Church Staff Bios

Rev. Sam Hardie, Senior Pastor 

Reverend Sam Hardie was born and raised in Florence, Alabama where he graduated from Coffee High School in 1965. He attended the university of Alabama and received his B.S. degree in Commerce and Business Administration in 1969. His senior year in college he was converted to the Christian faith through a campus ministry and began feeling the call to full time ministry. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served for two years of active duty, one of which was in Viet Nam.

 

When Sam was discharged from the service he attended seminary and in 1975 received his M.Div degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Sam was ordained Elder in 1975 in the United methodist Church and has served Saint Mark since June of 2001 as senior pastor. He preaches revivals and is known for his Biblically based sermons. He is a member of the Board of Aldersgate Ministries and is on the board of Methodist Homes for the Aging. He encourages St. Mark member to not only give to missions, but to be involved personally in the projects themselves. He has assisted in the planting of a United Methodist Church in Lithuania and has been involved with mission work in Lithuania, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Russia, Italy, and Ukraine.

 

He is married to Virginia Cooper of Birmingham, Alabama and they have three children. Sam, their youngest and only son, works in Birmingham. Mary, their middle child, is serving in a special Youth based ministry in Florence, Alabama. Cooper, the oldest, is a teacher of gifted students. Reverend Hardie loves water sports, travel and spending time with his family, both near and far.

 

Rev. Michael Miller, Associate Pastor 

Michael currently serves as Associate Pastor and Worship Leader of Contemporary Worship at Saint Mark UMC. Michael and his wife, Angela,  have served in various ministerial capacities ranging from missionaries to church planters to pastors here and internationally. Michael began his ministry in 1989 in Hawaii with Youth with a Mission and strives to bring God into every situation he can. Since 1989 his ministry has grown to personally impact lives in India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Africa, Central America and the U.S. Angela grew up on the mission field in Guatemala and also pursues the Lord through active leadership at Saint Mark. Angela and Michael have been at Saint Mark since February 2002.

 

Michael received his graduate and undergraduate degrees with honors from the University of Alabama and is currently  pursuing his second Masters Degree from Asbury Seminary in Kentucky. It is with great passion and joy that Michael and Angela serve the Lord and they desire to transform lives beginning with their own family of Micah, Gabe, Anna Grace, and Jude.

 

Brother John was born in Sylacauga, Alabama. He graduated from Birmingham Southern, and then completed Seminary at Emory University. He is married to Carol and they have two children, Brian and Britt. They also have two grandchildren, Burton and Brandon. Brother John has been an ordained preacher for over 46 years, and was a full-time pastor for 43 years. We are happy to have him on board and leading our Shepherding Ministry and Senior Adults.

 

Ronnie Lett, born December 14, 1943, has lived most of his life in Tuscaloosa County. He graduated from Tuscaloosa County High in 1961 and promptly entered the University of Alabama. He received his B.S. degree in Music Education in 1965 and his Master of Arts in 1968. He began his teaching career in 1965 at Northport Junior High and Tuscaloosa County High, teaching a half-day at each school. As the choral program increased he went full-time at T.C.H.S. in 1969. He served in this capacity until 1986. In 1986, he was appointed Assistant Principal at Brookwood High School. After one year, he was transferred to T.C.H.S., in the same capacity, where he served until 1992. In July 1992, Ronnie was appointed as Principal of T.C.H.S. where he served until his retirement. In 1963, Ronnie was hired by First United Methodist of Tuscaloosa as a baritone soloist. After serving in this capacity briefly, he was called as Minister of Music at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa. Ronnie has served as Minister of Music at the following churches: Circlewood Baptist, Five Points Baptist, Holt Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist, and most recently, at Grant’s Creek Baptist for the past several years. Ronnie is married to the former Bebe Jan Davis, recently celebrating their 40^th anniversary. Ronnie and Bebe Jan have two children, Ron, age 37, and Julia, age 31. They have two granddaughters, Laura and Katie, whom they adore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha is originally from Brookhaven, MS.  Currently, she is living in Tuscaloosa while her husband, David, finishes work on his D.M.A at the University of Alabama. She graduated from Mississippi College with a B.S.B.A. with an accounting major in May 2004.  She plans on getting her masters and later going to law school to study real estate or tax law.  Some of her favorite things are music, movies, Mexican food, and her cat, Jim Jam.

 

 

 

Melanie is the director of early childhood programming here at Saint Mark UMC. She grew up in this church and is so excited to see the ways in which the church has grown. Melanie is passionate about children and feels called to help children grow in a loving, Christian, environment. She graduated from the University of Alabama and currently has both a son and daughter who attend the University of Alabama. She and her husband Phillip currently live in Northport and are big Crimson Tide fans.

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Ellis Houston, Custodian 

Ellis and his wife, Ella, live in Northport. They have four children, and twelve grandchildren. He likes to relax and watch movies in his spare time. He attends New Zion Baptist Church.