Valerie is a native Atlantan – born at Crawford Long hospital and raised within walking distance of Peachtree Road…back when you could safely walk to Peachtree Road. Her entry point into the Methodist church was in nursery school at Northside United Methodist Church where an unusual playground event was etched in her memory.

After a nine year career at Turner Broadcasting, Valerie joined the workforce of stay-at-home moms with the birth of her children, Ashley and Andrew. Ashley is now a freshman at University of West Georgia in Carrollton and Andrew is a senior at Killian Hill Christian School in Lilburn.

Shortly after her “retirement” to have children Valerie reentered the workforce teaching preschool at Norcross UMC. While attending church and after discovering Wesleyan theology, Valerie sensed God calling her into ministry (a call to which she answered with a not-so-confident “Who…me?”). Over 10 years later, she is now a Licensed Local Pastor in the North Georgia Conference working toward ordination.

Valerie has worked as Minister of Discipleship and Associate Pastor at Chamblee UMC and Director of Children’s Ministry at Mount Pisgah UMC. She is on the Executive Board of the Fellowship of Local Pastors, is active in Walk to Emmaus, and speaks at women’s retreats. She loves reading, quilting and has just begun the habit…craft of knitting, which for some reason her two cats really enjoy.