Dr. Jimmy Tanner
Senior Pastor
Pastor Jimmy A. Tanner serves as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Murphy, NC from: January 1, 2014 until present. He is married to Karen M. Tanner (February 4, 1984 36yr.) and they have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Daughter: Leslee Duncan and spouse, Paul Robert (Bobby) Duncan, Children: Bailee and Lilly of Wake Forest, NC). Son: Micah and spouse, Asia Tanner, Children: Braden and Kinslee of Blairsville, GA).
Jimmy attended Shorter College, Liberty University and graduated from Covington Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Master of Theology degree. Jimmy was License to Preach Gospel (1981-1985) Pennville First Baptist Church, Summerville GA, Ordained December 29, 1991 at Midway Baptist Church in Summerville GA.
Jimmy has served on staff of the local church from the age of 16 years old until the present. Jimmy has served as a (Dean of Off Campus College Program and Professor), he has also served as Moderator of many Associations and held State Convention positions. Jimmy is known as being a true pastor to his flock and not just a preacher/teacher. Pastor Tanner can be heard on local radio and television stations and also see him serving on local non-profit community boards building relationships for a greater kingdom.
Jimmy attended Shorter College, Liberty University and graduated from Covington Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Master of Theology degree. Jimmy was License to Preach Gospel (1981-1985) Pennville First Baptist Church, Summerville GA, Ordained December 29, 1991 at Midway Baptist Church in Summerville GA.
Jimmy has served on staff of the local church from the age of 16 years old until the present. Jimmy has served as a (Dean of Off Campus College Program and Professor), he has also served as Moderator of many Associations and held State Convention positions. Jimmy is known as being a true pastor to his flock and not just a preacher/teacher. Pastor Tanner can be heard on local radio and television stations and also see him serving on local non-profit community boards building relationships for a greater kingdom.
Rev. Cory West
Associate Pastor
Cory West is a youth pastor from Bremen, GA. He attended First Baptist Church of Bremen for most of his life and was saved when he was 18. In his Senior year of high school, God called Cory to vocational ministry. Since then, he has had the opportunity to serve as an intern with the youth group at First Baptist Bremen and as the Interim Youth Pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Eillijay, GA.
Cory is a graduate of Truett-McConnell University where he received a bachelors degree in business and missions. He married Leighton West (née Eldridge) on December 21, 2015. Cory and Leighton moved to West Virginia where he served as the Youth and Children’s Pastor at Kingwood Southern Baptist Church for one year. He enjoys outdoor activities as well as spending time with his wife and their two dogs.
Currently, Cory is working as our youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Murphy. He started working with our youth in July of 2017. Cory desires to assist young people to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ through studying Scripture and applying it to their daily lives.
Cory is a graduate of Truett-McConnell University where he received a bachelors degree in business and missions. He married Leighton West (née Eldridge) on December 21, 2015. Cory and Leighton moved to West Virginia where he served as the Youth and Children’s Pastor at Kingwood Southern Baptist Church for one year. He enjoys outdoor activities as well as spending time with his wife and their two dogs.
Currently, Cory is working as our youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Murphy. He started working with our youth in July of 2017. Cory desires to assist young people to grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ through studying Scripture and applying it to their daily lives.
Carol Moss
Music Minister
Carol has been in music ministry for over thirty years. Her passion and desire is to worship and glorify God through His wonderful gift of music and lead others to do the same and in doing so draw closer to Him.
She was born in Hahira in south Georgia. She grew up in several towns throughout Georgia moving with her family as her father was led by God to pastor at several different Baptist churches throughout the state along with her mother who served as a “foreign missionary” to Georgia from Texas as a nurse and nurse instructor. Watching her parents as a young child she knew she wanted to be a Christian. God opened her 8 year old eyes and heart to understand what that meant and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior during revival services late one summer.
As a child she took piano lessons and began playing the flute in band. As a teenager she felt God leading her to serve Him through music. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 1983 with a Bachelor in Music and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 with a Masters in Music. She served full time in music and youth ministry in Andrews for six years. She has served at Murphy First Baptist Church part time since 1994. She has also taught music in the Cherokee County School System since 2000, teaching fourteen years at Ranger and Martins Creek elementary middle schools and presently at Murphy and Peachtree elementary schools.
She and her husband Terry love to ride and camp in the mountains, sit on their front porch and spend time with their growing family. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren. Daniel and his wife, Brooke live in Manchester Tennessee with their children Remi and Hyatt. Phillip and his wife, Chelsea live in Marble with their children Huntleigh, Baylor and Rhett. Levi, their youngest son lives with them in Marble.
She was born in Hahira in south Georgia. She grew up in several towns throughout Georgia moving with her family as her father was led by God to pastor at several different Baptist churches throughout the state along with her mother who served as a “foreign missionary” to Georgia from Texas as a nurse and nurse instructor. Watching her parents as a young child she knew she wanted to be a Christian. God opened her 8 year old eyes and heart to understand what that meant and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior during revival services late one summer.
As a child she took piano lessons and began playing the flute in band. As a teenager she felt God leading her to serve Him through music. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 1983 with a Bachelor in Music and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 with a Masters in Music. She served full time in music and youth ministry in Andrews for six years. She has served at Murphy First Baptist Church part time since 1994. She has also taught music in the Cherokee County School System since 2000, teaching fourteen years at Ranger and Martins Creek elementary middle schools and presently at Murphy and Peachtree elementary schools.
She and her husband Terry love to ride and camp in the mountains, sit on their front porch and spend time with their growing family. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren. Daniel and his wife, Brooke live in Manchester Tennessee with their children Remi and Hyatt. Phillip and his wife, Chelsea live in Marble with their children Huntleigh, Baylor and Rhett. Levi, their youngest son lives with them in Marble.
Brenda Meador
Organist
Brenda has been in the music ministry for over 40 years. She has a desire to serve and glorify God through the gift of music.
She was born and raised in Murphy, NC and has always been involved with Murphy First Baptist Church. As an 11 year old, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior during spring revival service. As a child, she took piano lessons and began playing for the church at age 14. She was very involved in all aspects of the church from a young age.
At 15 years old, she began taking organ lessons and playing the organ in church. At 18 years old, she felt God leading her to serve Him through music ministry. She graduated from Young Harris College in 1981 and continued to minister through music. She has taught many students in piano and organ throughout the years and several students minister by playing at other churches. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a BS. Ed in elementary education/music and graduated from Piedmont College with her masters degree.
She has also taught in the Cherokee County School System
since 1993, teaching music and elementary education. She is presently teaching at Murphy Elementary School.
She is married to Tim Meador and they have one son and two daughters and two grandchildren.
She was born and raised in Murphy, NC and has always been involved with Murphy First Baptist Church. As an 11 year old, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior during spring revival service. As a child, she took piano lessons and began playing for the church at age 14. She was very involved in all aspects of the church from a young age.
At 15 years old, she began taking organ lessons and playing the organ in church. At 18 years old, she felt God leading her to serve Him through music ministry. She graduated from Young Harris College in 1981 and continued to minister through music. She has taught many students in piano and organ throughout the years and several students minister by playing at other churches. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a BS. Ed in elementary education/music and graduated from Piedmont College with her masters degree.
She has also taught in the Cherokee County School System
since 1993, teaching music and elementary education. She is presently teaching at Murphy Elementary School.
She is married to Tim Meador and they have one son and two daughters and two grandchildren.
Susan Profant
Pianist
Susan has been a church pianist and accompanist for over 55 years. She was born in Ft. Myers, FL and soon after her family moved to Sarasota, FL. She began taking piano lessons at an early age. Her father was a minister of Music and by the age 12 she joined him at Bay Haven Baptist Church as the church organist and pianist, sharing the talent the Lord gifted her. She was also the accompanist for her junior and senior high school music programs. Throughout the years she played for several different churches until her retirement in 2014. At that time Susan and her husband permanently moved to their retirement home in Murphy, NC. and joined First Baptist Church of Murphy. Knowing that Jesus never spoke about retiring from the Lord's work, when asked she began sharing her talents once again at First Baptist Church of Murphy.
She is married to Tom Profant and they have one son and one daughter and two grandchildren.
She is married to Tom Profant and they have one son and one daughter and two grandchildren.
Christy Ledford
Children's Director
I was born and raised in Murphy, NC. I married my high school sweetheart, Jeff Ledford. We have been married for 34 years. We have 1 adult daughter Amity Ledford. She lives in Apex, NC where she works as a kindergarten teacher. Jeff and I own and operate a plumbing and septic company in Murphy. We have worked side by side for 27 years.
I serve in our church on the Promises committee that work with our single, divorced, and widow ladies. I also serve in our church in the children's ministry where I started out has a volunteer which led to teaching Sunday school for the little
ones on Sunday morning. I also teach missions to the 1st and 20d grade on Wednesday nights. When the Children Ministry Director became available God called me to apply for that position. There is nothing more precious than to see a child's eyes light up when you are teaching them about God's love for them.
They say, "it takes a village to raise a child." Here at First Baptist Church of Murphy our mission is to teach, motive, and encourage our children to know Christ. We strive our ministry to be a support for not only our children, but our parents as well. We believe in loving our families to Jesus.
We would love to help you raise your village to love Jesus.
I serve in our church on the Promises committee that work with our single, divorced, and widow ladies. I also serve in our church in the children's ministry where I started out has a volunteer which led to teaching Sunday school for the little
ones on Sunday morning. I also teach missions to the 1st and 20d grade on Wednesday nights. When the Children Ministry Director became available God called me to apply for that position. There is nothing more precious than to see a child's eyes light up when you are teaching them about God's love for them.
They say, "it takes a village to raise a child." Here at First Baptist Church of Murphy our mission is to teach, motive, and encourage our children to know Christ. We strive our ministry to be a support for not only our children, but our parents as well. We believe in loving our families to Jesus.
We would love to help you raise your village to love Jesus.
