youth group, he substituted as pianist or organist in high school and college, as well as helping with children’s Sunday School singing and children’s choirs.
After graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1988, David earned his B.A. in mathematics and music and an M.S. in mathematics at JSU. He was active at Wesley Foundation and the International House. He studied piano with Dr. Susie Dempsey, who became his stepmother after his mother passed. He studied organ with Jim Fairleigh, choral conducting with Bayne Dobbins, and voice with Richard Armstrong. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Kentucky, while married to the late Amy Cheatwood and had two children.
David came home to teach at JSU, where he has been a Professor of Mathematics since 2000. Amy passed away in 2001, so David was a single parent for a time until he was fortunate enough to marry his second soulmate, Heidi Eyre, in 2008. She is a Professor of Psychology at JSU and is a wonderful mother to Daniel, Erin, and a menagerie of cats.
Did you know …
David and Heidi sing with the Chancel Choir and the Calhoun County Civic Chorale. They enjoy reading, games, and puzzles, and it is quite evident when you look at the shelves in their house. They also love the outdoors—hiking, sightseeing, and spending time on their screened porch watching the birds and butterflies.
They love to travel. They have taken their kids (and many exchange students) on trips including an 11,500-mile cross-country trip and an entire summer visiting friends and seeing sights in Europe. They have hosted a dozen international exchange students over the years, many of whom they visited.
To talk about traveling, birdwatching, exchange students, or music ministry at Jacksonville First UMC, call the church at church at (256) 435-6021 or email David.
Julio Barreto - Pianist
Julio serves as our church pianist and choral accompanist as well as serving as the Director of Music Education at the Oxford Performing Arts Center. He is well versed in jazz and improvisation and brings this gift to our weekly worship experiences at Jax First UMC!
Born in Argentina, Julio began his music studies at the age of 5 and started his professional career as a keyboardist and pianist at the age of 9, performing a wide repertoire of music including Jazz, Rock/Pop, Latin and Argentine music. His musical tenure includes a wide range of experience as a session musician,
composer, arranger, producer, as well as teaching in public and private institutions. He also has performed with several international musicians such as Paquito D’Rivera, Greg Haynes, Sandoval Moreno de Oliveira,
Joel Frisch, José Dávila, Thomas McCutchen, and Nilsinho Amarante.
Julio is a graduate of UNL (Argentina), where he earned a degree in Classical Piano Performance, during this period he was also a student of the prestigious Argentine pianist Graciela Reca. Following this, he attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) where he received the Herbie Hancock Celebrity Scholarship in recognition of his academic achievement, and earned the Master Certificate in Arranging and Orchestration. He also studied piano and participated in workshops at Berklee with Neil Olmstead, Russell Hoffmann, Kevin Harris, Robert Christopherson, Utar Artun, Leo Blanco, and Vladan Milenkovic. In 2019 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a Master of Music in Music Production, under the guidance of world-class professionals of today's music industry such as Susan Rogers, John Storyk, Sean Slade, Enrique Gonzalez Muller, David Bendeth, and Prince Charles Alexander. Julio served as a piano accompanist for the Choral Institute of Santa Fe School of Music and taught piano at Isidro Maiztegui School of Music (Argentina). In addition, he worked as a Full-Time Professor at Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina) teaching Applied and Collaborative Piano, courses in Popular Music, Improvisation, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Arranging and Production, and served as Director of School Extension's Outreach. During this time in Argentina, Julio worked producing music for radio and TV, and he was also the pianist and arranger of the “Santa Fe Jazz Ensemble” Big Band, and the group “Picante Latin Jazz”. He worked as Visiting Assistant Professor at Jacksonville State University teaching Class Piano, Applied Piano lessons, Latin American Musical Styles, and Intro to Music Production. Additionally he worked as Accompanist for the JSU Civic Chorale, the JSU Chamber Singers, and the JSU Opera Theatre. He also worked at Gadsden State Community College (Gadsden, AL) as Adjunct Professor of Music.
Currently, Julio works as Director of Music Education for the Oxford Performing Arts Center (Oxford, AL), and is writing and arranging music for the Atlanta Pops Orchestra (Atlanta, GA), as their new Artist-In-Residence. Julio is often invited as a clinician, performer, and artist-in-residence in different venues and colleges around the US including University of North Texas (TX), Jacksonville State University (AL), Texas Woman’s University (TX), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (ARG), Texas Christian University (TX), Concordia University (NE), Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX) among others.
Did you know …
He absolutely loves Burger King Whoppers. He's crazy about pugs (dogs) and enjoys playing golf with his friends.
He’s also been known to accuse our pastor of eating all the food at our church picnics.
To get some pro golf tips from Julio, grab a hamburger, or find out more about music at Jax First UMC, call the church office at (256) 435-6021.
Lesslie Sparks - Youth Director
Lesslie has been part of the staff team at Jacksonville First UMC since February of 2023. While she is part-time at the church, she gives her whole heart to the ministry of working with youth in junior high and high school here.
Lesslie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from JSU and has taught for several years in the Calhoun County School System. During the week, she is the recruiter and academic advisor for the Upward Bound program sponsored by Gadsden State Community College. She is an experienced fitness trainer and has worked at the aquatic center in Anniston. She loves educating all ages about academics, but she LOVES sharing the love of Christ most.
She has one daughter, Kayley, who is a 2020 graduate of Jacksonville High School and attends Gadsden State Community College in the radiology program.
Did you know ...
Lesslie's favorite color is crimson. She likes fitness, all things "Marvel," and Alabama football.
In her spare time, she likes to attend live plays, watch movies at the theatre, work in the yard, and "all things fitness." She says, "I love the feeling of accomplishment when I can look at my manicured lawn and sit on my back porch with a glass of UNsweet tea."
She has several certificates in group fitness including Pound and Body Blast. She also enjoys weight training and cardiovascular exercise. We think she might be able to keep up with the youth in our youth group!
To get advice on your latest workout routine, talk about your favorite characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or find out more about youth ministry at Jacksonville First UMC, call 256-435-6021 or email Lesslie.
Blanca Freeman
Church Administrator
Blanca Medallín-Freeman came to be part of the team in June of 2023. She lives in nearby Gadsden and has vast experience as an office specialist as well as being an active person of faith.
She is part of North Gadsden First Congregational Methodist Church, where she is active in music and other volunteer ministry with her husband Charley. She has three grown sons and two step-daughters. She loves spending time with her five grandchildren!
She comes to us after being an office manager and paralegal at Bond, Botes & Handy, PC, where she oversaw office operations, maintained bookkeeping, and managed payroll and deposits for several years. She has worked as a bilingual paralegal and trial coordinator at a District Attorney's Office and a freelance interpreter and translator (her native language is Spanish). She also has experience working at the Mexican embassy in Washington, DC, as well as other program manager and paralegal work.
Did you know ...?
Blanca doesn't watch much TV. She is a bookworm and started reading regularly in both English and Spanish before she was in kindergarten. Her mother taught her Bible lessons as a child in Spanish, so she wouldn't forget it.
She plays classical violin for church on special occasions. Her husband plays bass and piano regularly, too.
Blanca loves to travel and collects Eiffel Towers (that's a thing!). She says her collection is "quite extensive" involving everything from earrings to murals. Her mother got her started, and she and Charley still love to visit France.
She also collects angels, but says she is "more selective about that." She enjoys cooking and having company over to share authentic Mexican food.
She and Charley are both Elvis fans, and she rides a Harley.
To talk about music, tacos, Elvis impersonators, or church finance and administration, call 256-435-6021 or email Blanca.
Susan Hurst - Church Secretary
Susan has served as our church secretary since March of 2020. She makes the office a place of welcome, hospitality, and good communication. She is originally from Birmingham and has lived in Alabama all of her life. She graduated from Hewitt Trussville High School and attended JSU, where she met her late husband, Mark. They married and lived in Florence, Birmingham, and Helena while raising their two children, Davis (35) and Hannah (27).
Mark retired as a Claim Specialist with State Farm and since they met here in Jacksonville, it was a great place for retirement. Susan has been a member of Jacksonville First UMC for several years. She usually attends Traditional Worship and teaches the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School. Sadly, her husband Mark died suddenly just three days after she started the interim secretary position here. They were married for over 38 wonderful years.
Susan has worked in a variety of jobs including retail sales associate, cashier, pharmacy technician, dental assistant, office manager at a women’s halfway house, accounts payable clerk, claim specialist, legal secretary, ministries administrator, caregiver, and care coordinator. She spent most of her career in the insurance industry with State Farm. While working there, she studied and graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Samford University. Her concentration was administration and community service. She says, “I am enormously proud to be a Samford graduate, but my heart belongs to JSU!”
Did you know …
Susan met Mark at the Kappa Sigma house (where Wendy’s is now). JSU also introduced her to Zeta Tau Alpha. She has volunteered on local and national levels, is involved in the local ZTA Alumnae chapter and advised chapters at Birmingham-Southern, Samford and JSU. She worked with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, helped with the first Birmingham Race for the Cure, and was a charter member of the Birmingham Chapter of the Foundation. She is also on the Event Committee of the JSU Annual Fund Board. No matter what organization she’s involved in, she is usually the social chairman or the service chairman!
She loves to read and recently discovered Audible. She’s partial to the Hallmark Channel and binge-watches Netflix & Hulu. She tends to “collect” (more like hoard) craft supplies. She grew up in school and church choir and loves all kinds of music. Her favorite vacation destination is the beach!
To talk to the face of our church office, chat about sorority days, ask a random question, or put something on the church calendar, call the church at (256) 435-6021 or email Susan.
Michelle Cole - Children’s Director
Michelle Cole became part of the team in June of 2023. As a popular local teacher with an emphasis on special education inclusion, she joined us part-time and lives in the Jacksonville area. She has a love for relational children's ministry that fosters the growth of respectful, responsible, and productive young Christians.
Michelle is married to Jason and has four kids - three adult boys and a teenage girl. She also has three grandchildren she loves very much!
She has a great deal of experience in both education and children's ministry. She has been an instructional assistant at Jacksonville High School and world language facilitator, media center specialist, and kindergarten specialist at Huddleston Elementary School in Peachtree City, Georgia. She is bilingual (her first language is Spanish), and holds two degrees in education from Liberty University.
For several years, she was the full-time Director of Nursery and Preschool Ministries at Peachtree City United Methodist Church, a large church near Atlanta. She was also Director of Children's Curriculum at Heritage Christian Church. This brings invaluable experience to her ministry here.
Did you know ...?
When asked to tell something interesting about herself, she said, "I'm just a boring person." Not hardly. When pressed, she admitted, "I'm not very interesting. I just have a lot of personality!" She added, "I'm all about sharing my joy, whether you want it or not!" That we believe.
As a hobby, she loves to cook when she has time, especially baking. She once thought about opening a bake shop. She loves to sing and dance, and says "I sound phenomenal when I'm home alone."
She is a collector of shoes. "I have enough shoes to fill an entire bedroom by itself, in every color you can think of."
To find out more about shoes, the latest cake recipe, or children's ministry at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church, email her here.
Jennifer Dobbins
Kids 1st Academy Coordinator
Jennifer joined the team in May of 2022 as coordinator of our newly reopened Kids 1st Academy. We are thrilled to have her lead this vital weekday ministry with children and their families. She works closely with our Kids 1st Academy Board to provide an enriching, nurturing atmosphere for children to grow.
Jennifer grew up in Wellborn, Alabama. As she began this new adventure, she had been married to Joshua for six years. They are foster parents, a commitment which expresses some of her love for God’s children.
Prior to coming to Jacksonville First UMC, Jennifer worked in childcare for about 12 years. She had recently graduated from Gadsden State with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development. She loves helping children grow and explore through play.
One of her favorite things is watching children’s “aha moments” when they finally conquer a difficult task or learn a new skill.
Did you know …
Jennifer is a huge advocate for foster care and children with special needs. She enjoys kayaking, reading, and being outdoors.
To talk about what’s involved in becoming a foster parent, or for the latest tips and tricks on kayaking, email Jennifer or call the church office at Jennifer.
Jeremy Allen
Contemporary Music Leader
Jeremy Allen is an excellent singer and guitarist who leads music at both GIG (“Gathering in Grace,” our 11 a.m. blended service in the MAC) and THRIVE (our 5 p.m. contemporary worship experience in the MAC). He joined the team in July of 2023 and is an experienced recording artist and studio technician. He lives in nearby Eastaboga.
Jeremy has over twenty years of experience specializing in audio engineering and sound recording. With a degree in computer graphics, he has designed studio layouts and telecommunication systems, as well as held various positions in audio engineering and telecommunications design. He has worked for the Department of Defense and the Annison Army Depot in data, technical manuals, and logistics.
In addition to jobs that help bring home the bacon, he owns his own audio engineering business, JGA Studios. He is proficient in many types of recording media, including acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and electric guitars as well as vocals, drum machines, and all sorts of software and mic and mixing equipment.
He holds an Applied Science degree from Virginia College, majoring in Computer Aided Imaging and Visualization.
He has attended various churches in his life and grew up at a Methodist church he attended with his relatives. He has recent experience in a church that excels in contemporary worship and brings a unique set of passion and skills to the task.
… Did you know?
He doesn’t have a dog, but he’s a “dog magnet.” If he steps outside in the morning, the neighborhood dogs swarm him.
He’s a big Star Trek fan but an even bigger Star Wars fan. Our pastor tested him and he can talk intelligently about both “Strange New Worlds” and “Mandalorian.”
He likes to spend time at the cabin that he built with his own two hands. The best part? Sitting in front of the wood-burning stove and drinking coffee.
To be educated on the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars, get pointers on home construction, or make some music with us at GIG or THRIVE, email him Jeremy