Margie Walker is our Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries. Margie has been a long-time member of this church and is actually a fourth-generation PUMC member! Margie was born in Painesville to Bob and Kay Merchant. As a child she was baptized and later confirmed at PUMC. She loved attending EOC Camp Asbury and Camp Wananke each summer. Margie was also a member of the PUMC Children’s Choir, the Whitfield Girls Choir, the youth group and the district youth council as she grew up!
Margie was very active in the church as a youth member, attending Youth Annual Conferences, representing the church as a youth delegate, and later on was a college delegate to annual conference. In addition, Margie is a 1986 graduate of Perry High School. Margie learned the flute and the oboe and participated in band starting in 5th grade and later on was in the marching band. During her senior year, Margie was the Perry Pirate mascot for high school football games. Margie was also a member of the high school choir as well as the Buccaneers Show Choir and performed in several plays and musicals. Margie was a member of the Art Club and was a founding member of T.A.C.A. – S.A.D.D. (Teens Against Chemical Abuse and Students Against Drunk Driving).
In the late 1980s, the United Methodist Youth Choral toured England and Wales under the direction of Dr. Carlton R. Young, who taught, edited, composed, and conducted several United Methodist hymns. Margie was delighted to get to participate in this tour!
In 1990 Margie earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ohio University. She also earned a minor in music and art. Margie has three children: Zachary, Ryan, and Abigail – who are fifth-generation members of PUMC!
Margie has had many roles in PUMC, both as a volunteer and an employee, ranging from Sunday School teacher and Children’s Christmas pageant director to Youth Choir Director and VBS assistant. Officially, Margie worked in the financial industry for over 26 years, holding many roles – teller, head-teller, trainer, member service associate, and member service manager. In 2016, PUMC asked Margie to take on the part-time role of Youth Coordinator, which she happily accepted. In 2022, a full-time, combined Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries was created and offered to Margie, and at that time she left the financial industry to focus on her new role in Christian Education!
Margie has also attended Ashland Theological Seminary and is a lover of dogs and cats. Currently she has dog, Oreo, who loves to chase squirrels and play in the mud, and three cats named Lilo, Stitch, and Precious.
If you have children or youth-aged youngsters and would like more information about classes, Sunday School, or fun gathering opportunities, stop by the church office and talk to Margie. Plus, Margie also assists with coordinating materials for adult Bible study/Christian education classes, so if you have an idea for a new learning opportunity, you can bring that to Margie as well. Or, just stop by the office and ask for a demonstration of the Inter-office Fishing Mail Delivery System. She would love to show you!