Pastoral
Team
Rev. Carrie
Yoder
Pastor Carrie works to create, build, and nurture Discipleship and Christian Education opportunities for people of all ages. "It is important children and youth learn to worship, study, serve and commune with God." Pastor Carrie is an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church and comes to Memorial from Atlanta where she earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in May 2014. She and her husband, Jon, have two children, Madilyn and Ian. Her favorite Bible verses (Psalm 139 & Philippians 2:1-4) remind us people are created by God for relationship with each other, the world, and with God.
Pastor of Adult & Family Discipleship
Pastor Charlie and his wife, Margaret, are both from Northern Ireland. Together they have two children: Eva & Jackson. They also have two dogs, Ralph & Annie. Pastor Charlie earned his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Queens University in Belfast. He earned his Master’s degree in Mission from the University of Manchester and completed is Doctorate from Wesley Theological Seminary. In his spare time, Pastor Charlie loves the sport of rugby, which he played competitively for 25 years, and is passionate about watching English Premier League soccer and likes to play golf and make music.
Rev. Dr. Mark Charles
Senior Pastor
Pastor Drew, a native of Gainesville, Florida, did his undergraduate work at Florida Southern College. He majored in Religion with a minor in History. He then earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School. During seminary, Drew studied for a year at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham, UK. Drew and his wife Jessica have one son, Malachi. As Associate Pastor, Drew works to provide pastoral care and leadership for the whole church. His particular emphases are congregational care, hospitality and helping to connect Memorial to the community.
Rev. Drew Weseman
Associate Pastor
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Rev. Alyce Parmer
Reverend Alyce Parmer’s childhood and youth were spent in numerous states and two foreign countries, but she has always claimed Florida as home she shares with husband Bud and their cat Whiskers. She and Bud have been married been married for over 36 years and are parents and grandparents to four living grown children and 9 living grandchildren.
A UMC ordained deacon, Pastor Alyce is also a magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Florida State University and holds a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary. She is now in retired clergy status, but continues in her role as Memorial’s Pastoral Counseling Pastor.
Pastor Alyce has served as pastor, associate pastor and interim pastor to six Northwest District UMC churches. In 2011 she founded Wisdom's Wellspring, an ecumenical advance special ministry, under authority of the Northwest District of the United Methodist Church. This ministry is a homelessness prevention residential program for women in the FLUMC Northwest District that has served over 30 women, most of whom were homeless or facing homelessness.
Prior to her vocation as a United Methodist minister, Reverend Parmer spent over 20 years as a human resource professional, manager and executive in both the private and public sectors.
Monica Pomeroy
Originally from Syracuse, New York where she worked in Human Resources and Office Operations for an insurance company, Monica "semi-retired" after 25 years to marry the love of her life, Peter. Monica became stepmom to 4 wonderful children who have produced 8 beautiful grandchildren.
Monica and Peter found Memorial by accident when they relocated to Fernandina 20 years ago!!! She was hired as Office Manager and to this day believes joining Memorial was the best decision she ever made. She renewed her commitment to being a Christian and thanks God for bringing her here. Her interests (besides loving working here and loving the congregation and loving her staff team) include reading, traveling (before COVID) to visit her children and grandchildren who are scattered around the country, and just enjoying life!!!
Karen Schmitt
Karen was born in Mobile, AL. She graduated from the University of Alabama with BS in Medical Technology and worked as a Medical Technologist in Baton Rouge, LA for 5 years. She then made the decision to stay home with her children. When the youngest was 9, went to work as a Teacher's Assistant in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System
Karen has lived all over the Southeast. She and her husband, Eric, moved to Fernandina Beach in 2015 from North Carolina. They have three children and 2 grandchildren.
In her free time, Karen likes to read and play with her grandchildren, who live in nearby Kingsland, GA. She says, "Having relocated many times in my life, I know how important it is to find a church home and get involved. That is what I want to do for others. As New Member Coordinator, I get to help people learn about Memorial, decide if it’s a good fit for them, and if so, get them connected in a group study, fellowship, and/or a service area."
Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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Dr. Joan Averett
Joan earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from Valdosta State University, a Master's degree in Organ Performance from Florida State University with a Graduate Certificate in Church Music, and a Doctorate in Worship Studies from the Institute for Worship Studies. Over the course of her music ministry career she has served over thirty-five years as a full-time church musician in the United Methodist Church serving churches in the south-Georgia conference and presently here at Memorial.
Joan, her late husband, Tarver, and daughter MaeLee (a recent graduate of FSU) moved to Fernandina Beach where Joan has served as Music and Worship Arts director for Memorial since January of 2010. Joan sees herself less as a church musician and more as a pastoral worship leader. Since coming to MUMC, Joan says her faith journey has been transformed: "I have found that the true blessing of God comes to a heart that is open to change and to the surprises that come with living in the grace of Jesus Christ. "
What does Joan do for fun? She works in her cactus garden, sits in her tranquil backyard birdwatching, and takes her rescue dogs to the dog park. And of course, makes worship happen at Memorial, which doesn't feel like work but a constant creative challenge.
Navana Kern
Coming Soon
Johnny Armstrong
Johnny was born and raised in Callahan, Florida, and has been living in Fernandina Beach since 1990. He began working as Facilities Directory at Memorial eight years ago, replacing his father, Fred Armstrong, who retired after a long tenure at Memorial.
Johnny and his late wife Barbie lived in Fernandina Beach since 1990. They have two children, Johnny and Caitlin, and one grandchild.
When Johnny is not working, you can often finding doing his favorite thing: fishing for red snapper off the coast of Fernandina! He always has a fish story to tell!
His favorite bible verse is Matthew 6:33 " But, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Carrie McCannell-Scruggs
Carrie (Known as "Carrie Mac") moved to Fernandina Beach with her family in 1982 and began attending Memorial that same year. After graduating from FBHS she earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a Master of Communication, both from Florida State University. At the completion of graduate school, she moved to Tampa to pursue a career in Public Relations, yet always felt that Fernandina Beach was home.
Through her diverse career, Carrie Mac has gained experience in print and broadcast journalism, non-profit public relations, corporate advertising, and sports marketing. One of her favorite jobs saw her managing the marketing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the season the team won the Stanley Cup.
With her husband, Steve Scruggs, she moved back to Fernandina Beach in 2005. Together, they have a son, Mattie, a daughter, Nola, and a rescue dog named Bayou. Carrie Mac has a love of animals (especially dogs, birds, and sloths) and relishes time spent making art and reading gothic Victorian novels. She also enjoys good food and naps...so she forces herself to participate in one half-marathon a year (having done 11 so far).
Her favorite Scripture is Philippians 2:3-5: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,"