LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

JOSH DUCKWORTH

SENIOR PASTOR
 
Josh is excited to be a part of the staff here at White Bluff. He and his family moved here in the summer of 2018. Josh has been married to his beautiful wife, Jade since 2006. They have two sons, Cade and Lucas, and a daughter, Harleigh Belle. Jade is a middle school teacher at Richmond Hill Middle School.
 
Josh is a graduate of Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. He is also a graduate of The Divinity School of Duke University in Durham, NC. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Asbury Theological Seminary.
 
Josh has served churches in North Carolina and throughout south Georgia. He would love to chat with anyone who have questions about faith and the church. If you would like to meet with him in his office or over coffee send him an email at jlduckworth84@gmail.com
 
 
 

KEN SHARPE

ASSOCIATE PASTOR 
 
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RODNEY POWERS

 INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY 
 

Rodney is a long time resident of South East Georgia where he has raised a family and made his home.  Rodney has a life time of experience in church music ministry in the United Methodist Church. He has served churches in Hinesville, GA, Savannah, GA, Mt. Dora, FL, Canton, IL, and Murphysboro, IL.

Rodney has a BA in Choral Music Education from Western Illinois University, an AAS in aircraft maintenance technology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a MM in piano performance from Georgia Southern University. 

He is retired from teaching in the public schools of Georgia. Rodney is 61.

He comes to WBUMC for his second tenure as interim director of the adult choir.


 

SARAH GARCIA

 YOUTH DIRECTOR
YOUNG ADULT DIRECTOR 
 
Sarah has joined our staff to work with the Youth after being a lifelong member of the congregation. Coming in with passion for growing our youth program with new ideas she has started things off with a bang.
 
Sarah has been involved in the church from childhood where she was an acolyte. During her time in our Youth program she completed missions, participated in the choir, as well as traveled to Honduras. As an adult she has worked in the nursery and has raised 3 wonderful children in her church home.
 

OLIVIA AMATO

 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR 
 
Olivia is a true big kid at heart. An artist by trait but the Director of Children’s Ministries by calling. When her church was in need she felt compelled to step up and she’s been full steam ahead ever since. Her family has been members of White Bluff for 50 years and counting. She grew up in the youth group, just like her mother did. It’s no wonder she feels right at home helping the children grow in their own faith.
 
In 2019 Olivia can finally call White Bluff her permanent work place. Putting that art degree to work, she has become the Director of Communications. She looks forward to rebranding the church and working on putting her photography to good use.

 

Olivia currently lives with her black lab, Champ. She loves music, sunflowers, cooking, and traveling to foreign countries. The most influential place she has been is Argentina where she painted a mural at a local school with the children.

 
If you have any questions about the children’s program, need help with sound in our facility, or would like to advertise within the church, please contact Olivia at
 

SUZANNE WOODRUM

 ORGANIST 
 
Suzanne has been serving as organist at WBUMC since May 1986. Prior to then, she served as organist/choir director for Cokesbury UMC from Feb. 1968 to April 1986. She has also played the organ at Spivey Hall for the special Chancel Choir tour. She accompanies all choirs and assists wherever needed with the music program. She has been on all Youth choir tours as accompanist.
 
She is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Georgia Music Educators Association (serving as state piano chair for two years), the Savannah Chapter of Georgia Music Teachers Association (serving two terms as president) and a member of the National Guild of Student Musicians (serving as chair at Armstrong Atlantic State University).
 
Her late husband is David Woodrum and they have three daughters and son-in-laws, Vicki and Earl Rogers, Michelle and Bryant Dunn, and Melanie and Chuck Montford and six grandchildren Zachary, Anna Grace and Matthew Montford and Madeline, Bryce, and Ross Dunn.
 

MALINDA SMITH

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
 
Malinda has a lifelong passion for the careful and transparent management of financial resources for non-profit organizations, and she has turned that passion into a career serving performing arts organizations, early childhood education programs, and churches. She takes great joy in working together with the congregation and staff of White Bluff UMC to manage the resources so that God’s work is accomplished in our world. As a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Malinda has been involved in youth fellowship programs, congregational lay leadership, mission work, and music ministries and she feels very blessed to be part of the fellowship here at White Bluff UMC.
 
Malinda and her family are new to Savannah, having relocated recently from Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. As transplants to this beautiful city, they are truly enjoying the many pleasures of southern coastal living that Savannah has to offer.

 

If you have any financial questions, you can reach Malinda at
 

CAROLYN ANDERSON

OFFICE MANAGER 
 
Carolyn joined the White Bluff Staff in 2008. She has held the position as Financial Administrator as well as the Office Administrator. She has a BA Degree in Business Management/Accounting from Shaw University. Her background comes from working in the corporate world as well as an educator. Her extraordinary skills in education, communication and organization have advanced the work of God’s Kingdom. She has a heart for serving the church and the community. Her ministry and compassion is for the lost and the hurting. Carolyn’s hope is that men, women, and children will also fall in love with the word of God, and will use it as a guide for living lives of faithful discipleship.
 
She has been married to her husband, Greg, for 31 years and has two grown daughters, Karimah (Antwan) and Akilah. Carolyn loves helping children, traveling, reading, cooking, sewing, and DIY crafts.
 
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven.”