Mafair's Staff

Ralph Kidd
Senior Minister | rkidd@mafairumc.org

Ralph Kidd came to Mafair in June 2004.  He has been in the ministry for 40 years and has served churches in Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.  Ralph is an Elder appointed by the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Ralph grew up in rural Bland County, Virginia.  He went on to Hiwassee Junior College, Emory and Henry College and Duke University.  He received a Doctrate in Ministry in 2005.

Ralph and his wife, Carolyn, have three grown children: Tyler, Troy and Caty.

Ralph serves as President of the Kingsport United Methodist Ministers and is Chairperson of the Kingsport District Board on Ministry.  He is often invited to preach in revivals and is sought after to roast bishops and other ministers at their retirement.  He once taught a class at ETSU on "The Healing Power of Humor".

Ralph's real passion is for preaching and evangelism.  He served as a Camp Directoir for 19 years and he and Carolyn have worked with the Holston Youth Program, Resurrection, for more than 16 years.

Janet Lyon
Music Director | jlyon@mafairumc.org

Janet has come to Mafair in March 2008. More to come soon!

Eric & Betsy Rowe
Youth Director | erowe@mafairumc.org
Senior/Youth Coordinator | browe@mafairumc.org

Betsy: I was born and raised in Jonesborough, TN.  After graduating from college in 1982 as a Medical Assistant, I worked at Johnson City Medical Center for 7 years.  In 1990 I met Eric Rowe, who worked as the Youth Director at my church before he joined the Army during Desert Storm.  We were married in 1991.

During my husband’s 5 years in the Army, we lived in Georgia and then Kentucky.  I continued working in hospitals wherever we were stationed until the birth of our first child in 1993.  In 1995 Eric left the service, and we moved back to Tennessee. He returned to college to get his Teaching Certificate and shortly after obtaining it began working as Youth Director full time here at Mafair.  Eric started teaching school in 2002 and changed to part-time here.  I had been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of our first child, so I began helping out with the Youth Program on a volunteer basis.

This past fall, our youngest entered kindergarten, so I rejoined the workforce here at Mafair.  God has blessed me with the most wonderful job anyone could have…  I get to work with some amazing young people in the Youth Program, and I get to have fun and travel with our Young At Heart group.  Mafair definitely has something to offer everyone whatever your age.

Eric: I am Eric Rowe, the other half of Betsy. I would like to add that she was not a youth when I met her at Jonesboro Methodist.  I have served as Youth Director here at Mafair since September of 1998.  I also teach 8th grade history at Colonial Heights Middle School, where I coach football and track.  I was raised on a dairy farm in Limestone, TN, graduated from David Crockett High School, East Tennessee State University and Tusculum College, and served as an Armor Officer in the United States Army.  God has blessed my life, and He continues to work within our youth group and our church.  We have many super volunteers who are super examples for youth and parent alike.  You are welcome to come and see how Mafair UMC will make a difference in your family’s life.

Patricia Downs
Parish Nurse | pdowns@mafairumc.org

Patricia and Jim Downs joined the Mafair family in 1983 prior to the birth of their sons Brian (1983) and Greg (1986).  After 15 years as a “stay home mom” and following a nudge from God, Patricia returned to college to become a registered nurse.  After graduating from ETSU and passing her boards (on her 50th birthday), she worked briefly at Holston Valley Hospital in the cancer unit.  When the Parish Nurse position became available at Mafair in the winter of 2005, God placed her there.  In addition to her role as Parish Nurse, she also works part time at Friends-in-Need, a clinic for working people who are uninsured.

The Parish Nurse program is a cooperative program sponsored by Wellmont Holston Valley Hospital and allows Patricia to network with parish nurses from around the TriCities area.  She considers it a privilege to serve as parish nurse for her church family.


Jessica Rogers
Children's Director | jrogers@mafairumc.org

Jessica was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  She studied Early Childhood and Special Education at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg and has always been drawn to working with children.  She worked at a childcare center during college and babysat several times a week through out high school and college.  She often had a child in tow long before having her own.

Jessica and her husband, Allen, knew each other during high school and started dating during college.  They were married in June of 2001 and moved to East TN where Allen began work at Eastman Chemical Company.  They currently live in Jonesborough with their two sons, Adam and Braeden.  When not working with the children of Mafair, Jessica enjoys time at home with her family, interior design, backpacking, sewing, and cooking.


Anne Sorrell
Organist / Pianist | asorrell@mafairumc.org

Anne Harris Sorrell first came to Kingsport with her family when her dad was serving as Kingsport District Superintendent of the Holston United Methodist Conference.  Anne started playing organ in her father’s churches when she was in high school.  She studied piano and organ in college, receiving her degree in piano performance from UTK.  Anne taught public school music for eight years in the Kingsport City School System.  She maintains a piano studio where she teaches music to all ages.  She belongs to FUMMWA (Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians and Worship Arts), the American Guild of Organists, the Appalachian Music Teachers’ Association (the local association of Music Teachers’ National Association) and the Kingsport Music Club.

Anne has been at Mafair UMC since the Fall of 2000.  She is married to Lynn Sorrell and lives with her two children, one grandchild and two dogs.


Johnsie Morgan
Administrative Assistant | jmorgan@mafairumc.org

Johnsie Morgan grew up in Damascus, Virginia and graduated from Bluefield College with a degree in Business Administration.  She and her husband, John, lived in Texas for four years prior to making their home in Kingsport for the past forty years.  Johnsie worked in the business field after college until becoming a stay-at-home Mom with their two daughters, Yvonne and Anita.  In 1981, she came to Mafair to fill in on a temporary basis and has enjoyed being a part of the staff since that time.

Johnsie is a member of Glen Alpine United Methodist Church.  She enjoys friends, church work, reading, watching the Atlanta Braves, and most of all, participating in the lives of their three grandchildren: Amanda, Max, and Jordan.


Narda Fairweather
Secretary | nfairweather@mafairumc.org

Narda has been on staff at Mafair since the fall of 1993.  She attended the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and earned a B.S. in Communications, majoring in Advertising with a focus on Graphic Arts.

She was born in Tokyo, Japan and has since lived in Virginia, California, Vermont, and Tennessee.  Kingsport has been her permanent home since 1992.  Narda and her husband, David, have a daughter, Kelly, a son, Micheil, and a daughter-in-law, Shandi.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking, baking, sewing, eating family dinners together and participating in "Friday nights in the summer" with friends. She and her family all support Red Sox baseball. One thing on her "list of things to do before I die" is to attend a baseball game at every major league park... 10 down, 20 to go!