Dr. R. Mark Matheny

Dr. R. Mark Matheny is the new Pastor at Saint Luke’s (June 2005). A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he is a third-generation United Methodist minister. Mark received degrees from Millsaps College, Southern Methodist University and Emory University. His spouse, Emily, is also clergy, now serving as Pastor of Highland Heights UMC in Memphis. This ministry couple has one son, Justin, an attorney in Jackson, Mississippi, and one daughter, Claire, a seminarian in Chicago, Illinois.

Shirley Gupton Lynn

Shirley joined the St. Luke's staff July 15th, 2004, as Minister of Evangelism (part-time). She is a retired ordained elder of the Memphis Annual Conference and a Certified Associate in Evangelism. A native of Carlisle County, Kentucky, her degrees are from the University of Memphis and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Prior to retirement in 2003, she was Superintendent of the Memphis-Asbury District and had served as pastor of Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church in Paducah. Earlier, she served for twenty-one years on the staff of Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis, where her chief responsibilities were evangelism and single adult ministry.

The widow of Rev. Charles H. Lynn, the Rev. Shirley Lynn has two married sons and four grandchildren. Charles, Jr., and Patsy live in Wellington, Florida, with their children Michael and Molly. Billy and Beth and their sons Christopher and Austin live in Nashville.

 Beth Ryan

Beth Ryan is Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at St. Luke's and joined the staff in May 1999. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she received a B.S. in 1997.

Beth coordinates programming for the youth, young adult, and family life ministries.

 Cathy Cooley Smith

Cathy Cooley Smith, Director of St. Luke's Day School, has been on staff since 1986. She received a B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Memphis.

She has been a kindergarten teacher for thirteen years and is currently coordinating the preschool and kindergarten programs.

David R. Day, Sr.

Coach Day, Director of the Christian Life Center and Outreach Ministries, has been a member of St. Luke's since 1996. He and his wife, Renee, have been married for 23 years. They have 2 children: a son David II and a daughter, Hunter, who both attend Westminister College in Fulton, MO.

Coach Day and his family have been involved in all aspects of the sports / recreation ministries. Both Coach Day and Renee attended the University of Mississippi. His hobbies include all sports and spending time with this pets.

Dawn Kimble

Dawn Kimble, the Director of the Challengers After School Program, comes to St. Luke's with many years of experience working with children in a variety of settings. She has a Bachelor of Liberal Studies with a focus on Education, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Memphis.

Beth is the Director of Children's Ministries at St. Luke's. She has a bachelor's degree in Public and Community Health from Middle Tennessee State University and is also on the staff at Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering.

In addition to teaching middle school for the past seven years, she brings to St. Luke's ten years of experience working with United Methodist congregations in many areas of ministry including children's choirs, homebound ministry, and teaching Sunday school and Disciple Bible study.

Beth and her husband, Michael, have a son involved in St. Luke's children's ministries, Miles.

Jay serves as Director of Music at St Luke’s, joining the staff in August 2006. A native of west Tennessee, he has previously served churches in Alabama and Tennessee in addition to four years as Director of Public Relations for a college in Pennsylvania.

Jay is a graduate of Lambuth College where he received his BBA. He and his wife Trish have two young daughters, Mattie and Ellie.

Virginia Hathorn joined St. Luke's staff in May 2007 as Ministry Assistant. A native of Jackson, MS, she graduated from Mississippi University for Women with a BS degree and retired from Baptist Memorial Hospital following 38 years of service in the Department of Clinical Pathology.