Clergy

Tommy has been in ministry for over 30 years as an elder in the SC Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is married to Meg, an ordained Deacon in the SC Conference, who also works at CUMC. They have three adult children: Luke (Vanessa), Seth, and Lydia. Tommy graduated from The University of South Carolina and completed seminary at Candler School of Theology, Emory (MDIV). Tommy enjoys sports, fishing, hunting, watching movies, reading, carpentry, camping, traveling, working with his hands, playing guitar, writing songs, reading, good conversation, and being with his family. He is the Director of the Bishopville Salkehatchie Camp. Salkehatchie Summer Service has been an important part of his life since middle school. Previous pastoral appointments include Edisto-Charge (Orangeburg), Central UMC (Spartanburg), Tabernacle (Lancaster), Red Bank (Lexington), First UMC (Clover), and Grace (North Augusta).

Rev. Paige Wheeler is our Associate Pastor. Paige earned her BA degree from Piedmont College, Demorest, Georgia in 2003, majoring in Sociology. She was a teaching assistant in elementary school for five years before attending Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She graduated in 2021 with a M. Div. and served for two years as an Intern at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She served as Pastor at New Hope and Capers Chapel UMC, in Chester, South Carolina, from 2014-18, and Pastor at McBee Union UMC from 2018-24 where she led worship, taught Sunday School, worked with McBee High School youth, and sang in the choir.

Steve Simoneaux is the Director of the Clemson Wesley Foundation and Campus Minister for Clemson United Methodist Church. He previously served as Associate Pastor at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville, SC. Steve is a graduate of Clemson University and Candler School of Theology at Emory University (M.Div.). Steve's call to ministry has been influenced by his involvement in the Clemson Wesley Foundation as an undergraduate student at Clemson University.

Contact Rev. Tommy Wilkes

Contact Rev. Paige Wheeler

Contact Rev. Steve Simoneaux

Administration

Our Financial Secretary, Terri Lee, works three days a week. She is married to David and they have three children and four grandchildren.

Leah was born in Louisiana but grew up in Savannah, Georgia before moving to Toccoa her freshman year in high school. A graduate of Toccoa Falls College with a B.A. in Music, Leah is an avid handbell enthusiast. Leah served as the Children and Youth Director, as well as the Handbell Director for First Presbyterian Church of Toccoa for several years. She has spent the last ten years working in Finance as a Branch Manager for a local bank, and has since moved to Walhalla, South Carolina. Leah has been a member of the Clemson Chamber of Commerce, volunteered with Family Promise, and helped with multiple charities and drives during her years in Finance. She and her fiancé love having family game nights, traveling to the beach, and watching movies. They also have three grown children and six cats and it’s a debate as to which species rule the house.

Contact Terri Lee

Contact Leah Smith

Programs

Rev. Meg Wilkes is our Minister of Discipleship. An ordained Deacon in the SC Conference of The United Methodist Church, Meg coordinates our Youth Ministry and Adult Cell Groups for spiritual formation. She is a musician, a nature lover, a contemplative AND a people person, an advocate for the marginalized, and a lover of all things artistic and creative. Meg strives to invite God's reign on Earth as it is Heaven, where all are loved and choose to love others in the way of Christ.

Candice Bell is our Director of Children's Ministry. She graduated from Clemson University in 2002 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Early Intervention. She managed the Esso Club for 20 years but now truly enjoys helping children succeed and lead active spiritual and physical lives.

Contact Rev. Meg Wilkes

Contact Candice Bell

Rodney Cleveland is our Director of Music starting in August 2024. He has serves as Organist/Choirmaster for Grace Episcopal Church, in Anderson, South Carolina and is Staff Accompanist for Newberry College and Adjunct Professor at Lander University. He is a piano instructor with Sing and Play Upstate, Anderson. Rodney graduated Magna Cum Laude from Anderson University, and then, in 1997, obtained a Master of Music from Emory University, while serving as Chapel Organist at Candler School of Theology. He has a diversity of experiences, memberships and awards. Locally, until 2022, he served as organist for Main Street United Methodist Church in Greenwood, and Organist and Music Director for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Greenwood.

Dusten Bybee is a talented musician/singer who brings passion and musical leadership to our modern worship service, The Vine. For the past 10+ years, he has either been leading or supporting worship teams in various settings and churches across the U.S. He is passionate about the spiritual formation of the emerging generation. As a natural teacher, he loves teaching and mentoring others in their own journeys to embody the practices of Jesus. He and his wife, Jocelyn, are originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but have traveled and lived all over the states. They have called Upstate South Carolina home for the past 6 years. They have been foster parents to teens since 2021. You can often find Dusten running on local trails, paddling whitewater, or fly fishing in a mountain river. Otherwise, you will find him with family or college students, playing guitar, writing short stories, or piddling in the garden, all with a cup of coffee close by.

Contact Rodney Cleveland

Contact Dusten Bybee

Child Care

Jacqui Rice is the Director of Little Lights Learning Center at CUMC. Jacqui was born and raised in Clemson and her grandparents were long time members of CUMC. Her grandfather, Harvey Morgan, built the beautiful cross hanging in the Narthex. Jacqui graduated from Clemson University in 2010 with a B.A. in Multi-Categorical Special Education and Elementary Education. Jacqui and her husband, Greg, have two daughters, Finley Grace and Emmie Sloane. Jacqui enjoys spending time with family, attending Clemson athletic events, and being on the water. Jacqui and her family are excited for what God has planned for them here in Clemson.

Amy Rawls is the Director of Mother's Morning Out. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She has loved working at MMO for thirteen years. Amy and her husband, Bryan have three children.

Contact Jacqui Rice

Contact Amy Rawls

Facilities

Our Operations Manager Eddie Thrasher joined the CUMC staff in January 2015. Eddie loves working on Jeeps. He is married to Kim and they have two wonderful daughters and two grandchildren.

Theo Tolson serves as our Church Sexton. Theo is a proud mother of three. She has been working with Clemson United Methodist Church for three years in various areas including Clemson Wesley and Little Lights Learning Center. Her background is as diverse as her interests which includes being a natural enthusiast, DIY projects, home renovation and writing.

Contact Eddie Thrasher