The Rev. Nelson L. Stokes, Jr. was appointed to Simpsonville UMC in June 2007. Rev. Stokes has served churches in the upstate, midlands, and low country of the South Carolina Annual Conference. Borne at Greer, SC, December 10, 1948; married Freida Brown, May 17, 1969. Nelson and Freida have four children, Nelson Lawton, III (dec.) November 19, 1970, Nelson Lawton, IV, Tabitha Layne, Amanda Lynne Boone.
After graduating from Blue Ridge high school in 1967, Nelson served in the US Army as a combat engineer, and after being discharged, he attended the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. Later he graduated from Spartanburg Methodist College with an A.A., from Erskine College with a B.A., and from Erskine Theological Seminary with a M.Div. Nelson has served on various boards and committees within the Annual Conference, as well as District boards and committees.
Nelson enjoys travel, hunting, fishing, stained glass, gardening and reading, but most of all spending time with his grandchildren.

You may contact Nelson (864)967-3071 or email here.

Rev. George M. Riser retired in 2007 and then he and his wife, Wallis, returned to Simpsonville UMC as members before he joined the staff in November, 2009, as Director of Congregational Care.  George and Wallis have in their blended family four grown children and three grandchildren.  A native of Saluda, SC, George attended Clemson for a year, transferred to Wofford College and graduated there.  While a freshman in college, he heard the call to enter the ministry. "Because of my small country church background, I really believe one person can make a difference."

Following his graduation from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Rev. Riser received his first appointment as pastor of Mt. Pleasant UMC in Pomaria, SC, and then served for 40 years as a pastor in the SC Conference (including Simpsonville UMC from 1999-2003.)

George has acquired a passion for growing roses and has moved many plants, which he called “itinerant” roses since they moved whenever he did; however, his roses are now “permanently” planted at their home near Roper Mountain in Greenville.  He also enjoys his vegetable garden, golf, woodworking and listening to the stories of the people he meets.

Rev. Don McKinney
Pastor Emeritus

Home: 213-9898
Email: EDONM81@yahoo.com

To contact Ed, please email him at estallworth@simpsonvilleumc.org or by phone at 967-3071.

Karen Smith, our Administrative Manager, is the daughter of Lloyd and JoAnn Johnson and is very proud to say she was born and raised in Simpsonville. She graduated from Hillcrest High School and has a college degree in Accounting and is the mother of a daughter - Savannah.
While her job consists of varied duties during a normal eight-hour workday, her love is music. Karen sings in the Chancel choir and with the SUMC Praise Band.
Karen says she enjoys working at the church getting to know the membership and feels fortunate to work in an environment of care and concern from the church family.

Contact Karen at (864)967-3071 or email here.

Nancy Hill, our Church Secretary, began her job on January 2, 2002. Nancy and her family recently moved back to Simpsonville after living in Travelers Rest for the past twenty years. Nancy spent ten years at Morgan Memorial Baptist doing many of the tasks she has taken up at SUMC.First and foremost, Nancy describes herself as a person who likes to work with people. She realizes that the Secretary is frequently the first person an outsider will see or talk to, and she wants that contact to be a warm and caring one. Should you call or stop by, you will find her eager to listen and help out. She loves every aspect of Church ministry and believes the position of Secretary is a ministry itself. In addition to her background as a Church Secretary, Nancy has also worked as a Faculty Secretary for North Greenville College and the Secretary for Alumni Programs at Furman University. She enjoys learning new skills on the computer and uses them to good effect - the monthly newsletter she produced has won a design award. Nancy's husband, Charlie, retired from the Greenville Water System filtration plan and they have two grown sons - Nathan and Chris. Nancy is fond of gardening with her mother, who lives with them, water aerobics, and crafts with children.

Contact Nancy at (864)967-3071 or email here.

Beverly Stabler, our Organist, is married to church member (and Hosanna Brass member) Berley Stabler. She is the daughter of Charles and Anne Ashmore. Beverly was born in Greenville, SC, middle of 5 children and has remained in the area her whole life. Beverly attended Lee Road United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir. Her parents are still members there.  Beverly received her Masters in Elementary Education with Learning Disabled emphasis from Clemson University and is a teacher at Hillcrest Middle School. She has been at Hillcrest Middle for 23 years, the last 12 years in PE. Beverly has 3 children, Drew, William, and Hannah.      Beverly can be found doing aerobics at the Golden Strip YMCA at 5:45 AM most mornings. She says this gets her morning off to a great start by combining her two favorite things-fitness and music.

Ann Benjamin is our Pianist. Ann was born and grew up in Greenville, SC where she was a member of St. Mark UMC. Ann received a BA and a MEd in Elementary Education and an Education Specialist degree in reading from Clemson University.
She retired from Woodmont Middle School in 2005 after teaching seventh grade literature and language arts for thirty-one years. She is currently adjunct faculty for USC-Upstate where she supervises student teachers.
Ann lives in the "suburbs" of Fountain Inn on McKelvey Rd (in the Fork Shoals area) with her shih tzu Dempsey. She enjoys reading, playing the piano and spending time with her family and friends. Ann has been the pianist at SUMC for ten years, and she says she absolutely loves it! Ann feels that ministering through music is truly a blessing for her.