Senior Pastor Carol Turner serves Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church. We invite you to get to know her better.
Hi! Thank you for visiting my staff biographical page. I am Rev. Carol Clifford Turner. What a joy and privilege I have to serve as the Pastor of Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church. I came to this position in June of 2009 and have been amazed at the wonderful ways God has worked through this congregation. I enjoy working with the talented staff and committed laity of the congregation.
I was born in Mexia, Texas, but grew up in Center, Texas. I went through grade school in the Center public schools, graduating from high school there. I attended Lon Morris College and then went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas with a degree in History and Sociology.
Sensing a powerful call to enter the ministry, I was licensed to preach in the United Methodist Church in 1976. I continued my education in Dallas, Texas at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. I received my Master of Theology degree in 1981. The following year I was ordained an elder in the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The Lord has taken me on an incredible journey in ordained ministry. I have had the honor and privilege of serving as Pastor to churches in the Texarkana area from 1981 to June 1997 including Douglassville, Red Bayou, Eylau, Maud, and Texarkana – St. Luke’s UMC. I then moved to Nacogdoches, Texas and served as Pastor to Perritte Memorial United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches from 1997 to 2000. In 2000 I was then appointed as District Superintendent of the Longview District where I served for 4 years. Following my years as a superintendent I served as senior pastor of The First United Methodist Church of Lufkin, Texas until coming to Cedar Bayou Grace.
I have been married to my wonderful husband, David, since 1977. Together we have two great children. Our son Cliff is married to Ricka Fleschner and they live in St. Louis, Missouri. Our daughter Leslie attends Southwestern University. Over the years I have been involved in a variety of community activities. Currently I am active in the Rotary Club of Baytown and the Bay Area Emmaus Community. I enjoy meeting new people and walking in the woods.