Our Staff
Originally from the town of Greer, South Carolina, Charles graduated from Greer High School. After attending Winthrop University, he enlisted in the Unites States Army. Within the first year of his enlistment, Charles married his high school sweetheart, Suzan Edwards Phillips. They lived at Ft. Rucker, Alabama where Charles attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school to become a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. They were then stationed in Germany for five years, where Charles completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1990, Charles’s aviation unit was deployed to Iraq to support military operations in Operation Desert Storm.
Upon leaving active duty in 1993, Charles began to consider the call to ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. He attended Duke Divinity School and later graduated with a Master’s of Divinity degree from Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, S.C. Additionally, Charles completed the Army Chaplain Course at Ft. Jackson, S.C. His credentials include post-graduate work in Spiritual Direction, Sacramental Renewal, and Theological Scholarship. He is also a member of Spiritual Directors International and The Order of St. Luke.
As an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Charles has served appointments in the Greenwood, Rock Hill, and Greenville districts and is also a Chaplain in the Army Reserve where his ministers to soldiers, Marines, and their families. Charles and his wife, Suzan, have two daughters, Rachel and Hannah and are excited to be a part of Cokesbury’s family.
Greta is a life-long United Methodist originally from Charleston, West Virginia. She graduated from Fairmont State College with a Bachelor's degree in Education and taught public school in Maryland where she met and married her husband Jim who was active duty Coast Guard. In 1983 she was commissioned as a Coast Guard officer until 1995 when Jim and Greta decided to make Charleston, South Carolina their home. During this time she also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Charleston.
Greta was an active Lay Speaker for four years before being licensed as a Local Pastor in the South Carolina Annual Conference. She is a dual vocation pastor and is also employed as the Strategic Planner in the Charleston County Solicitor's Office. She served the Jamestown UMC Charge in Berkeley County from 2002 - 2008 and completed her Five Year Ministerial Course of Study at Candler School of Theology in 2007. Her joy for ministry is centered in all types of teaching, spiritual gifts discovery, drama ministry, and working for the good of our community living out the principle of her favorite lesson to the disciples, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me", (Matthew 25:40). Greta is happy to be a part of Cokesbury UMC and welcomes new and creative opportunities to serve our Lord.
Pam Coleman
Program Director for Children's Ministries
colemanps@comcast.net
Pam was born in North Carolina and has lived in Charleston for almost 40 years. She has attended Cokesbury since she was a child. Pam holds an Accounting degree from Trident Technical College and has been employed by Roper St. Francis Healthcare since 1995. She and her husband, John, have been married for 22 years. Pam has been a member of the Costa Rica Mission Team at Cokesbury for the past three years and has assisted with the children's program for the past eight years. She has taught Sunday School and Children's Church, and has organized our major children's events such as Vacation Bible School, our annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Fall Harvest Festival. Pam loves working with children and is excited to find new ways for the children to learn about Jesus' love and the teachings of the Bible.
Miriam Graham and Leigh Ann Sayer
Program Directors for Youth Ministries
Thom is a native of Mebane North Carolina, and is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He attended Elon College with studies in Music, majoring in Organ and Piano with a concentration in Sacred Choral music. He is a licensed Funeral Director and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.
Thom and his wife Rena have two children, a son Jerry and a daughter Jessica. Jerry and his wife Amanda have made Thom and Rena very proud grandparents with the addition of the newest Isley, Ayden.
Thom has a love of music and served as a Music Director and Organist for over 20+ years at Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church in Graham, NC. He served as Director of Music Ministries at his home church, Mebane United Methodist Church in Mebane, NC. He is a past Member of the Music Educator’s National Conference and has served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Gospel Guild. Since moving to Charleston, he has served as the Director of Music Ministries for Midland Park United Methodist Church in North Charleston. Thom’s love for music is only surpassed by his love for God and the advancement of His Kingdom. Thom and his family are very excited about being at Cokesbury.
Lyn was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana. She has been our Cokesbury secretary since February 1993. She and her husband, Bill, have two daughters and two grandchildren.
