OUR STAFF
 
 
 
We seek to love God, love others, and magnify the name of Jesus Christ. We are led by a talented team who minister to us by using the gifts that God has given them.
The Rev. Ellynda Lipsey
Senior Pastor

Rev. Ellynda Lipsey was born in Pakistan as the daughter of Methodist missionaries. She and her family have lived in many places, so it  is always interesting to answer the question, “Where is home?” As a United Methodist Pastor, home is where she serves currently. Rev. Lipsey has served in rural, urban,  and suburban contexts as well as on college campuses. She has served as a US-2 missionary in a Latin-American Church and Community Center in Long Beach, California and in Tishomingo, County, Mississippi as a Church and Community Worker, serving in two parishes and a total of nineteen churches (truly a Circuit Rider!)

Rev. Lipsey is married to Hal Lipsey, who is retired from working in the International Division of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank. They love gardening, studying languages, traveling, reading and collecting antiques. Another mutual love is their pet bunnies, Francesco and Ciara, named after St. Francis and Saint Claire.

Rev. Lipsey is a graduate of Millsaps College (Bachelor of Arts in Religion, 1979), the University of Mississippi (Master of Arts in Spanish, 1987) and Emory University-Candler School of Theology (Master of Divinity, 1990).  She was ordained a Deacon in 1990 by Bishop Robert Morgan and Bishop Leontine Kelly in Tupelo Mississippi. Then, in 1993, she was ordained an Elder by Bishop Marshall Meadors  and the Episcopal Bishop Duncan Gray in Jackson, Mississippi.

Pastor Ellynda loves to connect people to one another, their surrounding community,  and to the world parish. She is looking forward to serving alongside the laity at Jonesboro First UMC to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
 
Email: ellynda@jonesboroumc.com
Kanieta Cole
Communications  Specialist
Bio coming soon!
 
Email: kanieta@jonesboroumc.com
Celia Stanley
Finance Specialist
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.
 
Email: office@jonesboroumc.com
Peggy Stewart
Office Specialist
Bio coming soon!
 
Email: admin@jonesboroumc.com
Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller 
Director, Chancel Choir
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, Texas, where he became the first undergraduate in that institution’s history to earn concurrent degrees in Theater and in Music. 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, Oregon, at age 12. During his undergraduate years, he was tenor section leader of the Perkins Chapel Choir at the Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University, under the direction of noted conductor and composer Lloyd Pfautsch. 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, Oregon.
Kini T. Burrell
Building Superintendent
Kini has lived in Jonesboro all 42 years 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 worked a 15 year career as a licensed Funeral Director & 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 Ingram
Housekeeper
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.”
Dawn Carter
Church Caterer
Wendy Powner
Treasurer