We who serve at Fletcher United Methodist Church are thrilled to be serving such an active, faithful congregation. We welcome you to get to know us a little better.
Rev. Randy N. Sherrill (Teaching Pastor)
Randy is a native North Carolinian, with a deep family history in Western North Carolina reaching into the mid 18th century. He received a call into ministry in childhood and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Davidson College and his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. While at Emory, Randy became friends with another student from Western North Carolina, and eventually married Kathie Clontz Sherrill. Randy and Kathie were both ordained as United Methodist pastors in 1980. Randy continued some post-graduate work at Emory and Randy and Kathie returned for full time appointments in 1983. Kathie retired from active ministry in 2017.
Randy has served churches in rural, town, suburban and urban settings. He chose the title Teaching Pastor since the essence of his ministry revolves around making and growing disciples of Jesus Christ. He loves teaching, and learning, in worship, preaching, small groups, and personal interactions. Randy and Kathie have directed and led spiritual formation events for over 35 years, including both being members of the Academy Forum of the Academy for Spiritual Formation sponsored by The Upper Room. Randy has been involved in community outreach and organization for his entire ministry, especially in the areas of justice and poverty ministries, ecumenical cooperation, and homeless and affordable housing issues.
Randy and Kathie’s son, Will, and their daughter-in-law, Chrissy, live and work in Winston-Salem, NC. They will visit and share worship and fellowship with our church family periodically. Randy and Kathie love to escape to their little cabin, Mizpah, in Ashe County on the New River. Both Randy and Kathie love nature, wildflowers, long conversations with friends, and a simple lifestyle that values relationships, grace, and love over possessions. Kathie is an accomplished woodcarver, and Randy will be setting up workshops for their joint love of woodturning.
Randy’s door is always open for conversations, laughter, and tears. He hopes to have a long and fruitful ministry at Fletcher UMC, as we reach out into the community with the love of Christ.
Send an email to randy@fletcherumc.org
Belinda Winkle (Christian Education Director)
Belinda Winkle comes to us with an extensive background in Christian Education from a variety of denominations.
Married to a former Army Chaplain, she has worked in Moravian, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches, along with other Methodist congregations, before coming to Fletcher UMC.
As Director of Christian Education, Belinda works for a unified and comprehensive program that truly offers something for each and every age. The spiritual growth and well-being of all members, from the smallest to our “most mature” is part of her calling. The enabling of the saints – helping others find their best gifts and areas to serve – forms an important part of her ministry.
Outreach to the community through the year is another vital component of ministry that is stressed here at Fletcher. There are a variety of events and services that are designed to offer an opportunity for hospitality, ministry and sometimes just family fun!
You will see Belinda most Sundays presenting a Children’s Message in both of our services. She also works with our Preschool students and their families. Belinda serves as church liaison on a number of Methodist and ecumenical committees both in Henderson county, Buncombe county and the Western district.
Send an email to Belinda.fletcherumc@gmail.com
(Administrative Assistant)
Send an email to secretary@fletcherumc.org
Blaine Russell (Music Director)
Blaine Russell comes to us from Virginia, where he received his Master’s Degree in Conducting from the Shenandoah Conservatory in May of 2013, following his Bachelor’s in Voice at High Point University in 2011. Originally from Kosciusko, MS, Blaine loves being in the mountains but still roots for Ole Miss, especially during football season.
Blaine has formerly served in music leadership roles in Mississippi, Virginia, and North Carolina.
He and his wife Christina, who also serves on staff at Fletcher UMC, love being part of this church family. Blaine is always open to talking about classical, progressive rock, and bluegrass music – all favorites of his.
Send an email to Blaine@fletcherumc.org
Christina Goings Russell (Director of Youth Ministries, Children’s Music Director, and Technology Coordinator)
Christina Russell comes to us most recently from Winchester, Virginia, where she received her Master’s Degree in Conducting from the Shenandoah Conservatory in May of 2013, following her Bachelor’s in Voice at High Point University in 2011.
Christina has also served as an assistant youth director in Winchester, VA at First Presbyterian Church after working with the youth in her hometown of High Point, NC.
In her spare time, Christina enjoys knitting, live music of all sorts, singing – especially choral music – car shows, and savoring an ice-cold Cheerwine here in the beauty of the NC mountains.
She and her husband Blaine are thrilled to be here at Fletcher UMC, where she seeks to to share her love of all sorts of music and enjoys the vitality of working with students.
Send an email to Christina.fletcherumc@gmail.com
Jan Kelly (Organist/ Pianist Emeritus)
Jan is a native North Carolinian, raised in the Piedmont. She has a son, David III, two daughters, Carolyn and Crystal, six granddaughters and three grandsons. She received her undergraduate degree in home economics at Catawba College (Salisbury, North Carolina), her graduate degree at Hood College (Frederick, Maryland) in consumer economics, and her bachelor of music degree at Brevard College, where she has been employed as Staff Accompanist of the music department for over 20 years. She taught home economics at Concord High School (North Carolina) for five years and at Williamsport High School (Maryland) for eight years.
She has lived in Hagerstown, Maryland and Newton, North Carolina prior to moving with her minister husband, David Jr., to Hendersonville over 25 years ago. She directed handbells in each location aforementioned and was director of the Saint James Handbell Choir and the Blue Ridge Ringers in Hendersonville. She has served as organist/pianist of Fletcher United Methodist Church since October of 2001 and enjoys it immensely. Her hobbies are reading, watching movies, fashion, and being with her grandchildren.
Sally Jo Bernard (Treasurer)
Sally Jo grew up in the midwest and did her undergraduate work in Accounting at the University of Iowa. She began her career in banking in Des Moines Iowa and after several years, moved to Boston where she completed an MBA in Finance at Northeastern University.
In the thirty years she spent in New England, she worked in Bank Accounting, Telecommunications and Network Management. After almost 20 years of being on call 24 hours a day, she decided to pursue a new interest and returned to school to get her teaching credentials.
Sally taught Middle School Math in an inner city school in Lowell MA for 9 years. Her students came from more than a dozen countries and spoke more than 9 different languages.
In 2015 she moved to the beautiful mountains of WNC and continued to work as a math tutor in the Buncombe County Schools as well as a support person for the Autism Society.
Sally is an avid Pickleball player and has recently began studying Tai Chi. Additionally, she is a Master Gardener and enjoys growing a variety of perennials, annuals and vegetables. She Lives in Arden with two dogs and two cats who keep things very lively at her house.
Send an email to sallyjo.fletcherumc@gmail.com
Brandi Livingston (Preschool Director)
Brandi grew up in the Arden/Fletcher area and loves living in the mountains. She has been married to her husband Marty for 20+ years and together they have two grown children, Micah & Madison.
Her educational background is in Early Childhood Education. She has been a proud member of the SonShine Preschool family for 15 years and is looking forward to many more!
Send an email to sonshinepreschool@fletcherumc.org.