Meet Our Staff!
Click a staff member to learn more.
Rev. Collin Blair Adams
Dr. Daniel Clark
Rachel Lawson
Director of Young Adults and Family Discipleship
Trinity Gibson
Richard Brown
Interim Director of Music Ministries
Susan Whipple
Amy Boyles
Renea Insalago
Joyce Caldwell
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 Adults and Family Discipleship
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.
Richard Brown
Interim Director of Music Ministries
Richard is a life-long resident of Kingsport. He was raised in Kingsport's First Presbyterian Church and is a proud graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, and served as a band director in Kingsport City Schools for 20 years. Richard is currently in his 11th year as one of the assistant principals at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
Richard has served in music teaching positions at Virginia Junior High School, John Sevier Middle School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, Stone Drive United Methodist Church, and Crossroads United Methodist Church.
Richard and his wife Meredith joined Waverly Road Presbyterian Church in 2001 and have participated in the music ministry since that time.
Richard accepted a request to become Waverly's interim music director in January 2021.
The Browns have two daughters, Valerie, 26, a systems analyst for Peloton, and Julia, 18, a college freshman majoring in business and minoring in music/piano.
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.
Trinity Gibson
Director of Student (K-12) Discipleship Ministries
Trinity graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Science. She worked at Hands On! Regional Museum as the Exhibits and Education Coordinator. She has homeschooled her children grades k-12.
She has four daughters, one son, and one granddaughter. Her hobbies include home improvement, organic gardening, and furniture refurbishment. She is an expert seamstress and home cook.