Congregational UCC Staff

Senior Pastor

Rev. Julie Peeples
Rev. Julie Peeples came to Congregational in late September of 1991, having served with her husband, the Rev. Paul Davis, as chaplains for Habitat for Humanity International at Habitat headquarters in Americus, Georgia. They have two daughters, Meghan and Hannah. Julie grew up in Charleston, SC, graduated from Furman University in '79 and from Andover Newton Seminary in '83. Her ministerial experience includes working with homeless women in Boston, campus ministry at St. Vincent College near Pittsburgh, serving as a Minister of Christian Education and Family Life in a large UCC church near Boston, and the Habitat work. She enjoys pottery, reading and camping. E-mail Julie at julie [at] congregationalucc [dot] com.

Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Dr. William C. Smith
Rev. William C. (Bill) Smith served as Senior Minister at Congregational for eight years (1981-88) and was elected Pastor Emeritus in October 1994. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and has B.D. and Th.D. degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the US Marine Corps, mostly in China, and has been a Campus Minister, with positions at Duke University and the University of Richmond. He came to Congregational from Durham, where he was pastor of Pilgrim UCC for ten years and also a member of the Durham City Council. He is the husband of Winnie Fitzgerald Smith, to whom he has been married since June 1953. They are the parents of a son and a daughter, and proud grandparents of five young people.

Minister for Christian Education

Rev. Paul Davis
Paul Davis was born in Ann Arbor MI, and attended the University of Michigan where he majored in Sociology (with an interest in demography). He was raised Presbyterian, but converted to American Baptist Churches while at college. Upon Graduation from Andover Newton Theological School, he married Julie Peeples. Paul served churches in the Boston, Pittsburgh, and Greensboro areas. He served as co-chaplain, with Julie, at Habitat for Humanity in Americus, GA. They came to Greensboro in October 1991 when Julie accepted the position of Interim Pastor of this church. He has worked for Greensboro Urban Ministries, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro. He is currently Minister of Christian Education for this church, and also works with our church's Stewardship and administration. Paul has sung in the choir, and played in the handbell choir. Daughters Meghan and Hannah grew up in the church. Meghan graduated UNC Chapel Hill and now lives in Washington DC, Hannah presently attends UNC Chapel Hill. E-mail Paul at paul [at] congregationalucc [dot] com.

Director of Music

Mr. Jimmy Buchanan
Jimmy Buchanan joined CUCC as Director of Music in August 2008. He is a middle school choral director with Guilford County Schools and is a native of Morganton, NC and the mountains. Jimmy graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Music Education in December of 2002 and in August 2004 he received his Masters of Choral Conducting degree, also from Appalachian State University. Jimmy directs of the CUCC Chancel Choir and the Hand-Bell Choir. If you would like to contact Jimmy, you can email him at jrbsoul68 [at] gmail.com.

Church Organist

Mr. Bill Herndon Bill Herndon, a native High Pointer, began formal piano training under Troy W. Lee, having first taught himself to play by ear. He started organ study in the ninth grade with Henry B. Whipple. After graduating from High Point Central, Bill attended the University of Michigan's School of Music studying Organ Performance with Dr. Robert E. Glasgow. While at U-M, Herndon was Dean of the Student Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and Student Assistant to the Interim Curator of Organs. Herndon has held positions at several area churches, most recently at Second Reformed UCC in Lexington. He is a member of the Greater Greensboro Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Bill lives with six dogs and four cats. E-mail Bill at rrbill [at] triad [dot] rr [dot] com.

Director of Children's Choir, Bella A Capella, and Fella A Capella

Ms. Edna B. Olayiwola
Edna joined the CUCC music Staff as Director of Bella A Capella and Children�s Choir in September 2008, and she is now also Director of our Fella A Capella. She is a teacher (I.S.S.) at Eastern Guilford Middle School and a native of Greensboro N.C. Edna Graduated form N.C. A.&T. State University in 1983 with a B.S. in Music Education. E-mail Edna at olayiwe [at] gcsnc [dot] com

Nursery Director

Ms. Jessica Gudmundson
Jessica is originally from Green Bay WI, and grew up in West Palm Beach, FL, where she obtained her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Miami. Shortly after graduation, she relocated to Chicago and later received a Masters in Child Development from the Erikson Institute. In 2008, Jessica moved to Greensboro, NC to attend the doctoral program at UNCG in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. Currently, she is working on a research project and starting her dissertation; Jessica plans on graduating in May 2012.

Church Custodian

Ms. Renae Williams
Our Church Custodian is Renae Williams, who joined us as of September 2000. She and her husband, Danny, are the parents of five children and live in McLeansville.