Staff | PUMC

Meet our Staff

Pastor Jessica Dayson

Rev. Jessica Dayson was born in Richmond, VA, but moved to Charlotte as a baby, making the Queen City home for most of her life. She attended Appalachian State University, where she majored in Psychology and found a spiritual home at the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Campus Ministry. It was there that she grew in faith, discovered her call to ministry, and met her husband, Darryl.

Jessica attended Duke Divinity School, earning her Masters of Divinity. She is ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference. Jessica’s first appointment was serving two rural congregations in Candler, NC, followed by several meaningful years as the campus minister at the Wesley Foundation at UNC Asheville. She later served at Myers Park United Methodist Church as the Pastor of Lay Involvement. Jessica and Darryl have three children and are grateful to call the Charlotte area home once again. Darryl is also a pastor serving at South Tryon Community United Methodist Church.

Jessica is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people feel safe to ask big questions, wrestle with faith, and explore what it means to follow Jesus in the world today. She especially enjoys deep theological conversations, engaging with those who are deconstructing or rebuilding their faith, and meeting people for coffee to hear their stories

Elizabeth Hamilton

Office Manager

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Elizabeth has lived in the Charlotte area all of her life. She has worked in various church offices as an office manager over the last decade. Her past experiences include HR, business ownership, and office management. She completed a course in Multicultural/ Multiethnic interpretations and diversity, which has been tremendously beneficial to her career and to every day life. She and her husband, Carl, will celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary this year and they have a 6 year old daughter named Harper. She is so appreciative of the warm welcome we have all given her. She looks forward to serving PUMC.

Nancy Focht

Director of Music Ministries

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Nancy is originally from Silver Spring, MD but has lived in Charlotte for over 30 years. She loves all things worship and has served as Music Minister/Worship Leader in 3 churches in Charlotte, Indian Trail and Locust. She also serves in Emmaus, Chrysalis and Epiphany Ministries and is the state board president of Epiphany MInistries of NC. She describes herself as out-of-the-box, sometimes unconventional, but also appreciates tradition that strengthens the Body of Christ. She is a purple haired, pierced, tattooed lover of Jesus who also has a heart for ministering to those who have been marginalized by the church. She enjoys getting to know her church family and serving the Lord alongside each of us!

Josh Parman

Accompanist

Originally from Nashville, Josh is a recent transplant to the Charlotte area to be closer to his family. He has previously worked for several churches and theaters in the Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Nashville areas as a singer, pianist, organist, cellist, conductor, composer, arranger, and choir director. Josh holds two degrees in music composition from Middle Tennessee State University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In his free time, Josh enjoys reading and has been known to fish.

2026 Lay Leadership

Lay Leader - Mike Lynch

Administrative Council Chair - Paul Claiborne

Recording Secretary - Beth Maher

Lay Member of Annual Conference - Gilda Bass

Reserve Lay Member of Annual Conference - Kelly Chiseck

Chair, Finance Committee - Rob Rose

Financial Secretary - Debbie Gafney

Church Treasurer - Dave Ogden
Contributions Secretary - Debbie Gafney

Membership Secretary - Elizabeth Hamilton

Chair, Trustees - Jeff Mills

Chair, Staff Parish Relations Committee - Mike Sloan