Our Staff
Rick Turner, Senior Pastor229-377-3051 x102
Rev. Turner was born and raised in LaGrange, Georgia. He graduated from LaGrange High School, Georgia Southern College and has his Master of Divinity Degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
He was married to Wanda Efurd and they had two children, Kim and Richie. Kim is married to Bill Tyson and they have three children: Turner, Gunnar and Konner. Richie is married to Becca and they have two children: Carolyne and Ret. Wanda died in 2003. In 2006, Rev. Turner married Donna Brown. Donna has two sons, Scott and Jason.
Coming most recently from Blakely First UMC, Rev. Turner served Moultrie First UMC, Bainbridge First UMC, Brunswick First UMC, Warner Robins First UMC and other appointments in the South Georgia Conference.
Mike Mobley, Minister of Programs and Family Education
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mike@cairofumc.org
Rev. Mobley has been on staff at Cairo FUMC since 2003. He holds a B.S. degree in Business Management from Florida State University and completed a M.Ed. degree in Counseling at Albany State University. He attended Asbury Theological Seminary to fulfill requirements for ordination as a Deacon in the UMC. Mike serves as the Minister of Programs and Family Education. He has a passion for serving God and seeking new opportunities to build and equip the church family.
Mike and Karen, his wife of 26 years, have one son, Alex. Karen works in the local school system and Alex is currently a college student in Tallahassee. Mike and his family enjoy the opportunity to worship and serve together as each family member is involved in some form of servant ministry.
Ruth Sims, Administrative Assistant229-377-3051 x101
Ruth Sims has lived in Grady County all her life. She has been a member of Cairo First UMC for 42 years. Before coming to work at Cairo First UMC, Ruth worked seven years for Grady EMC. She has worked at Cairo First United Methodist Church for thirty-two years. She is a member of the state and national Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries. She has served in several elected offices of the state organization and is currently Ways and Means Chairperson. She is a certified United Methodist Church secretary having attended the certification institute at Emory University. Her hobbies are reading and cooking.
She is married to Ross Sims and they have two daughters, Rhonda and Rebecca. Both daughters are married to United Methodist pastors. Ross and Ruth are the proud grandparents of Wesley Addington.
Ed Lyon, Music Minister229-377-3051 x103
Dr. Edward Smith Lyon attended Samford University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, and received his Doctorate at Florida State University. He has been at FUMC since January 2007 and has served churches throughout Alabama, Arkansas and Florida. Most recently he was at Bradfordville Baptist Church in Tallahassee for 13 years, part-time. He is married to Mary McMahan, a nurse with Big Bend Hospice. Ed has two grown sons and six wonderful grandchildren. He works full-time as Chaplain for Tallahassee's Big Bend Hospice. He and Mary live in Crawfordville, Florida. They love to travel and have been to Germany/Austria, a Cruise to Belize, and several trips to California to see hippie son, Stephen and his five children.
Ed Self, Organist229-377-3051 x103
Ed Self has been the organist and primary accompanist for First United Methodist Church for 30 years. A native of Selma, AL., he holds both the Bachelor of Music Education and M.S. Ed. degrees from Troy University with a principal in organ, in addition to post-graduate work completed at the University of Georgia.
In 2007, Ed retired from the Grady County School System with 30 years of experience teaching choral and general music. He holds membership in the Georgia Music Educators Association, the Organ Historical Society, and the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and is a charter member of the Tallahassee chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Jeremy Wellman, Youth Director
Born and raised in Huntington, WV, Jeremy graduated from Marshall University in 2006 with a degree in Music Education. This is his first church appointment since entering vocational ministry in 2010. A music teacher and band director turned youth minister, Jeremy seeks to use his passion for youth and experience as a former professional educator to impact lives in a profound way. Jeremy is an avid musician and has a passion for music that often accompanies his ministry.
Jamie Allen, Preschool Director
Jamie was born and raised in Cairo, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a B.S. in Psychology in 2000 and completed her Master of Education degree in Counseling from Georgia Southern in 2002. In 2004 Jamie and her husband of 10 years Chad moved back to Cairo and became active in the Cairo First United Methodist Church where Chad was raised. They have one son Tyson who fills their days with love and excitement. Jamie has a true love for children and their development both academically and spiritually. She also has a love for the Preschool and cannot wait to see the blessings God has in store for it.
Nathan Hauser, Children's Director
Nathan Hauser is a recent graduate from Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida. He has worked in camping ministry for eight summers, as well as served in a church as minister of music. Above all, he has a passion for serving God, and finds working with children his greatest joy. 
