Our Staff
Henry Bass, Senior Pastor229-377-3051 x102
On June 10th, 2009, at the South Georgia Annual Conference, Rev. Henry Bass was appointed to Cairo First United Methodist Church. We welcome Rev. Henry and Jane Ellen Bass as our new parsonage family. Rev. Bass is originally from Athens, Alabama. He and Jane Ellen are the parents of five children and ten grandchildren.
Rev. Bass graduated from John C. Calhoun Junior College, Decatur, Alabama, then received his B.A. Degree in Religion and Philosophy from Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
Prior to becoming a minister, Rev. Bass worked for Monsanto Chemical Textile Company in Decatur, Alabama. He entered the ministry in the North Alabama conference and served several appointments in Alabama until 1989, when he transferred to the South Georgia Conference. He has since served churches in Doerun, Alamo, Alma, Brunswick, Blakely, Jesup, and Vidalia. He has also served on numerous district and conference committees, as well as being involved in civic organizations in the areas where he has served.
Mike Mobley, Minister of Programs and Family Education
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mike@cairofumc.org
Mike 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. 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 is an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is the executive director of Alabaster Jar Ministries. He and his wife of 23 years, Karen, operate this nonprofit organization as a resource for strengthening families while supporting local schools and churches. They offer marriage enrichment programs, premarital counseling, parent training, support groups, and individualized Christian life coaching. Mike and Karen have one son, Alex, who is currently a college student.
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 have served churches throughout Alabama, Arkansas and Florida. Most recently he was at Bradfordville Baptist Church in Tallahassee for 13 years, part-time. He is single with two grown sons and one wonderful grandson who lives in Tallahassee. He works full-time as Chaplain for Tallahassee's Big Bend Hospice. He most recently spent three days snow-skiing at Lake Tahoe with his hippie son in California. He loves to fish and snow-ski.
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.
Meghan Ridenour, Director of Youth Ministries
Meghan Ridenour serves as the Director of Youth Ministries, working with students in 6th – 12th grades. Meghan has worked with the youth of Grady County as a high school teacher for the past eight years. She enjoys working with young people, as they mature in their faith. It is her desire to foster deeper relationships with Jesus Christ, and Christian fellowship among the youth of our church. Meghan also serves as the Church Liaison with the Pregnancy Center of Southwest Georgia, and has a passion for community outreach.
Originally from upstate New York, Meghan grew up outside of Dallas, Texas. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Leon High School in Tallahassee, Meghan attended the University of Florida, where she received a B.A. degree in Spanish and Secondary Education. She holds a P-12 professional teaching certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and has years of experience organizing events & activities for youth. She and her husband relocated in 2006, have two small children, and have become very active in many areas of ministry at Cairo FUMC.
Katie Odum, Director of Children's Ministries229-377-3051 x107
Katie Odum currently serves as the Director of Children’s Ministries. She has a passion for children and has a desire to see them develop and learn educationally as well as spiritually. She enjoys ministering to children and watching them grow closer to Jesus Christ and learn what it means to have a relationship with Him.
Along with her husband, Tommy, she has been involved in children’s ministry for the past four years. She has also worked for three years at the largest licensed children’s program and preschool in Tallahassee.
