Senior Pastor 

Rev. Don Nolley

dcanolley@comcast.net

Rev. Don is serving as interim pastor. Don was ordained as elder in 1964 and has served various appointments including St. Andrew in Little Rock, Asbury in Magnolia, FUMC Sheridan, FUMC Benton, and FUMC North Little Rock. He has served two other churches after receiving training as interim pastor.

Don holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He serves on several boards.

He has been married to Carol Ann for 52 years. They have two children, Kimberly and David. They have six grandchildren: Amanda, Kelsey, Michael, Drew, Olivia, and Cooper. The Nolley's are from Little Rock.

Associate Pastor 

Rev. Angie Gage

pastor.angie@gmail.com

Rev. Angie Gage is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary. Prior to serving at Paragould First United Methodist Church, Angie served as pastor at Decatur UMC in Decatur, Arkansas and Bay UMC in Bay, Arkansas. Prior to answering her call into Pastoral Ministry, Angie taught Special Education in Brinkley and Vilonia, Arkansas. She also was an Educational Therapist in a residential treatment facility for youth. She has experience with Children’s and Youth Ministry as well. One of Angie’s passions in ministry (other than preaching and teaching) is mission work. She enjoys being involved in the various missions of our church and of the United Methodist Church overall. 

Angie is married to John Michael. She has one daughter, Bailey, who attends Oxford College at Emory University. Angie feels this is a great place for Bailey as they have a strong emphasis not just on academics, but in community missional work, which has been taught to Bailey from the very beginning. Angie’s husband is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity degree as he transitions from teaching on the college level into full time ministry. 

Outside of family life, Angie enjoys photography. She says that she is far from a professional but enjoys being able to just take photos that are meaningful to her and show the beauty of God’s handiwork. She also is an active genealogist and has traced parts of her family back to the 1200s.

Minister to Youth

Billy Fly 

billyfly3@gmail.com

Billy grew up in Nashville, TN and has lived across TN most of his life, except for a few years in Arkansas. He has been married to his wife Kelli for 10 years and has an energetic five year old son, Eliot, that keeps them both on their toes… laughing, and scratching their heads on a weekly basis!

Billy had dreams of becoming a wildlife officer or park ranger, etc. when in college… but sensed a need to serve other kinds of wildlife—teenagers.    After getting a degree in Biology from Bethel University, he attended Memphis Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Divinity. In 2000, He was ordained in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Besides hanging out with his wife and son, Billy enjoys being out in the woods or by a stream somewhere. He is also thrilled when he sees young people grow in God and serve others with their lives in Jr. high, high school, and beyond!

Media/Communications/Video/Children's Music 

Karole Risker 

karole17@hotmail.com

Karole originally comes from Dearborn, Missouri (which is where her Northern "accent" comes from), a small town halfway between St. Joe and Kansas City where she grew up with her five sisters, one of them a twin. Karole has a daughter, Hannah, 14, who is a 8th grader at Crowley's Ridge Academy, and who is wonderful. They have a dog, Lucy, that is half lab, half crazy (just kidding). 

Karole's interests include running, reading, writing, community theatre and music. Karole and Hannah like to run 5K's together and do community shows together. They live in a 105-year old house near downtown. 

Karole holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Her undergraduate degree is in communications with an emphasis in photojournalism from Arkansas State University. She recently comes from MOR Media where she was the managing editor at Premiere Magazine, a post she held for four years. Before that she was the Executive Director of the Endowment Foundation of Greene County for five years. Karole owns her own children's photography business, Pitter Patter Photography, that began in 2006. Karole has been a member of FUMC for over 3 years.

Children's Director 

Wendy McDaniel 

wendymcdaniel@fumcparagould.org 

Wendy brings a myriad of experience to the position, having served as a case manager, supervisor and advocate for special needs students, whom she worked with for several years. She has a degree in Psychology from Arkansas State University. 

Wendy is married to Tommy. She has five children: Alec, 22; Lily 13, Maggie, 8; Katy, 6; and Julia, 3. Wendy and her family are "very outdoorsy" and love to camp and fish.  Oldest daughter Lily also hunts and is an archer. Wendy is an avid reader.

The McDaniel family has been a part of the FUMC family for nearly a decade. Wendy knew she wanted to join the church upon her very first visit. "The children were singing. I looked at those kids and I knew in that moment that I wanted my kids there."

Wendy says that her vision for the children's department is for them to get a hold of what it means to be compassionate and have compassion for their fellow man.

Music Director 

Danny Davis

ddavis@fumcparagould.org

Praise Band Music Director

Brian Pearson

brian.pearson@piggottschools.net 

Brian is currently the Director of Bands for Piggott School District in Piggott, AR. He lives in Paragould with his wonderful wife Andrea, who sings with the praise team. Brian and Andrea have a 4-year-old son named Riley and baby, Evan. 

Originally from suburban Chicago, Brian moved to Conway, AR at age 13. He graduated from Conway High School in 1998, and remained in Conway to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas in 2002. Before going into band directing, he took a year to work at Sigler Music Center in Little Rock as a salesman/guitar area supervisor/band and orchestral instrument consultant/piano mover. He accepted his first band director job at Rivercrest High School in Wilson, AR. It was in his third year here he met, fell in love with, and became engaged to Andrea. Brian went on to accept the Piggott job, and Andrea accepted a job in Brookland…leading to a move to Paragould.

Brian has been surrounded by the arts from a very young age. He has sung and played in school and church groups since preschool. While his major instrument is tuba, Brian has never lost interest in an instrument he’s picked up…maybe with the exception of piano. On the rare occasion free time presents itself, he enjoys simply spending time with his family, participating in community theater, or reading that occasional good book he can find.

Organist/Pianist 

Bernard Raley

Administrative Assistant 

Denise Chipman

dchipman@fumcparagould.org

I have worked at FUMC for 15 1/2 years and a member for 17 1/2 years. I have previously worked at FUMC in Indianola, IA and Trinity UMC in Brookfield, Missouri.

Yes, I am a YANKEE, born and raised in southeast Iowa. Have been married to Larry for 38+ years and together we have 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

After our first move from Iowa in 1986, we have lived in Charlotte North Carolina, Harrisburg, PA, Indianola, IA, Marceline, MO, and now in Paragould the last 18 years. 

I enjoy my job and love the people of the church I like to travel but current activities are watching my grandchildren with their activities such as music performances and golf games. 

Custodian/Grounds 

Iona Stone

Iona has been at FUMC for 26 years. She appreciates the people here, indicating it as a principle reason she has stayed for so long.