Grace United Methodist Staff
Staff Bios
Danny Cox, Directing Pastor
 Danny, who was appointed to Grace in July 1998, was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and raised in Collinsville. He graduated with a B.S. in Secondary Education from Illinois State University. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Danny was the second person to be honored by our Annual Conference with the Harry Denman Award for his local, conference, and national work in evangelism. He has three times been elected by his peers as a delegate to Jurisdictional Conferences and most recently to General Conference.
Danny’s wife Carol is from Oakland, Illinois, and teaches eighth-grade science at Blue Mound. She also serves at Grace as worship leader for Fresh Start and as Sunday School teacher. Danny and Carol have 5 children and 4 grandchildren.
Brad Watkins, Associate Pastor
 Brad Watkins, II, was appointed to Grace on July 1, 2010. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, raised in Atlanta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan; and Peoria, Illinois. He is the son of Ann and Brad Watkins, who retired from the active United Methodist ministry from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Brad is the product of Wiley College, Marshall, Texas, and Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia.
Brad brings a passion for Urban and transformational ministry, as a result of his service through a local church (Wesley-Bethel U.M. Church) and community service agency (Lessie-Bates Davis Neighborhood House) in and around East St. Louis, Illinois for eleven years. He also served churches in Bloomington (Evangelical and West Olive U.M. Churches); and Champaign-Urbana (The Wesley Foundation and Church).
Brad's wife Debbie was raised and educated in Jackson, Tennessee. She has an extensive background with speaking words of hope and purpose into the llives of children and youth both as an educator and spiritual guide. They have three sons and have parented over thirteen young people in more than twenty years as licensed foster parents.
Ron Rector, Campus Minister - South Pointe
 Ron returns to Grace as part of the pastoral team as Campus Minister of our new church start - South Pointe, after serving as a member in the early 90's. He brings a diverse and experienced ministry background to us. He was pastor of Maroa Christian Church for 7 years, after a nearly 13-year career as Sports Director at WAND-TV in Decatur, He also served as Area Representative for the Greater Decatur Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has preached in numerous area churches and at the Decatur Correctional Center. He also helped organize a citywide communion service. His heart is to win people to Christ and help grow them deeper in their faith.
Ron is married to Mary Ann. They have three children and one granddaughter.
Pam Wentworth, Business Manager
 Pam spent all of her childhood in the Chicago area, where she lived until she went to college at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Pam graduated from the U of I with a BS in Math Education in 1974. Pam’s husband Steve, born and raised on a farm, began farming in 1974. Pam has taught high school math on and off for 12 years and was a math tutor at Richland Community College. Pam and Steve have two adult children, Julie and Scott, and one granddaughter. In March 2002, Pam was hired as the Business Manager at Grace United Methodist Church and thanks God for the opportunity to serve the church in this capacity. Pam's hobbies include playing cards, golf, and reading.
Vickie Clark, Secretary
 Vickie Clark has been a member of Grace Church since 1991 and employed by the church for 10 years. The big joy she gets from working on staff is getting to know and work with so many wonderful Grace Church volunteers. She has served on Evangelism, Lay Leadership and Memorial committees. Vickie and her husband Ken have two grown sons, and when time permits, she enjoys walking and reading.
Arlis DeJaynes, Choir Director & Organist
Arlis DeJaynes joined the staff in 2008 as the Director of Music at Grace UMC, a poistion that includes organist, director of the Chancel Choir, and director the the Handbell Choir. Born in 1954, she has served as a church organist since the age of nine, most recently at Christ United Methodist Church in Decatur from 1997-2008. During daytime hours, Arlis is Chair of the English Department at St. Teresa High School, where she has taught since 1986. She and her husband, Randy, have two sons and four grandchildren. Music and literature fill her work life, but in her spare time, Arlis loves to write. She has written a collection of devotions, Devotions for Tough Times, which have become the basis of Lenten and Advent season devotionals for the congregation at Grace.
Jason and Shannon Garrett, Directors of Youth and Children
Donald Gordon, Senior High Youth Leader
Linda Sattley, Financial Secretary
Linda is the Financial Secretary at Grace. Linda has been a member of Grace since 1967. She is married to Robert and they have 3 adult children, Heather, Jeff, and Cory. They also have 5 grandchildren Sebastian, Ivan, Lillian, MaKayla, and Erin. Linda also works at Stevenson Elementary School as a part time Secretary. Linda has worked at St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Christ United Methodist Church before coming to work at Grace. She enjoys working at the church.
In her spare time Linda does craft shows with her parents, Ron and Ida Sutton, also members of Grace. She also enjoys the grandchildren doing baseball and karate. She and her husband also enjoy riding their Harley when they get the chance.
Barb Wence, Health Minister
 Barb is the Health Minister at Grace United Methodist Church and has been a Licensed Practical Nurse since 1979 working primarily in Medical Offices in the Decatur area. The role of Health Minister is to embrace the wholistic approach to the wellness of the individual. The focus is on the physical, spiritual, emotional, and social well being of the person. I am responsible for informing congregants of new health concerns and educational opportunities. Barb also does hospital follow up visits, promotes wellness as well as being a health counselor, patient advocate, and resource person. She received Parish Nurse training in 2001 through Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Barbara is married to the Rev. Dr. David Wence, and together they have seven adult children, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Opal Reuben, Secretary
 Opal was born in St. Louis and graduated from Hancock High School and Brown Business School in that city. She worked at the Sporting News and for the U.S. Army and Air Force at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Opal has been a member of Grace UMC since the early 1960s. In 1973 she began working at Grace as a part-time secretary. She has also served as a volunteer in various areas, currently serving in the Lay Ministry through which she visits members of Grace in area nursing homes. She also assists with Widows group.
Opal’s interests include family and outdoor activities.
Rhonda Perkins-Allen, Data Entry
Nursery Director, Marcia Jewell
PreSchool Director, Sara Jewell
Ann Lippincott, Membership Secretary
 Ann was born in Decatur, attended high school in Barry, Illinois, and graduated from MacMurray College with a major in chemistry. She returned to Decatur in 1946 to work as a research chemist, retiring in 1984. Ann has been the membership secretary at Grace since 1986. She enjoys outdoor activities, genealogical research, reading, and her cat.
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