Our Staff
Dr. Jerry Russell - Sr. Pastor
I grew up in Knoxville in a family with three boys. My wife, Judy, and I have four children and two grandchildren. I'm in my 13th year as t
he senior pastor, providing leadership to the church staff and church family. I am an avid sports fan, I enjoy coaching, officiating and supporting my family and other youth in athletics. Missions are also a passion of the entire Russell household, involving them regularly in service projects in various places in the world. I am a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and a former missionary serving in Bolivia and Argentina. I have a dream that the world is our parish, and we are each called to serve in servant ministries for Christ.
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Jeremy LaDuke - Associate Pastor
My wife Sarah, our daughter Morgan, our three other children - Buddy (dog), Ginger (dog) and Sunshine (cat), and I moved to Maryville in June of 2007 to be a part of Fairview. We did not know what to expect at this church, but it did not take long for us to fall in love with our Fairview family. Most of my ministry here at Fairview focuses on two areas: younger adults and social justice. Sarah is an RN at Blount Memorial Hospital and currently pregnant with our second child!
I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2006. Things I love to do include: reading, listening to music, debating (though Sarah calls this arguing :), and dancing with Morgan. You can also read my random musings at my blog Highways to Zion - any views expressed therein are not necessarily the official views of Fairview UMC ;)
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Roxanna Jones - Minister of Volunteers
was born and raised in Harlan, Kentucky and I enjoy writing stories of my growing up years in coal mining country. I received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown College, majoring in history with a minor in music. My master’s degree is from Indiana University. I was a high school teacher and Director of Ministries at Cokesbury UMC before coming to Fairview. I live in Knoxville with my 5 feline children: Henry, George, Sylvia, Annie, and Emily. I have one brother, Patrick, living in Knoxville. My hobbies are writing, story telling, movies and venturing to unknown places, discovering the serendipities of a “road less traveled.”
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Wesley Rouse - Minister of Music
I was born in Waycross, Georgia. My wife's name is Sandra and w
e have two sons, Joshua and Caleb. I'm a graduate of Columbus College in Columbus, Georgia and the University of Tennessee. My hobbies are "junking" and spending time with my family.
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Roger Williams - Youth Pastor
Roger Williams is quite possibly the coolest person to ever come from the Appalachians. He loves to freestyle dance outside of Wal-Mart and has one the largest Elvis memorabilia collections in the nation. You can learn more about him at www.rogerwilliamsministries.com
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Wil Davenport
God has filled me with a passion to serve children and families, to help children grow vibrant life changing relationships with Jesus Christ.
My amazing wife, Celeste, and I have three wonderful children: Kaleb, Elise, and Nika. I am incredibly blessed that they are my family.
Here are a few highlights about me:
- Favorite Sports Team: Duke University Basketball
- Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
- Hobbies: Reading, Family Walks, Keeping up-to-date on sports news
- Useless Skills: Sing the Nations of the World, Juggling, Hackey Sacking, can make the sound of a cricket
- Random Information about Me: I am a PK and I do most of the cooking in my family.
- Why Children’s Ministry: I believe ministering with children and their families is one of the most proactive ministries in the church.
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Christy Wheeler - Learning Tree Director
My husband, Tad, and I moved from Summerville, South Carolina in June 2004 to join my family in Maryville. We are blessed with three wonderful sons and a daughter who keep us both so very busy and happy! Tommy and Tipton are twins, Allie is our youngest, and Cade is in the middle.
I am a graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education. I also have earned a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina. I spent six years teaching in the public school system and the next six years running after the boys.
I am thrilled to be the Learning Tree Director at Fairview! I look forward to meeting and getting to know all the wonderful families who help to make the Preschool such a creative and exciting place for our children to learn.
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Noah Allen - Business Administrator
My wife Wilma and I moved to Maryville after serving at the First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, Florida. Since we both graduated from high school in Jefferson City, Tennessee, coming to Fairview is really returning home for both of us. I have been a Church Business Administrator since 1994. In July,1997, I received my certification (FCBA) from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia by both the United Methodist Church and the National Association of Church Business Administration. I am an active member of NACBA, the United Methodist Association of Church Business Administrators and president of the Rocky Top Chapter of NACBA.
On a personal note, I am the son of a retired Church of God Ordained Bishop who lives in Jefferson County. Wilma and I have been married for over 40 years. God has blessed us with two adult children (Scott and Sherri) and four grandchildren.
My relaxing times are usually spent tinkering with computers, playing golf or watching sporting events – especially college football.
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Becky Sewell - Administrative Asst.
I've been at Fairview since 2002. Prior to coming here, I was a secretary at Maryville Middle school for eight years, and the Blount County school system for about seven years. I am a native of Blount County. I have a son, Michael, who is a senior at Clemson University. God blessed me with a wonderful Christian husband, named David. I have been a member of Dotson Memorial Baptist Church for about 17 years. Some of my hobbies include gardening and growing lots of flowers. I would rather mow the lawn instead of clean my house, but I do enjoy cooking and baking. I am very thankful the Lord has called me to serve at Fairview and consider it a blessing to have two church families instead of one.
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Priscilla Bryan
Priscilla Bryan joins the staff of Fairview as Minister of Visitation. She brings many life experiences and blessings as an ordained elder in Holston Conference since 1993.
Priscilla was born and raised in Knoxville, TN where she currently resides. She is a proud graduate of Central High School, Hiwassee College, the University of Tennessee, and Emory University, where she received a Master of Divinity degree. Having served in churches in Holston Conference as well as the North Georgia and Virginia Conferences, Priscilla has served in various capacities including associate pastor, senior pastor, minister of youth, and minister of education. She has also developed an after school ministry for middle school students at Fountain City UMC, participated as Minister in Residence in several of our Conference camps, led mission trips, served as a Spiritual Director for a Walk to Emmaus, worked with youth as a District Youth Coordinator and at Jr. and Sr. High Assemblies, and participated on the spiritual staff for “Strength for the Journey” retreats.
Priscilla enjoys being in the out-of-doors, especially in the Smoky Mountains, and spending time with her Shetland Sheepdog and two spoiled cats. Being raised with two brothers, she would welcome the opportunity to discuss sports with you, especially UT football or Lady Vols basketball.
Being in a part time position at Fairview allows Priscilla to continue working at Dollywood in a leadership position operating rides where she is able to interact daily in a Christian theme park with coworkers and the numerous guests to the park.
She looks forward to meeting members of the Fairview family as we worship together. Please let Priscilla know when there is opportunity to assist you or any member of your family as the need arises as you may be hospitalized or limited to being at home or in a health care facility.
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Brent Johnson - College Minister
Brently Joel Johnson was born August 26, 1962 in Blount Memorial Hospital. He attended Lanier Elementary, Junior and High Schools for 11 years but graduated in William Blount High School's first graduating class. Brent recieved a BS in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a MS in Engineering with a minor in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and is currently working on an on-line Ph.d from Trinity Theological Seminary and Bible College in a British program of study accredited by Canterbury Christ Church University. He started his professional career with private consultants in Blount, Knox and Loudon Counties before beginning work with the City of Knoxville where he is employed today as the Deputy Director of the Engineering Department.
Brent was Involved in church and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at an early age. At the age of 8, began singing southern gospel with 3 young cousins and later sang with several southern gospel groups. Church Leadership activities included Training Union Superindentant, Church Pianist and Organist and assistant Choir Director. At the age of 25, Brent returned to his first love and fully surrendered his life to Christ and then became adult Sunday school teacher and Youth Director at his home church in south Blount County. Then, later served as volunteer, coach, Sunday school teacher, interim youth minister, interm youth ministry supervisor and college director at First Baptist Maryville for 15 years. He sang, played bass, keyboard and guitar for several praise bands including charter membership of three worship teams that led Soul Cafe, Real Deal and H2O as well.
He states that the best 10 days of his life were on a mission trip to Rio De Janario where the praise team led worship and preached in seventeen venues including prisons, schools, slums and churches. 88 decsions were made during the trip and it was a time of rejoiceing at the privilege of God allowing him to be a part of the harvest.
Brent has a wonderful family who love and support him. His father died in 1994 but he still has a loving mother, sister and brother along with 3 newphews, a niece and grandniece all living in Blount County. His father had 13 siblings and mother had 6. He has more than 40 first cousins living in Blount County ( about 100 total ) and about a 1000 more distant cousins in the area.
Brent enjoys a variety of activities including basketball, tennis, 4 wheeling, whitewater rafting, farming, fishing, and hanging out and mentoring young people. He is active in several professional societies but has been called to a life of mentoring young people to help them make their faith their own, grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and guide them toward life choices that honor Christ.
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