Morton Memorial
United Methodist Church
A Congregation Striving to Make Disciples for the Kin(g)-dom
Rev. Melisa Derseweh
Melisa is a second-generation preacher, with a B.A. from Lipscomb and M.Div. from The School of Theology, The University of the South. She was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2007.
Growing up in Nashville as the middle of three sisters, Melisa learned an early appreciation for the beauty of creation, arts and music, and a sense of civic and social engagement. Her parents, James and Laverne Derseweh, were quiet pioneers in racial justice in the 1960s and 1970s in churches, schools, and employment situations.
Her current ministry at Morton Memorial is a new adventure in encouraging the on-going neighbor-centric mission of this vibrant congregation in a setting that also highlights meaningful, beautiful worship.
Melisa is married to The Reverend John Wesley Vaughan. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, traveling, and play dates with their two young grandchildren!
Elizabeth Masters
Elizabeth will begin her ninth year in the MMUMC office in January 2025. She and her husband, Brian, have lived on the Mountain for 36 years and on a small farm (home to goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, dogs, and cats) in Monteagle for 27 years, where they raised their three daughters--Emily, Eliza, and Ella. She was a substitute teacher, and volunteer reader at Monteagle Elementary School, where she also coached volleyball for six years. She currently volunteers as a weekly reader for the 5th grade students at Sewanee Elementary School. Elizabeth has served on the Community Action Committee Board in Sewanee and the South Cumberland Community Fund Grants Committee. She is also a 2024 graduate of the Leadership Grundy program, and is serving this year as Chairman of the LG Board. She likes to laugh, cook/bake, read, and visit with family and friends on this wonderful mountain. She enjoys working with and getting to know the lovely people of MMUMC and is grateful for the friendships she has made with so many of them.
Garrett Snavely
Garrett is a native Arkansan, born in Harrison, and most recently centered in Russellville/Dardanelle, commonly referred to as the “River Valley”. He is delighted to become a part of this church family and the wider community.
He received a Bachelor of Music Education from Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in 2020. Trained in keyboard/vocal music, Garrett has developed a rich tapestry of directing, playing, and participating in various ensembles. One of his favorite things to do is direct/play for musicals- he has worked on 11 shows since 2022.
Prior to moving to Sewanee, Garrett was a collaborative pianist at ATU, where he accompanied several choral ensembles, classes, and vocal solo students. He also served as director/organist at Russellville First UMC from 2022-2026, and pianist/organist at Central Presbyterian Church from 2017-2026, both in Russellville.
Garrett is married to Lukas, who is currently a seminarian at The School of Theology. They both enjoy thrifting, watching classic TV shows, and consuming copious amounts of coffee.
David Pilcher
David Pilcher is a Certified Public Accountant who works part-time preparing income taxes. His professional career includes public accounting, as well as working in private industry. He is a life-long United Methodist and recently moved with his wife, Martha Ann, from Nashville to Monteagle, TN. He has served on the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly Board of Trustees, including three terms as treasurer.
Alyse Getty
Alyse retired with husband Gordon from Lawrenceville, GA, where she was employed as a project manager for an international engineering and environmental consulting firm. She worked extensively conducting environmental assessments for sites across the country. Alyse and Gordon began volunteering for the Morton Memorial Food Ministry in 2014, and she became the Director in 2019. Alyse and Gordon’s son Drew (married to Claire) have four children which are the joy of their lives. They enjoy hiking in the State parks, paddling, and being outdoors.