
Our Staff
Sam Jones
Pastor

Rev. Sam Jones began his full-time appointment as Pastor of Minor Memorial United Methodist Church in July 2023. In addition, Sam also serves as Associate Pastor at Maples Memorial United Methodist Church in Olive Branch. He is a Provisional Elder in the UMC and earned his Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, where he served two terms as president of the Student Senate.
As a pastor and former high school teacher, Sam retains a passion for Christian education, particularly Wesleyan theology. He is also gifted in the areas of pastoral leadership, administration, community evangelism, discipleship ministries, and pastoral care. Sam is a certified pre-marriage pastoral counselor through the Prepare/Enrich® program and loves to create curriculum for Sunday school. Sam is also a long-time volunteer at Manna House in Memphis, which is a place that offers hospitality to people experiencing homelessness and others in poverty. He also serves on the Mississippi Annual Conference Board of Global Ministries and has served on the MTS Planning & Evaluation committee and curriculum subcommittee. In his spare time, Sam enjoys spending time with his family, doing yardwork, going trout fishing, cooking outdoors, reading history and theology, and rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs and Chicago Blackhawks. He is also an unapologetic Chinese food enthusiast.
Sam and his family have lived in Olive Branch since 2005, but they are no strangers to Walls. Sam and Rosemary were once members of Minor Memorial and were married here in November of 2000. Today, Rosemary is a special education instructor at Olive Branch High School. They have two children: Patrick is an accounting major at the University of Mississippi; Lydia is a junior at Olive Branch High School. The Joneses have three dogs: Jozy, Prince, and Knight.
Most importantly, Rev. Jones is a father, husband, brother, son, beloved child of God, and a community guy. His life verse is summed up in Colossians 3:17: "Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of God giving thanks to the Father through Him." Sam’s favorite hymns are “Marching to Zion” and “And Can it Be That I Should Gain.”
EDUCATION:
BA – University of Mississippi - Political Science & History
MDiv – Memphis Theological Seminary
Specialization: Wesleyan Studies
Honors:
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Summa cum laude
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2023 recipient of the Hoyt Hickman Award by the Order of St. Luke for exceptional ability in liturgical scholarship.

Destinee Ball
Youth Summer Intern

Alicia Butler
Worship Leader & Administrative Secretary
Alicia Butler started serving as music director at Minor Memorial in October 2018, and as Administrative Secretary in June 2020. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in music education, vocal church music emphasis. She and her husband Jimmy live in Bartlett, TN. Alicia enjoys singing with the Memphis Symphony Chorus and Memphis Choral Arts ensemble. Her favorite hymn is Because He Lives.

Dawn Wilkinson
Finance Secretary
Our Finance Secretary is Dawn Wilkinson. Dawn has enjoyed serving at several United Methodist Churches in DeSoto and Shelby Counties. She has been married 33 years to a wonderful man, and has 3 awesome children, who will all be getting married in the Spring and Summer of 2017 (No Stress there). She enjoys being a first-time grandmother to her granddaughter, Sterling Grace. Dawn's favorite verse is "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Tina Patrick
After School Care Director
Tina is a member of Minor Memorial UMC and has served as director of the After School Care Program since 2006. Tina was born and raised in the DeSoto County community and is proud to call Lake Cormorant her home at this time. She is married to Tim and between them, they have five wonderful adult-age children; their family is growing as several have gotten married and they now have five grandchildren as of summer 2020! Tina feels very blessed to be able to serve in this position of providing daily care and God’s love to the children of the surrounding community. She loves spending time with the children, creating fun activities for play, helping with their educational challenges, and nurturing their emotional and spiritual needs.

Natalia Vanegas Escobar
Pianist

Amanda Rainey
Nursery Worker

