FUMC Staff
Pastor Scott A. Bradford was appointed to pastor Uvalde First United Methodist Church in June 2006. He is married to Laurel, and they have two sons, Joshua and Daryl. Scott first attended Kent State University as a theater major, and after two years of college entered the military as a Military Policeman. While in the military, he continued to further his education, and quickly advanced to Military Police Investigations. He and his wife then advanced to be Special Agents with the U. S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (C.I.D.). Pastor Scott’s last assignment was at Fort Sam Houston, where he was also called to serve on an eight-month tour in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Just prior to Desert Storm, Scott felt the call to the ministry, and following the war, as the military was downsizing, he ended his ten years of service to answer the call. Pastor Scott is a third generation minister, following both his grandfathers, Rev. D. Dewey Whitwell Bradford (E.U.B. and Tennessee Conference); Rev. Ernest Bradford (E.U.B. and West Ohio Conference); and his father, Rev. Charles Wesley Bradford (E.U.B. and West Ohio Conference); as well as his uncle, Rev. Orla Bradford (E.U.B. and Indiana Conference).
At the time he announced his candidacy, Scott was a member of Northern Hills United Methodist Church, San Antonio, TX, where he taught junior high Sunday School. He and Laurel were also youth sponsors.
In 1993, Pastor Scott entered the Course of Study School for Local Pastors and he was appointed to the Cotulla First United Methodist Church. In 1997, he and his family moved to Junction, Texas when he was appointed to serve the Junction and London United Methodist Churches. Pastor Scott completed the basic course of study and was ordained a Deacon - Associate Member in 1999. He served the Junction/London communities for the past nine years and was named Kimble County Citizen of the year in 2005 for his community service.
Scott, Laurel and their family enjoy being active in community theater, are avid snow skiers and enjoy kayaking. Their son Joshua is currently living in Austin, and their son, Daryl, has just graduated from Oklahoma City University.
Susan Lovelace-Gerrish has served as Director of Music Ministries at FUMC Uvalde since August 1996. She has been directing UM church choirs and handbell groups since 1980. She is certified as an Associate in Music Ministry in the United Methodist Church, having successfully completed the requirements at Church Music Summer School at SMU Perkins School of Theology. Prior to being in music ministry, Susan was a R.N. holding licenses in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with a specialty in home health consulting.
Susan conducts the Uvalde Community Choir and has led the group in several community wide events.
Susan, and her husband Jim, who is an accomplished keyboardist, enjoy camping in Colorado. Susan is an avid gardener (she directs the planting projects and Jim supplies the labor!) and loves to read and cook.
They have a daughter, Melissa, son-in-law, Michael, and three grandsons, Justin, Jordan, and Mitchell who are the light of their lives!
Barbara Dillahunty has been married to her husband, Bill, for fifty years, having come to Uvalde as a newlywed in the fall of 1960. She joined FUMC shortly after arriving in Uvalde, and has been a lifelong Methodist. Bill and Barbara have two children, Dee Ann, who is a school counselor for the Sabinal ISD, and Jeff, who is a P.E. teacher with the Northside District in San Antonio. Jeff and his wife, Marlo, have two sons, Dalton and Jake, and Barbara loves being a grandma! Barbara worked as a legal secretary for the law firm of Kessler & Kessler for more than forty-five years, retiring in December 2008.
Barbara has enjoyed accompanying various children's musicals over the years and has played the piano for nursery through kinder Sunday School classes for many years. She continues to work with the Journeys Bible Club program and VBS as the need arises and as scheduling and time permit.
Barbara is proud to be a member of FUMC and is thankful for the opportunity to serve as the church's organist/pianist. There is no where else she would rather be on Sunday morning than at FUMC praising God through the great hymns and the beautiful music the choirs sing and enjoying the warmth and friendship of all the wonderful people at FUMC.
Claire Dillard has served as the Director of Youth Ministries since August 2011. She was previously a youth director at St. John's United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. Prior to joining our church, she worked for the big Springs Ranch for Children as a teacher and houseparent along with her husband, Chris. Chris continues to work for the big Springs Ranch for Children as the Behavior Interventionist Specialist and basketball coach.
Claire and Chris have loved settling into Uvalde. They enjoy taking their dog Lucy for walks, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
