Our Staff
Pastor
Justin grew up in Slapout, AL and felt the call to ministry as a senior in high school. He attended the International House of Prayer University in Kansas City, MO for his undergraduate and has a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Before joining the Loxley Church of Grace Justin was the pastor of a church predominantly for the homeless in downtown Montgomery, AL, on Dexter Ave, named River City Church. Justin is married to his wife Jordon, and they have three dogs at home, and two cows they left behind in Slapout. Justin was accepted as an elder in the Global Methodist Church in June of 2023 and has an expectation of the Lord doing mighty things in Loxley.
Don Newberry, Music Director
I have been a member at LUMC (Now Loxley Church of Grace) since June of 1991, after a few years working in New Orleans. I have been a Methodist all my life. My earliest memories of church were at Broad Street Methodist in Mobile, which has since closed, and Monroeville UMC. Stapleton UMC is where I grew up. This is when I began to realize that God was for us, and could be talked to as a friend. My first experience with choir was in MYF (the youth group) at Stapleton, and have been in choir almost continually since. I first became LUMC’s choir director in 1997, at the prompting of Ms. Irene Gulledge, whom we miss very much. I am Married to Barbara Jo (My music mentor and more!) and I have one daughter, Emmy. Some of my other interests are electronics, computers, amateur radio, other geeky stuff and I am attempting to learn the guitar. I am so thankful for my family, friends, and for the people in our church, for the spirit that they convey which is a real blessing to me.
Youth Ministries
Barbara Davis, Office Administrator & Secretary-Treasurer
Barbara joined the Loxley UMC in 1996. Prior to moving to Loxley in 1994, she lived in many areas, including Denver, CO when she was in the Air Force. She began her teaching career at Fidelis Jr. High in Jay, Fl. and retired from the Mobile School system in 1998. She then began a second career as the receptionist for the Girl Scouts and retired December 2016. She became a part time secretary for Loxley UMC in 1999. She has a son and daughter, a grandson, 2 granddaughters, and a great granddaughter.
Diane McCrary, Organist
In 2005 when Dianne retired from teaching school after thirty-three years and after making excuses for not going to church for fifteen years, she and her husband, Ernest, made a promise to their son Mike, an Assembly of God Pastor in Missouri, to find a church. LUMC was the first on the visiting list because of what her hairdresser told her over the years about the church, some of the members, and the Pastor. Because of client/hairdresser privilege, she cannot reveal what she heard, but LUMC was the first and last church visited. Dianne feels honored and blessed to being a part of the praise and worship team, the LUMW, and the Church family. Dianne and Ernest love the good people of LUMC and think of the members as best friends. The Pastor tells the story that the church prayed for a good organist, but God sent Dianne instead. Thank God for answered prayer. Dianne and Ernest share their home in Daphne’s Lake Forest with their dachshunds, Little Girl and Oscar.
Beth Henson, Pianist
I joined Loxley UMC in 2000. I moved my membership from a Baptist church in the area. I started playing the piano shortly after I joined the church. I am the church pianist, choir member, UMW secretary, administrative, children’s choir director and Sunday school teacher. I retired from the Baldwin County School System in 2009 after 30 years of service. I received BS and MA degrees from the University of Mobile. I currently am the After School Site Manager at Silverhill School. I was married to Jim Henson for seven years. I have two sons (Chris and Caleb) and three stepchildren (Jeff, Chad, and Suzanne). I also have five grandchildren (Owen, Cooper, Alex, Elliot and Isaac). I was blessed to welcome a grandaughter, Evie in 2018.
Irvin Mosley, Church Custodian
Irvin is custodian of the Family Activity Center Sanctuary and gounds for the Loxley United Methodist Church (UMC). He was born and raised in Stapleton and moved to Loxley in 1986. Irvin joined the Loxley UMC in 2002 and has provided many, many hours of volunteer work around the church. He retired in February 2013 after working for 20 years for Jubliee Landscaping.
Debi Shanks, Office Administrator
Debi has been a blessing to our church for many years. Debi grew up in Mobile. Retired in 2010 from Lee Helms Associates as Executive Administrator. She came to LUMC in 2012. Took position as Financial Secretary in 2016.
When she was needed she stepped right into the Prayer call list position and is always ready to reach out to everyone for needed prayers as requested. She also makes special announcements via the CallMultiplier system that we use. We are so grateful that she is with us!