The Reverend Howard Reed
INTERIM MINISTER / Head of Staff
Rev. Howard Reed earned his B.S. in Education with honors from the University of Texas, Austin in 1976. He stayed in Austin, earning his Master of Divinity. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1982. Since then he has served churches in Texas, Ohio, the United Kingdom, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and over the last 13 years, he has been the interim pastor at seven churches.
Much of Rev. Reed’s community service has focused on children, and he has run in several marathons to raise funds for charitable causes. He is very interested in music, reading, hiking, and travel—he has visited 30 foreign countries and 48 U.S. states for leisure, education, and community service. The 10 months following his seminary graduation included touring/hitchhiking for three months through western Europe, working on a kibbutz for two months in Israel; spending one or two weeks each at the ecumenical communities of Iona, Scotland, Taize, France, Corrymeela, Northern Ireland, and Agape, Italy; and visiting and worshipping in 40 cathedrals. He has also led mission work trips to Mexico, Honduras, the Gulf Coast, Fort Worth, Texas, and rural West Virginia.
Rev. Reed will serve as our interim pastor from January 1 through June 30, 2024,
Cecelia Stearman
Director OF MUSIC
Cecelia Stearman began her ministry as Director of Music in August 2023. She grew up in a musical family in Pearl, Mississippi, where her father was a Baptist minister. She is a graduate of Mississippi College (Master's in Vocal Performance) and has sung professionally throughout the United States and in Europe. In addition to conducting various choral groups, she co-founded and was Artistic Director/Conductor for the Emmanuel Gospel Choir of Paris. Later she founded the Community Gospel Choir in St. Louis.
Dr. Lynn Raley
Church Organist
Dr. Lynn Raley began his ministry as organist in September 2023. Hehas been a professor of music at Millsaps College since 2002. He grew up in Taiwan, where his parents were missionaries, and has returned to Taiwan on numerous occasions to teach music and perform. He served as organist for the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon, VA, and has served as an accompanist for several churches in the Jackson area.
The Reverend Rims Barber
Parish Associate
The Rev. Barber came to Mississippi for Freedom Summer in 1964. That summer has become more than 50 years of advocacy and witness for equality and justice. He received his BA degree from Coe College in 1958 and his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1962. He worked for the Delta Ministry (1965 to 1977) and for the Children's Defense Fund (1977 to 1989), and he currently works with community groups to enable the voices of the poor and oppressed to be heard through the Mississippi Human Services Agenda. Rev. Barber was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Tougaloo College in 1993. He is a constant presence during the Mississippi Legislature’s sessions as he advocates for the poor, oppressed, and marginalized in our communities.
Rev. Barber served the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. as Moderator for Alexander Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kosciusko (1990-2012) and as a member of the National Hunger Council (1991-1995) and the Mary Holmes College Board of Trustees (1986–2003). He has served Fondren Presbyterian Church as Parish Associate since 1999.
Rev. Barber and his wife, Judy, live in Belhaven and have been married 41 years. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Support Staff
Bonnie Bowley
MInistry support
Bonnie Bowley joined the Fondren staff in May 2019 as Interim Administrative Assistant. No stranger to the church office, she filled in on many occasions for more than a year when previous administrative assistants were away. An active member of Fondren Presbyterian, she serves on the Spiritual Engagement Ministry committee and volunteers on Stewpot Sundays.