Our Church Staff

Glenn Hodges – Designated Pastor  

Glenn Hodges is our Designated Pastor and will be ordained to that role on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Glenn holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Florida State University as well as a Master of Divinity Degree from Dubuque Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree. Glenn has served as a college professor, as Director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Florida A&M University, as a Commissioned Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Port Joe, Florida, and as a hospital and hospice chaplain.

Glenn has a passion for serving God, and believes life is most meaningful “when daily activities involve helping others in God’s name.”

A long-time member of First Presbyterian – Tallahassee, Glenn is married to Mary Hodges and has two adult children, Grier (Chris Willis) and Grant, and one granddaughter, Aria. He enjoys spending time with family, swimming, and bicycling.

 

 

Reverend Dr. Greta Reed – Parish Associate  

We are so blessed to have Rev. Dr. Greta Reed as our Parish Associate here at First Presbyterian Church. A native of Minnesota and the child of two philosophy professors, Greta grew up in Miami. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Brown University, she earned her Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas.  She taught philosophy for the first half of her career, the majority of that time at the University of Tulsa. But something outside of academia beckoned, and she was ordained as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA. 

Greta served PCUSA churches in Southeast Florida, where she developed an AIDS ministry in far South Miami-Dade. After retirement, Greta lived first in Decatur, Georgia and then moved to Tallahassee. She is active in ministry here at First Presbyterian, as well as an active member of her community at Westminster Oaks. 

Her memoir, Sacred Enticement: A Skeptic’s Journey to Faith, recounts the story of her own journey from teenage skeptic to philosopher to person of faith. Greta has one son who lives in western Massachusetts and enjoys coming south for spring break when the cold and the gray snow have gotten old!

 

Pierce Withers – Director of Spiritual Formation

Pierce Todd Withers, M.A., M.Div., joined First Presbyterian Church at the beginning of 2024 as Doctoral Fellow and joined our staff in May of this year as Director of Spiritual Formation. He holds both the Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Andover Newton Theological School, Boston, Massachusetts, where his studies focused on Christian spiritual practices and transformational leadership for congregations. Most recently, Pierce studied at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where his scholarly agenda investigates walking pilgrimage as spiritual practice. An avid walking pilgrim and pilgrimage guide, Pierce has walked over 2,000 miles across Northern Spain on multiple pilgrimages on El Camino de Santiago and has visited sacred destinations all over the world. Pierce’s ministry experience includes service as Director of Finance at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Director of Faith-Based Outreach for Florida’s USDA Summer Meals Program, and Director of Youth Ministry at Coral Gables Congregational Church. He is currently an aspirant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, sponsored by St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Thomasville, Georgia. His book, Walking Reflections: My Pilgrimage Prayer Journal, in 2019, provides an introduction to spiritual practices for walking pilgrims on El Camino de Santiago. He is working on his second book, which investigates walking pilgrimages as Christian spiritual practice.

 

Elizabeth LaJeunesse – Organist

Elizabeth Landrum LaJeunesse, a Tallahassee native and Leon High School alumna, holds degrees in Choral Music Education (B.Mus.Ed.) and Organ Performance (M.M.) from Florida State University, where she studied with André Thomas, Carolyn Bridger, and Michael Corzine. Over nearly three decades as a church musician, she has served as organist for Fellowship Presbyterian, Trinity United Methodist, and St. John’s Episcopal Churches. Elizabeth is staff accompanist for both the choral and band programs at Leon and has collaborated with the TSO chorus, Tallahassee Civic Chorale, the FSU Chamber Choir, University Singers, Men’s and Women’s Glee, Vocal Jazz ensemble, and FSU summer music camps, as well as other schools in Leon County. She frequently joins the Tallahassee Community Chorus and FSU choirs as a continuo harpsichordist and accompanies an All-State Chorus annually for the Florida Vocal Association. She maintains an active schedule as a freelance collaborative pianist and organist, particularly enjoying her frequent collaborations with the FSU saxophone studio.

 

Ethan Murphy – Choir Director

Ethan Murphy recently completed his M.M. in Choral Conducting at the University of Minnesota, where he was also the choir director at Bethlehem Covenant Church. Before moving to Minnesota, he taught high school choir in northern Virginia and served as Director of Music at Regester Chapel United Methodist Church. He and his wife Abby moved to Tallahassee in 2022 so that Ethan could pursue a PhD in Music Education and Choral Conducting at FSU. The Adult Choir will meet on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM to rehearse starting on May 26, and all are welcome!

 

Kelby Yoder – Communications and Administration Coordinator

We are delighted to welcome Kelby Yoder as our Communications and Administration Coordinator. Kelby is currently a master’s student at Florida State University obtaining a M.M. in Vocal Performance. He comes to us from Iowa where he received a B.M in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa. Kelby is responsible for coordinating key church communications, including production of our weekly service bulletin and newsletter. He also manages content for our social media presence, website, and Breeze Church Management app. 

 

Fran Owens – Financial Administrator

Fran Owens joined our staff as Financial Administrator in 2023. Fran’s varied background in accounting and finance includes, most recently, seven years maintaining the financial records of Deer Lake United Methodist Church. Originally from Pennsylvania, Fran lives in Tallahassee with one of her granddaughters; she also has a son in Pennsylvania, and a daughter and two grandchildren in Virginia. Fran enjoys the symphony, theater, and downhill skiing.

 

Becky Brown – Custodian and Sunday Host

Joining our team in 2012, Becky is responsible for all custodial duties at church including the Preschool and our historic sanctuary. She serves as Sunday Host and provides hospitality and a warm welcome to all who visit First Presbyterian Church. 

 

 

CHORAL  SCHOLARS

Alfred “Tiger” Davis

Jessica Johns

Christopher Martinez

Maddie Schneider