STAFF & LEADERSHIP

Cat Clyburn has served as a United Methodist pastor since 2023. She attended seminary at Duke Divinity as part of the Rural Fellows program, training specifically for the needs and uniqueness of rural and small town congregations. Cat’s call to ministry has developed around missional congregations addressing homelessness, and missional nonprofit work surrounding food, faith, and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Hester has taught music to students from pre-kindergarten to college. He served as music specialist for J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School (K-5) in Lee County, where he was twice honored as Teacher of the Year. He has also served as a lead teacher for Lee County’s Kaleidoscope, a summer program for gifted rising sixth-grade students. His elementary school chorus performed in the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Also an adjunct organ and Music Education professor at Campbell University, Dr. Hester has been a contributing writer for the North Carolina Symphony Teacher Handbook. Other accomplishments include Orff-Schulwerk Certifications and a research project to determine relationships among grade level, gender, ethnicity, rhythmic aptitude, and early elementary students’ English- language reading skills. Additionally, Dr. Hester was a contributing writer for the North Carolina Music Planner published by Scott Foresman. He is the 2009 recipient of the Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award presented by the North Carolina Symphony. Dr. Hester has served as the organist for Jonesboro United Methodist Church in Sanford, NC for 40 years where he supervised the installation of the Holtkamp Pipe Organ in 1994. As a member of the Organ Selection Committee for Butler Chapel, Campbell University, he played a major part in selecting the tonal and console design of the Stephens Pipe Organ and being the featured performer for the dedication recital. Dr. Hester assisted Campbell University in selecting and installing the Allen Organ in the Hobson Performing Arts Center. He holds degrees in music from Campbell University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Hester studied organ under Susan B. Horton and Dr. Fred Hohman.

Heidi Gibson serves as JUMC’s Administrative Assistant.  She is a retired Special Education Teacher who loves helping and serving others. Heidi enjoys spending time with her dogs and cats and traveling to visit friends. She has been fortunate enough to visit all 50 states and multiple countries. Her hobbies include reading, camping, singing, and playing guitar.

After living in Vienna, VA, for eight years, working in our family-owned restaurant businesses with years of long hours and 6-day weeks, we were excited to find a home in Sanford and return to NC.  Previously, my wife, Karla, and I had professional careers that we retired from.  Karla worked for Burroughs Wellcome Co./Glaxo SmithKline pharmaceutical companies, and I worked for Aramark Corporation as a Regional Manager in the Business Services Division. We had four children, three girls, a son, and five grandchildren. Sadly, we lost one of our daughters to cancer in 2015 and our son to a tragedy two years ago. In the two years we have been in Sanford, we have made many new friends.  We have taken on new roles: Karla as the Church Secretary at First Baptist Church of Sanford and me as Custodian at JUMC.  We love having a purpose, contributing to both churches, and having weekends free. We enjoy visiting our families, doing home projects, walking, hiking, biking, swimming, reading, and dining out! I feel privileged and blessed to be part of the JUMC family.

My name is Melanie Yarborough. I’m 46 years old, and I have a 21-year-old son named Logan. In my spare time, I like helping him with the chores on our small farm. I also help him with a lawn care service he has that he does in his spare time. I love cooking and cleaning. Most people wouldn’t consider that a hobby, but I love it. I have had the pleasure of serving as Nursery Director, taking care of our youngest in the church for the past 16 years, and really love what I do. I have always loved spending time with children and grew up in an environment that valued that time spent with them as a privilege. There’s nothing like the feeling of gratitude you get from being a part of their growth and watching them grow over the few years I have them in the nursery. They’re always a pleasure, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.