Meet Our Staff!

Rev. Collin Blair Adams

Pastor

Collin was ordained as a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister in August 2008 after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary. Prior to attending seminary, Collin was a student at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee. At Tusculum, Collin was involved with the campus ministry, served as a resident advisor and was involved with several student organizations. After graduating from Tusculum, Collin enrolled at Columbia Theological Seminary with the intention of becoming a camp director. It was during his internship at Waverly Road in the summer of 2006 that he felt the call to go into Parish Ministry.

Collin's first was to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he served from 2008 until February 2012. His second was to Pollocksville Presbyterian Church in Pollocksville, North Carolina. He then accepted the call to Waverly in July 2016.

Collin is married to Blair McCants Adams and they have twin sons: Knox and MacInnes. They also have three dogs (Paddy, Nessy, and Steve-O) and two cats (Iona and Paulie).

Collin likes to play music on his ukulele and guitar as well as paint, read, watching movies, and spend time outside. He also enjoys cooking.

Dr. Daniel Clark

Pastor Emeritus

Dan Clark grew up in Sussex, NJ. He graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, and went on to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, TX, where he earned his M.Div. He later earned his Doctor Ministry Degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Dan served churches in Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and Indiana before coming to serve at Waverly, where he has been for over twelve years.

Dan and his wife, Jean, have three children and four grandchildren.

Dan's four largest loves are God, family, golf, and Duke Basketball.

Rachel Lawson

Director of Young Adult and Children Discipleship Ministries

Rachel graduated from Mississippi State University in 2004 with a B.S. Degree in Educational Psychology. Prior to her position as Director of Young Adult and Children Discipleship Ministries, she was Director of Children's Ministries at WRPC and previously employed as a Preschool Teacher in Memphis, TN. She is the owner of Musical Minds Kindermusik Program and is a Board Member for the Waverly Road Child Care Center and SMILE Foster Care Clothes Closet. Now, she shares her time and many talents to enrich and enhance the worship experience of our youngest children and families here at Waverly Road.

Rachel loves spending time with her husband Anthony and 3 children Gabriel, Michael and Evangelina. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting and music as hobbies. 

Josh Russell

Director of Student (K-12) Discipleship Ministries

Joshua Russell is a graduate of King University where he studied theology and history. As a student, he was a Research and Teaching Assistant in the Philosophy and Religion Department where he worked on the Lautenschlager-Azekah Archeological Expedition consortium and as an editor of Graffito: A Journal of Protest and Identity.  He also co-authored A Glimpse of Christian History with Dr. Don M. Hudson, the Department’s chair. 

With a decade of experience in ministry, Joshua has served congregations across southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and western North Carolina both as youth director and senior pastor. He came to Waverly Road Presbyterian Church in 2015 as an ecumenical staff member, having been ordained in the Anglican Church. Later that year, he was invited as an ecumenical representative to attend a joint session of the United States Congress for a special address by Pope Francis during his state visit. In 2017, he was consecrated bishop. 

Joshua currently resides in Church Hill with his wife and daughter. He enjoys history, writing, travelling, and spending time with his family.

Julie Vogel

Director of Music Ministries

Julie grew up in Winston-Salem, NC. She earned a Bachelor's of Music Degree from Furman University and a Master's of Music Degree from the University of Texas in Austin. She attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for a year as a non-degree student after feeling God's call to Church Music Ministry.

Julie came to Kingsport in 1984 following her marriage to Ernie. She began work at Waverly in 1985 as the Director of Music and Christian Education. In 1992, following the birth of her first son, Greg, she began serving in her current capacity as part-time Director of Music Ministries at Waverly.

Susan Whipple

Organist

Susan has been the organist and pianist at Waverly since 1980. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a B.S. in Music Education and has done graduate work at both East Tennessee State University and Shenandoah University.

Susan is a member of both the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and the American Guild of Organists.

Amy Boyles

Business & Communications Administrator

Amy graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1980 where she received her B.S. Degree in Art Education and Graphic Design. During her career, she has held various positions including Marketing Manager for Fort Henry Mall, Creative Director, Communications Specialist, Account Executive and Graphic Designer for Absolute Communications, Inc., and Sports Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce. She spent years working in the publishing industry as a layout artist and pre-press technician and has taught Art in the Sullivan County School System. She has designed, produced, and purchased media advertising for TV, radio, newsprint, online, outdoor, and social media outlets. At Waverly, she uses her skills to enhance internal and external communications, marketing and branding efforts as well as daily business administration.

Amy believes in getting involved and giving back to the Kingsport community by volunteering and serving on many boards and councils. She currently serves as Vice-President of Netherland Inn/Exchange Place Association.

Amy is married to Jack Boyles and has one wild and crazy dog, Annie. Amy enjoys travelling, spending time at their mountain home in Sevierville, TN, gardening, cooking, traveling, hiking, and all kinds of music. She is an accomplished artist and basket weaver and loves to create beautiful things.

Renea Insalago

Sexton

Renea is originally from Bristol, VA. She has been the Sexton for Waverly for over five years. Prior to her position here, she was employed at Lens Lab and Tri-City Opticians in Bristol, VA and at Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, TN.

Joyce Caldwell

Parish Nurse

Joyce graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1977 where she received her RN degree. During her nursing career, she was employed as a Staff Nurse at Wellmont (Holston Valley). She was the Director of Nursing for Laboratory Services, Director of the Radiology Department, Department of Clinical Research, and was a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator at Holston Medical Group (HMG). Joyce has also served as a Home Health Nurse with Olsten-Kimberly and as a Hospice Nurse with Amedisys Hospice of Kingsport. She currently serves as Staff Nurse with the medical department at Eastman Chemical Company and as our Parish Nurse here at Waverly.

Joyce is married to Conner, has three children, one grandchildren, and one precious dog Roxy. Joyce loves spending time at her North Carolina mountain home and at the beaches in South Carolina. She enjoys hiking, biking, walking, gardening, cooking, reading, and traveling with her family, friends, and church family.