Clergy
Rev. Tommy Wilkes
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 serves CUMC.
They have three adult children: Luke (Vanessa), Sabrina, and Lydia.
Tommy graduated from The University of South Carolina and completed seminary at Candler School of Theology at Emory with a Master in Dvinity.
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.
Tomy is also Director of the Bishopville Salkehatchie Camp, a para-church ministry assisting with substandard housing in some of South Carolina’s most poverty stricken areas. Salkehatchie Summer Service has been an important part of his life since middle school. Tommy also serves in Kairos Prison Ministry, bringing Good News and hope to those who are incarcerated in both minimum- and maximum-security prisons in South Carolina.
Tommy’s previous pastoral appointments include his first in 1993 at the Edisto-Charge (Orangeburg), followed by Central UMC (Spartanburg), Tabernacle (Lancaster), Red Bank (Lexington), First UMC (Clover), and Grace (North Augusta). Tommy has joyfully served Clemson UMC since 2022.
Rev. Steve Simoneaux
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.
Rev. Meg Wilkes
Meg is an ordained Deacon in the SC Conference of The United Methodist Church, and serves CUMC as our Minister of Discipleship. She supports twenty+ Cell Groups (adult small groups) encouraging spiritual formation, learning, and fellowship. Meg’s ministry includes facilitating the bi-weekly #Adulting Ministry for Young Adults in their 20’s and 30’s, the monthly Golden Guild ministry for retired adults, and a newly forming dinner/fellowship group for 50’s and 60’s. She teaches and facilitates two Sunday school classes, As You Are and Faith Friends.
Meg leads LGBTQIA+ initiatives for CUMC and serves on the SC Conference Inclusion Team, inspiring education, full inclusion, and formational ministries with LGBTQIA+ neighbors, friends, family, allies, and church members.
Meg has served in Women’s, Children’s, and Youth discipleship ministries in several churches and has designed and implemented both contemplative and active retreats for various ages from children through older adults, as well as modern, seasonal, and special worship services. She has been guest speaker, and guest musical artist for a variety of programs and provides special music for worship services, weddings, funerals, and other programs.
Meg offers pastoral care and counseling for church members and others (all ages) and pastoral visitation with our elderly or members in crisis. She provides pastoral support to our Nurture Team and the Stephen Ministry and also meets regularly with new guests of CUMC to share about their faith and about doing life with Clemson United Methodist Church.
On a personal note, Meg is a musician, loves to read, enjoys nature, poetry, kayaking, the arts, good conversation, and advocating for the marginalized. Lover of all things creative, wise, and beautiful, Meg celebrates God’s presence in the ordinary and the sublime. She encourages others to study and to emulate the way of Jesus who taught us to celebrate the sacredness of all life and humanity!
“Disciples of Jesus Christ love God with all their being, love themselves as God’s beloved, and love all their neighbors just the same!”
Staff
Terri lee
Our Financial Secretary, Terri Lee, works three days a week. She is married to David and they have three children and four grandchildren.
Leah Smith
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.
Candice Bell
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.
Rodney Cleveland
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
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.
Brauer Kittrell
Brauer graduated from Clemson University in December 2023 and is currently pursuing an MDiv from Candler School of Theology (Emory University) with goals of being an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church. Brauer has prior ministerial experience serving as a Licensed Local Pastor at two UMC churches in Anderson, SC as well as years of experience at Asbury Hills Camps and Retreat Center as a camp counselor, retreat host, and administrative coordinator. Brauer is passionate about youth ministry, specifically within the United Methodist Church and focuses on creating a safe, affirming, and exciting environment where young people can grow in their relationship with God. When she is not working or writing papers for school, you will often find Brauer at a Clemson sporting event with her husband Justin, reading, or spending time outside walking or hiking.
Child Care
Jacqui Rice
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
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.
Staff
Eddie Thrasher
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
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.