After growing up in Fayetteville, GA, Pastor Valerie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Berry College and worked as a newspaper journalist in North Georgia and Alabama for almost a decade. Upon returning to Atlanta, she joined a medical education company and spent the next eight years helping doctors and nurses earn their continuing education credits.
During this time, she discerned a call to ministry and earned her Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2010. She was ordained as an elder in The United Methodist Church in 2016.
Pastor Valerie has previously served as pastor of Rush Chapel UMC in Rome and as minister of nurture at Hillside UMC in Woodstock. She is passionate about sharing her faith and helping others explore and share their faith journeys.
In her free time, you can often find Pastor Valerie working in her garden, reading a book, or taking a long walk around her neighborhood. She also loves concerts, museums and traveling. After completing her first pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2017, she’s excited about retracing parts of Paul’s missionary journeys in the next few years.

Doug has been a long-time member of the congregation of Jonesboro First UMC. He spent many years working with the Jonesboro First Youth ministry as a volunteer leader. before leading our Youth Ministry.

Dr. Zeller began performing in opera, musical theater, and oratorio in his native Pacific Northwest at age eight. Since then, he has performed throughout the United States, Spain, and Austria, and has appeared on German television, including two seasons in the company of the Tony Award-wining Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Dr. Zeller is in demand as an oratorio soloist and recitalist and has appeared as a concert soloist for the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, New Trinity Baroque, the Terra Nova Consort, and many other symphonies and concert series.
Dr. Zeller is Director of Opera and Vocal Studies at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, and is active throughout the country as a vocal adjudicator and clinician. Dr. Zeller trained at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. His graduate studies were at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, where he was awarded a MM in Voice Performance and a DMA in Voice Performance with cognate studies in Opera Directing and Musicology.
Dr. Zeller has held numerous church music positions as vocal soloist, choral conductor, and organist since beginning his church music career by substituting for the organists at First and Sunnyside United Methodist Churches in Portland, OR, at age 12. During his graduate studies, he was director of music at Mt. Auburn United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.Before relocating to Georgia, Dr. Zeller was tenor soloist and assistant to the music director at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Portland, OR.

Jade Preston serves as our Children’s Director and as Director of JUMPP, our preschool and primary school. She is a native of Jonesboro and has been been married for 16 years. She and her husband, Brett, have three children: Sally, Samuel and Sadie. Jade holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in education from the University of West Georgia and has more than 17 years of experience as a teacher in both the public and private sectors. Jade says, “Teaching children is where my heart is!”

Jim Bagley became Orchestra Director in August, 2016, after serving the orchestra for 12 years as a trombonist. He is a graduate of Wayne County High School in Jesup, GA. Jim holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Education degrees from Georgia Southern University and an Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University. He was a high school band director in the public schools of Georgia for 30 years and retired as band director at Community Christian School in Stockbridge. Jim is also very active as a private trombone and tuba teacher and as bass trombonist in the Southern Crescent Symphony.

Jim and Barbara have been married for 39 years and live in McDonough. The have two sons: Jonathan, who lives in Waycross, GA, and is a high school band director; and Jacob, who lives in Murray, UT, and is starting a career as a physical education teacher. The Bagleys have one grandson, Jess, of Waycross, GA. In his spare time, Jim loves to ride his bicycle and read. Jim and Barbara also recently began participating in obstacle course races.

Celia Stanley was born in Atlanta and lived most of her life in Clayton County and is a long-time member of Jonesboro First UMC, where she has sung in the Chancel Choir and taught children’s Sunday school for many years. She worked for Suntrust Banks, Inc. in the Trust Department and Investment Advisory subsidiary and retired in 2007.  She has  been the Office Specialist since January, 2012.

Kini has lived in Jonesboro all of his life. He has been a member of Jonesboro First since he was a teenager. Kini graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1991. He had a 15-year career as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Kini’s new career as a full-time Building Superintendent at the church began in August of 2012. It is obvious that God had a hand in bringing Kini to this place in his life. For the first time ever, Kini believes in his heart that he has found the perfect fit for a meaningful career where he can serve God and the members of the church.

Jan joined the staff in July 2012. became a member of this awesome staff. She says, “I have so much wonderful support; my family is behind me 100 percent. My husband Mike and I have three amazing kids together, and we would do anything for them. My oldest daughter Britnay is married and has a baby girl. Then, there is my son Kendall who became an Eagle Scout at the age of 14. Last and certainly not least is my youngest daughter Andrea. She is staying busy playing volleyball and basketball. I’m very proud of all of the supporters that I have. I don’t know what I would do without them. I’m glad that God gave me a chance to meet so many awesome people at a great job that makes me happy.”