Walnut Grove UMC welcomed Rev. Laura Dunlap as its new pastor as of July 1, 2020.  Rev. Dunlap has been in ministry for over 17 years with experience in a variety of settings.  She is excited to be serving Walnut Grove UMC!  Pastor Laura looks forward to seeing how the Holy Spirit will continue to move at Walnut Grove.  She enjoys preaching and equipping laity to serve in ministry.  In her spare time, Pastor Laura enjoys spending time with family, seeing what new adventures are on her horizon, and gardening.

Email:  ldunlap@nccumc.org

Leigh has served as the Music Director at Walnut Grove UMC since June 2001.  She provides leadership to the Sanctuary Choir (adults), Hallelujah Choir (children) and various instrumental groups. She also leads the music for the  Contemporary Worship Service which includes the Praise Band and Singers. Originally from the foothills of North Carolina, she has served in several capacities such as organist, accompanist, choir director and pianist for a campground ministry (complete with a snake). As a former elementary school nurse in the Orange County Schools, Leigh's favorite part of the job is working with children. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, swimming and taking care of her 2 grandsons as well as her 2 dogs, Petey and Daisy.

Email:  leighmcfalls@gmail.com

Kim joined the WGUMC family in January of 2021. She is the secretary and treasurer of the church.

She is an Orange County native, having spent almost her entire life in Hillsborough. 

She lived in Canada for two years when her parents were missionaries there. 

In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She most enjoys time with her 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

Email: office@walnutgroveumc.org

Lorraine has served faithfully at Walnut Grove UMC as the organist since 1975. During a portion of this time, she also served as choir director and accompanist.  She is a former middle school music teacher and program coordinator for at-risk children in the local school system. In addition to her musical duties at church, Lorraine is currently a local realtor. One of her spiritual gifts is that of  evangelism and she loves to be a witness to all she meets. She grew up on the family farm in Hurdle Mills near the church with her 3 brothers, one of which is her twin. She has one son, James.    

Email:  lorraineparker53@yahoo.com

After working with Walnut Grove UMC as a Duke field education intern, Lauren joined staff in August 2024 as Minister of Discipleship.  Lauren works with the youth and children at Walnut Grove, as well as assisting Pastor Dunlap with other pastoral care responsibilities.  Lauren has worked as a nonprofit manager, a music teacher, and had a side career in baking before returning to grad school for her Masters of Divinity (Duke Divinity School, '25).  She is married to Andrew and they have a mischievous dog named Bruno.  

email: discipleship@walnutgroveumc.org

I grew up in the Great Plains of Nebraska in a small town named Springfield. My family consists of my mother, father, older sister, younger brother, and twin sister. I was baptized as a baby in the Lutheran tradition, and later I grew up in a Presbyterian church where I accepted Jesus as my savior when I was five years old. God’s calling to ministry came when I was in middle school and later led me to seek out a youth ministry degree program at the University of Sioux Falls (USF) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While at USF, I majored in Theology and Youth Ministry and had the immense privilege of serving as a youth intern at Southern Hills United Methodist Church. There I joined the United Methodist Church in the spring of 2022. God’s calling to ministry changed vocationally from pursuing youth ministry to head pastorship. This shift led me to apply to Duke Divinity School, where I just completed my second year. I am currently finishing up the process of certified candidacy in the Dakotas United Methodist conference and will pursue ordination as an elder.

Hobbies:

Spending time with friends and family, Journalling, Reading, Scenic walks

Email: laura.sherman@duke.edu

Avery is a second-year Master of Divinity student at Duke Divinity School.  She is originally from Raleigh and attended Guilford College for her bachelor's degree where she majored in Religious Studies and Sociology/Anthropology.  Avery is a candidate for ordination in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and is excited to follow where God will lead in this journey.  This past summer Avery interned at the Methodist Home for Children and is eager to learn and grow at Walnut Grove UMC.  Avery lives in Holly Springs with her partner, Colton, and their Siamese cat Marble.

Email:  avery.edwards@duke.edu