I have been blessed and privileged to know and walk with many great, loving and faithful people who have left their fingerprints on my life. I am indebted to them and am a better person for having known them. I was swinging with Mary Green, and she said to me, “This is a special swing.” I asked her what made it special, and she replied, “The people who have swung in it made it special.” It’s people that make things, places and life special to us. God calls us to be in relationship with Him and each other. Jesus replied when asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39). Love is the Christian calling. It is also my calling as the assistant pastor. I was with Anna one day, and I asked her, “How are you?” She replied after a long pause, “I need someone to tell me they love me and give me a hug.” Anna voiced the basic need we all have, and she showed me what was important in caring for others. I want God’s love to be known through my life.

There’s a song title that says it well, “They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love.” An inspiring quote, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” (John Wesley)

I have been a member of FBC for 43 years. I used to volunteer in the church kitchen before being hired in 2007. I also have worked at Schneider Nursery for 8 years.

I have been married to Tom for 47 years and we have two daughters, Missy Wayman & Mandy Goecker, along with 6 grandchildren. Our family loves to get together over good food and just visiting on Sunday nights by the bonfire with s’mores!

My favorite scripture passage is Psalm 46. I love so many of the “old hymns,” but some of my favorites are “Fill My Cup (Woman at the Well),” “In the Garden,” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).”

I like trying new recipes; scrapbooking; sewing; & gardening. Some of my favorite books (other than the Bible, of course, pertain to my roots in Eastern Kentucky.

My spiritual journey began at an early age at VBS in a small mining-community church. I met a young missionary, Matthew Hart, who shared the wonders of life in Christ to me and the importance of leaning on Jesus through all circumstances!

Jeanne has been affiliated with the First Baptist Church since birth. She is the third generation to worship at First Baptist. She has worked at FBC for over 10 years. She also works at the Jay-C store part-time as a shift manager. In the past, she has taught music in school and worked at Jackson County Bank. She is married to Curt Nichols, the Voice of the Seymour Owls, and is mother of four children - Erin, Bri, Drew, and Spencer - and grandmother of five grandchildren - Jaidyn and Kylei Nichols, Madalynn Nichols, and Ford and Wade Roll.