Valarie Englert- Senior Pastor

Rev. Valarie Englert was born in Shreveport, LA, and has deep family roots in East Texas. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas in Literary Studies and an M.Div. from Perkins School of Theology, SMU. She was ordained elder in the North Texas Conference in 2004, and has served as associate pastor at FUMC Rockwall since June 2003.  She provides pastoral leadership for the Open Door worship service, small group study programming, and in congregational care.  Previously, she served on the staffs of FUMC Dallas and White Rock UMC in Dallas.

Valarie’s husband of almost 22 years, Rick, is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Texas at Dallas, and owns a landscape design and maintenance business. They are proud parents of Eva, who is a sophomore at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where she is majoring in Environmental Studies.

Email: valarie@fumccommerce.org

Rev. Aleze Fulbright – Associate Pastor/Campus Minister

Aleze grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved to Texas after graduating college to begin her corporate experience in Accounting. Aleze has worked in numerous accounting industries and positions, including the last position as the Assistant Controller for a large Dallas non-profit organization. Aleze received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Missouri State University (Southwest Missouri State) in Springfield Missouri and a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School.

In June 2008, Aleze was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the North Texas Conference. Before commissioning, she served in various capacities at Jubilee UMC in Duncanville for nine years in positions including; President of UMW, Youth and Children Chairperson, Finance Chairperson, and Ministerial Intern. She has experienced an array of denominational perspectives throughout the years, including, Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), Baptist, COGIC and Apostolic. Aleze brings youthfulness, excitement and passion with her into ministry. She is committed to empowering people as they strive to achieve their God-given purpose. Her favorite scripture is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” As of June 2008, she was appointed to serve as Associate Pastor at First UMC-Commerce and Campus Minister at Wesleyan Campus Ministry of Texas A&M-Commerce.

Aleze loves her son Myron Fisher Jr., who keeps her schedule busy with his passion for playing AAU basketball. Aleze enjoys spending time with those she loves, and devoting time to the community and her sorority- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Email: aleze@fumccommerce.org

Mariann Andrews – Office Administrator

Mariann was born in Greenville, TX and has called it home for the past fifty years. She graduated from Greenville High School, and then traveled down the interstate fifteen miles to Commerce. She graduated from East Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Mariann entered the world of banking and for the next twenty five years made that her career. She commuted to the Dallas area where she held the position of banking center manager. Mariann was excited to make a career change in 2002 to serve as office administrator for First United Methodist Church. One of her greatest joys is all the new friends she has made while at FUMC.

Mariann and her husband, Mack, another Hunt County native, enjoy time shared with their family. Their daughter Emily, son-in-law Michael, grandson Matthew, and granddaughter Claire also live in Greenville. They are discovering all the wonders of being grandparents. Their other daughter, Julia, is currently at the University of Nebraska, and they keep the phone lines busy.

Email: office@fumccommerce.org

Alison Walker – Director of Children’s Ministries

Alison was born in Ann Arbor, MI, grew up in Columbia, MD, but has lived in Commerce for more than 20 years. She came to Commerce in 1987 as a freshman at East Texas State University, and has been here ever since.

Most of Alison’s adult life has been dedicated to work with children. Her teaching experience includes both public and private schools at the elementary and pre-school levels. She worked with youth and children at FUMC-Commerce for many years before settling into her current position. Most importantly, she is the mother of 4 beautiful children: Teddy, Charlie, Sally, and Jack.

Alison and her husband, Sam, have been married for 11 years and their family has been tremendously blessed by the First United Methodist Church and the Commerce community.

Alison is grateful for the opportunity this job affords her. She along with many generous and talented volunteers have the privilege of accompanying some truly amazing children on the paths of their spiritual journeys. It is her prayer that the Children’s Ministry programs at FUMC-Commerce are a blessing to these children – as much as the children have been a blessing to us!

Email: alison@fumccommerce.org

Hayley Jobe – Director of Youth Ministries

Hayley Jobe was born in Omak, WA but has called Commerce, TX home since 1994. She graduated from Texas A&M University- Commerce and received her BS and MS in Counseling. She is currently the Assistant Director of Residential Living and Learning at A&M Commerce.

She has a 19 year old daughter attending University of Texas at Arlington who was active in the youth group. Hayley enjoys being active in the community, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She has been actively involved in working as a youth volunteer for many years before becoming the youth director. She is committed to helping youth connect to Him through fellowship, lessons, and service projects.

Email: hayley@fumccommerce.org

Bonnie Smith- Communications Specialist

Bonnie was born and raised in northeast Texas. She moved to Commerce to attend Texas A & M University-Commerce in 2000. She graduated with her bachelors in Business Administration in the spring of 2002 and her masters in Business Administration in the fall of 2003. She married her longtime friend Mike Smith in 2004. They live in Commerce with their son, Michael Brit, and dog, Batman. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, listening to music, and watching TV. She also enjoys traveling and has been to the Bahamas, Cancun, Ireland, and various places in the States.

Email: communications@fumccommerce.org

Gene Lockhart – Music Director

Gene Lockhart was born in Nebraska, raised in Iowa, went to college in South Dakota, taught in the public schools in South Dakota, and did graduate work at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York before coming to East Texas State University in 1969. He has held a variety of positions with the university since that time, and recently retired from serving as the head of the Department of Music. He continues to teach in the Music Department. He has been active in FUMC-Commerce since arriving in Commerce and currently serves as Director of the Chancel Choir and Music Ministries.

Dr. John Burkett – Church Organist

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, John Burkett began studying the piano and the organ at ages 6 and 9 respectively. Pre-college study with Harald Rohlig, Mark McGowin and Gene Jarvis led to further study at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels at Florida State University, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois.

After a year’s teaching experience in Nebraska at Kearney State College and the University of Nebraska, Dr. Burkett came to ETSU (now Texas A&M-Commerce) in 1972 where he teaches a wide variety of courses. He has played for Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches since the age of 13 and has served as organist to the First United Methodist Church of Commerce, Texas, since 1975.

As a composer, Dr. Burkett has written numerous hymn-based compositions for solo organ and solo piano, most of which remain unpublished. In 1995, however, he co-authored 101 Favorite Hymn Harmonizations for Keyboard, which was published by Abingdon Press of Nashville.