Meet the team

Senior Leadership Team

Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner

pastor@theblvd.org

Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner

Senior Pastor

Reverend Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, by the divine providence of God, accepted the call to serve as the Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN on January 13, 2013. For seven years prior to coming to Mississippi Boulevard, his pastoral assignment was the Community Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Pastor Turner is a 2003 magna cum laude graduate of Fisk University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy.

He was a 2001 United Negro College Fund/Andrew Mellon Undergraduate Fellow and a 2002 Fellow of the Fund for Theological Education. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and was awarded the prestigious H.H. Tweedy Prize for exceptional promise for pastoral leadership. Pastor Turner received his Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformative Leadership at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, NY.

Understanding the need for excellence in leadership in today’s society, Pastor Turner has demonstrated his gifts and talents in various positions including President of the Yale Divinity School Student Council; Vice President of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention; Secretary for the Board of Directors of the National Action Network and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority for New Haven.

He loves God and is creative in his approach to ministry while being compassionate and forward thinking. His strong belief in the importance of family values was shaped by his parents— Mrs. Donzetta Webb and the late Rev. James C. Turner, Sr. Pastor Turner lives each day believing in the biblical truth of Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine…” With God there are no limitations!

He is married to the former Bridgett Nicole Bush of Baldwin, New York. They are the excited parents of Josiah Lawrence Turner and Savannah Grace Turner.

Minister of Worship and Creative Arts

Dr. Leo H. Davis, Jr

davis.leo@theblvd.org

Director of Human Resources

Mrs. Chantay Branch

branch.chantay@theblvd.org

MINISTERIAL

Minister of Congregational Care

Dr. Lillie Matlock

matlock.lillie@theblvd.org

Director of Student Ministries

Min. Christopher Watson

watson.christopher@theblvd.org

Nexus Student Ministries Program Director

Tynisha Lawson

lawson.tynisha@theblvd.org

Director of Children's Ministry

Monica Swauncy

swauncy.monica@theblvd.org

Executive Assistant, Senior Pastor

Vera Banks

banks.vera@theblvd.org

Administrative Assistant

Sharon Smith

smith.sharon@theblvd.org

Executive Assistant,
Chief of Staff

Andréa Austin Shipp

Administrative Assistant

Donna Palmer

palmer.donna@theblvd.org

Visual Production Director

Jermaine Black

black.jermaine@theblvd.org

Visual Production Assistant

Kristina Bray

bray.kristina@theblvd.org

CREATIVE ARTS

Administrative Assistant

Althea Burkett

burkett.althea@theblvd.org

Lead Guitarist, Southwind

Steve Bethany

bethany.steven@theblvd.org

Percussionist, Midtown

Tevin Curtis

curtis.tevin@theblvd.org

Organist, Southwind

Paul Claxton

claxton.paul@theblvd.org

Bass Guitarist, Midtown

Kem Gray

gray.kem@theblvd.org

Musical Director, Keyboard, Southwind

Keenan Shotwell

shotwell.keenan@theblvd.org

Jarvis Payne

FINANCE

Accounts Payable and Contribution Clerk

Deborah Wellington

wellington.deborah@theblvd.org

Accountant

Loretta Cox

cox.loretta@theblvd.org

OPERATIONS

Interim Events Coordinator

Bettye L. Boone

boone.bettye@theblvd.org

Chef

Carol Singleton

singleton.carol@theblvd.org

Maintenance Technician

Towrey Turner

turner.towrey@theblvd.org

Maintenance Technician

Terry Lawrence

lawrence.terry@theblvd.org

Maintenance Technician

Cleveland Rhodes

rhodes.cleveland@theblvd.org

Custodian Technician

Emma Scott

scott.emma@theblvd.org

Custodian Technician

Ira Jones

jones.ira@theblvd.org

Receptionist

Diane Mayes

mayes.diane@theblvd.org

Custodian Technicians

Brittany Hill

hill.brittany@theblvd.org

Custodian Technicians

Omar Westmoreland

westmoreland.omar@theblvd.org

Meet the team

Senior Leadership Team

Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner

Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner

Dr. Leo H. Davis, Jr

Dr. Leo H. Davis, Jr

Mr. Charles Monger II

Mr. Charles M. Monger, II

Mrs. Chantay Branch

Mrs. Chantay Branch

Church Leaders

James Jones, Jr.

Andre Dean

Vivian Henry

Mattie Keaton

Charles Atkinson, Sr.

Mary Hope Brown

Darryl J. Arbor

Deborah Massie

Peggy Bailey

Collen Jackson

Archie Sanders

Cheryl Simmons

Elizabeth Sueing

Metrick Houser

MINISTERIAL

Dr. Lillie Matlock

Min. Christopher Watson

Tynisha Lawson

Monica Swauncy

Vera Banks

Sharon Smith

Andréa Austin Shipp

Donna Palmer

Jermaine Black

Kristina Bray

Jonathan Ford

CREATIVE ARTS

Althea Burkett

Steve Bethany

Tevin Curtis

Paul Claxton

Kem Gray

Keenan Shotwell

Jarvis Payne

FINANCE

Deborah Wellington

Loretta Cox

OPERATIONS

Bettye L. Boone

Carol Singleton

Towrey Turner

Terry Lawrence

Cleveland Rhodes

Emma Scott

Ira Jones

Diane Mayes

Brittany Hill

Omar Westmoreland

WORSHIP SERVICE LOCATIONS & TIMES

Midtown Campus

Southwind Campus

WORSHIP SERVICE LOCATIONS & TIMES

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Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church

Midtown
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Southwind
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