Reverend Judy Hall

Reverend Judy Hall’s appointment as pastor of the Paris First United Methodist church represents a homecoming. She was a member of the Paris FUMC before she decided to become a minister in 2003.

Rev. Hall and her husband Steve moved to the area with their two small sons in 1996. The boys attended school in Paris School District and Subiaco Academy and are now grown and attending college. Steve Hall has been employed at the Walmart Distribution Center in Clarksville for over 20 years. Their home was in New Blaine before Rev. Hall’s most recent appointments when they moved to a parsonage.

Prior to becoming a minister, Hall was an employee for Roller Funeral Homes in Paris and later owned a store on Courthouse Square in Paris called Things That Fly. She has previously served as a member of the board of the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the the Vision 2010 Committee, the Extension Board, in a 4-H club, on the Butterfly Festival Committee.

As a minister, Rev. Hall has, in addition to churches in Paris and Magazine, served Branch UMC, Vesta UMC, Pioneer Memorial UMC, Prairie View UMC, Cole’s Chapel, Waveland UMC, and Moore’s Chapel UMC.

She has completed the course of study required for local pastors and has earned a Masters of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary.

As a pastor, she has also received the Widow’s Mite Award given to only one UMC with under 25 in attendance and has received the Church of the Year award three times. She has served on the District Leadership Team and chaired the Conference Small Membership Church Committee. She also served on the Conference Mission Team during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. She is currently volunteering as Program Chair for Shoal Creek Camp in New Blaine, AR.

Paris United Methodist Church

A third burn-out occurred in 1917. Three churches and three fires were a test of the faith and courage of the congregation but they rallied to the challenge. They faced World War I and the Great Depression but continued to pull together. Since funds were limited and materials scarce it took over eight years of hard work and sacrifice. On June 17, 1928 the fourth church building was dedicated by Bishop Booze. In 1948 the Church underwent renovation and the Wicks Pipe Organ was installed. The Educational Building was added in 1958 and the basement remodeled. About this time the bells of the church were donated in memory of Bill Carey who was killed in World War II.

The present church was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1995. It was accorded recognition in both Historic Significance and Architectural Significance.