Our Leadership Team
Pastor – David Perry
After graduating from Wilkinson County High School, David Perry earned his BA degree in Psychology/Philosophy from Asbury University. He is an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he studied Theology. He earned a Doctorate degree from Rockwell University (which later merged with another university).
Reverend Perry was born again at the age of 16, and the first church he pastored was during his undergraduate years at Asbury University. He and his wife, Autumn Creeks Perry, RN, first lived in a motor home while doing full-time evangelism. He then served as College and Career Minister in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Later, David felt a call from God to be a witness for Christ in the marketplace. As he worked in the business setting, he continued to preach and pastor wherever he was called to serve.
Both David and Autumn served the Lord in foreign missions during their 54 years of marriage. Autumn’s primary calling is in Nepal and Uganda, where she has served Christ for over 20 years.
Twenty years ago, when the Perrys moved to Milledgeville, they attended Hopewell Church for several years, and he preached there occasionally as pulpit supply.
Lay Leader & Music Director – Jan Anderson
Jan Marie Anderson was born in Pontiac, Michigan. She moved to New Port Richey, Florida, when she was 10 years old. After attending Pasco-Hernando Community College for two years, she went to Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia. Jan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. After working for a few years, she earned a Master’s degree in Education from GC&SU. She also has a Gifted Endorsement and a Reading Endorsement.
Jan moved to Milledgeville, Georgia, in 1991 to teach kindergarten at M.E. Lewis Elementary School. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church when it was downtown and also attended the church when it moved to its current location on Log Cabin Road. After 10 years of driving back and forth to work, Jan started teaching 1st grade at Midway Elementary School. Jan bought a house in Logan’s Bluff off Stembridge Road. Her neighbor set her up on a blind date with Andy Anderson, a co-worker of the neighbor. A year later, they eloped in Helen, Georgia. A year after that, John IV was born. Two years later, Noah was born. The family would travel from UMC (Sunday School) to Hopewell (church service) every Sunday. After a few years of going back and forth, the family settled in at Hopewell Methodist Church. Jan moved her membership to Hopewell, and both boys went through the confirmation classes and joined the church as well.
Jan has always been musical. She has always sung in a choir—probably before she could talk, she sang! Jan learned the basics of piano at a young age, played instruments (recorder, clarinet, cymbals, xylophone, and bass clarinet) throughout school, and learned to play the tenor saxophone in college so she could be in the jazz band.
Jan sang with the Hopewell choir and played in the Hopewell handbell choir. When the pandemic hit, Jan and another bell ringer made sure the bells were heard almost every Sunday. When the pandemic calmed down and the choir started singing with the congregation, Hopewell did not have a song leader. Jan volunteered to help lead the hymns with the congregation until a choir director could be hired.
Jan has since retired from teaching and is now more involved with the workings at Hopewell. She has been a wonderful addition to our staff.
Pianist – Becky Cooper
Becky Cooper was born and raised in Milledgeville, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia Military College High School and then from Georgia College with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, majoring in Accounting and Management. She also graduated from Georgia College with a Master of Business Administration degree. She is employed at a local bank.
Becky has attended Hopewell United Methodist Church since “before she was born.” She grew up in Sunday School and the United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF). She has been a member of the Adult I Sunday School class since she was in college. She has even been in the same Sunday School class with her parents and grandparents.
Becky received her piano for Christmas when she was eight years old and in the third grade. She started taking piano lessons two days after she received her piano and continued taking lessons until she graduated from high school. She started playing the clarinet when she was in the fifth grade and played it until she graduated from high school.
Becky served as Hopewell’s pianist from 1995 until 1998, then played for the morning and evening worship services, the children’s choir, and the adult choir. She became the interim pianist in May 2017 and assumed the role of Hopewell’s pianist in October 2017.
A few interesting facts about Becky: Her great-great-grandfather, Constantine Banner Anderson, was one of the founding ministers of Hopewell United Methodist Church. Becky has a 29-year perfect Sunday School attendance pin. Her perfect attendance began when she was eight years old and continued until the Sunday before she married Anthony.
Financial Services – Julie Lavender
Julie was born and raised in Laurens County, in the small town of Dudley. She moved to Milledgeville in 1982 and attended Georgia College, where she received her BBA in Marketing. Julie first worked for Philip Morris, Inc., for ten years as a Territory Sales Manager before opening L & L Farm Mart, a local feed and seed store. She owned and operated this business for 14 years. After selling the store, Julie went to work at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, where she is currently employed as a Records Clerk. She has been working there for five years and counting.
Julie met and married a local guy, Greg, in 1986, and they have been married for 38 years. They have one daughter, Logan. In her spare time, she enjoys working outside and planting flowers, spending time with family and friends, and especially playing with her dogs… and there are lots of them!