Meet Our Staff

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Rev. Kent Smith
Pastor
ksmith@higgins-umc.com

Reverend Kent Smith is thrilled to be joining the community of faith here at Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church. Western North Carolina and more specifically Yancey County hold a special place in his life. As a student, Pastor Kent spent many summers at Lake Junaluska with his High School youth group. His wife, Jennifer, grew up in Burnsville. She is a Mountain Heritage and Appalachian State University alum. ​

Pastor Kent studied Mathematics in his hometown of Columbus, MS before earning a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Pastor Kent was ordained as an Elder by the North Carolina Conference of the UMC in 2010. During his 17 years of pastoral ministry, Pastor Kent has served churches across WNC as well as in Carteret and Craven counties on the coast. Pastor Kent’s appointment to Higgins Memorial in July of 2022 marks his 6th pastoral appointment.

Pastor Kent and his wife have two beautiful, school-age daughters. They are an active family that enjoys several outdoor activities. Pastor Kent has participated in the Burnsville Metric. He has also riden his bicycle across North Carolina with CycleNC twice.

You can reach Pastor Kent by phone, text message, or email. Please call the church office (828) 682-2835 or send a text message to (828) 803-3597 to connect with Pastor Kent.

Jake & Jordan Honeycutt 
Youth Leaders
youth@higgins-umc.com

​Jake & Jordan bring with them diverse skills, knowledge, and personalities. They have a desire to foster in the youth of this generation a consuming, passionate heart for God.  

Jake and Jordan are high school sweethearts who married in 2011. They have two boys that keeps them very busy. They were both active in Higgins Youth group as teens, and are excited to be able to give back. 

​​Check out our Youth Page for more information!! Like our Facebook page and sign up to receive our text alerts through Remind. 

Kim Garland
Children's Ministry
kgarland@higgins-umc.com

Kim joined the Higgins staff in August 2010. She has been working with kids, both in the Church and in public school for over 30 years.  She loves making the Bible come alive, helping kids find the answers to their hard questions and having fun with kids.  

Kim's other passion is prayer and she on on the Board of Directors for a prayer ministry called The Blessing Place of Western NC.

Kim and her husband, Randall, are the parents of four wonderful grown boys and the grandparents of one amazing granddaughter.

When Kim has the time, she likes to relax by watching movies, reading books and making jewelry. Walking and talking on a 3 1/2 mile route each day with her best friend and sister-in-Christ keeps her fit and sane.

Debbie Phillips
Music Director
​dphillips@higgins-umc.com

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Brian Turner
Pianist/Organist
brianturnerpiano@yahoo.com

Brian Turner is an internationally-acclaimed pianist, composer, and recording artist, whose diverse repertoire has earned him the opportunity to share the stage with a wide array of well-known and accomplished musicians. 

Brian began playing the piano over 25 years ago, and by age 12 was performing professionally for audiences across Northeast Ohio. Following high school, he attended Ohio University, studying with renowned pianist Richard Syracuse and earning degrees in piano performance and pedagogy. He performed with a variety of groups at the collegiate level, from accompanying other classical musicians to joining larger ensembles to forming popular local rock groups headlining in clubs. After college, Brian relocated to Asheville, NC, where he has established a thriving piano studio in West Asheville and performs regularly as a solo musician and as a member and bandleader of Orange Krush, as well as with other local bands and ensembles. 

For more information on Brian, please visit his website:
http://www.brianturnerpiano.com/

Dorene Branton
Office Administrator
dbranton@higgins-umc.com
Dorene began working here in June 2018.  She is the financial and administrative secretary.  Dorene lives here in Burnsville with her husband Marty and sons Dawson, Jalen & Stepson Cody. She is a graduate of Watauga High School and has worked for Harris - Teeter and as a Paralegal for a law firm and as an independent Paralegal/ title examiner. Most recently she has worked as the secretary for West Burnsville Baptist Church and as secretary for Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. 

Charlie Willis
Facilities Manager
cwillis@higgins-umc.com

 Charlie joined the Higgins team in 2006. As the facilities manager, he is responsible for the maintenance of the building and the setup of church activities. In other words, he keeps things running around here!

In his spare time, Charlie enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Emilee and their first grandson. On Sunday mornings, you'll see Charlie singing on the praise team.