Staff
Allen Simpson
Pastor
Allen has been the Pastor of First Baptist Church since October 1998. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy degree. He received a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Allen, a Eupora native, has been in the ministry for 18 years, having pastored churches in Bellefontaine and Kosciusko before coming to Amory. He and his wife, Cindy, have two teenage sons, Jason and Daniel.
Ray Burke
Minister of Worship
Ray Burke has served as Minister of Music of First Baptist Church since June 18, 1973. After graduating from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Ray studied at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and received his Master of Church Music degree in May of 1973. Ray committed himself to the ministry at his home church, First Baptist, Moss Point, Mississippi, in the summer of 1966. He and his wife, Becky, have a daughter, Julie, and one grandson.
Jimmy McFatter
Minister of Education
A native of Hattiesburg, Jimmy graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1978 with a degree in Radio and Television Production. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981. Jimmy was licensed to the Gospel ministry in 1974 and served as pastor of four churches in south Mississippi. He has been the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church of Amory since 1990. He and his wife, Chryl, are the parents of a beautiful daughter, Emily, who was born in 2002.
Matt Stark
Minister to Students
Matt has been the Minister to Students at First Baptist Church since February 2008. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor and Master of Music Education degree in 1998. He received a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. Matt, an Amory native, was ordained in 2004 and served churches in Oxford and Pontotoc before returning home. He and his wife, Melanie, have one son, Riley.
Brenda Boozer
Ministry Assistant
Brenda Boozer has been employed at First Baptist Church as Ministry Assistant since 1985 and serves as the Financial Secretary also. A native of Amory, she graduated from Amory High School and attended Mississippi State University, where she worked in the office of the Athletic Department. While living in Aberdeen, she was secretary for Michael Jonas, Attorney, and served as President of Tombigbee Women and the Junior Auxiliary. The Boozers moved back to Amory in 1981. She is the Facilitator for Amory Women First Cancer Support Group. Brenda’s husband, Howard, is the Mayor of the City of Amory. They have two grown children, Alan and Alison, and five grandchildren.
Carol Knight
Ministry Assistant
Carol Knight has served as Ministry Assistant and Church Clerk at First Baptist Church since October 2007. She is a Amory High School graduate and attended Mississippi State University for two years, where she majored in Communications. A lifelong resident of Amory, Carol is the third generation of her family to attend First Baptist, Amory. Before being employed here, she was the business owner of two fitness franchises for 7 years, as well as an Operations Specialist for the company. Carol and her husband, Josh, reside on the Cantrell Family Farm and have two children, Addi and Silas.
