Our Leadership

Elders

Glenn G. Murphy:

Glenn G. Murphy and Rita, his wife of 48 years, were charter members of the Pecan Grove church when it first started on November 7, 1977. He has served as a Trustee, Elder, Bible School Teacher and Song Leader for several years.

They first moved to Greenville in 1968, along with their two children, Sonya and Mike. They now have six grandchildren ranging from 19 to 5 years of age. The oldest started college at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, during the fall of 2010 and the youngest started Kindergarten in Garland, Texas. All of his grandchildren are active in the LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) Program, which is also a vital part of Pecan Groves’ teaching program. He has provided training for the LTC song leading program for the last 3 years, and all the young people that have participated have earned either a gold or silver medal.

Glenn graduated from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri, in 1964 with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He worked as a Research Engineer in the Space Program at Rocketdyne, A Division of North American Aviation in Neosho, Missouri, until the plant closed in 1968 and then worked at the Greenville Aircraft Modification plant as a Registered Engineer for LTV Electro- systems, E-Systems Inc., and Raytheon until he retired in 1998.

He is an avid year-round hunter and supplies meat to several families. He also enjoys exercising by walking the roads, visiting with neighbors, picking up trash along the roadways, and is active in the recycling program. He donated almost 15 gallons of whole blood from 1972 until 2000 to the Carter BloodCare Program. He is the coordinator for the Shady Grove Community in their Neighborhood Watch and Adopt-A-Highway Programs, and is a volunteer worker and member of the Shady Grove Water Supply Corporation. Since retirement Glenn continues to work in varying capacities as a licensed Private Pesticide Applicator, a general Handyman, a 2010 Census Enumerator, and has helped build several storage buildings and three elaborate play houses with playground equipment. He and Tom Chennault teamed up to build the storage building and the playground at Pecan Grove church site. He was also active in building the existing auditorium and the education wing and continues to oversee the Building and Grounds program and Administration at Pecan Grove.

John Banister

John and Sharon Banister have been members at Pecan Grove since 1995. During that time John has served as Elder, Preacher, and Bible School Teacher.

John and Sharon have lived in Ladonia, Texas since 1991. They moved to Ladonia when John retired for the U.S. Air Force after 20+ years of service. They have two daughters, Bethany Banister Rainsberg and Hannah Kate Banister. Their first grandchild, James Banister Rainsberg, was born in January, 2010.

John grew up in Dallas, Tx, where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Abilene Christian College for two years before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated in 1970. He joined the U.S. Air Force later that year and was a pilot until his retirement.

John and Sharon are ranchers. They raise cattle and harvest native pecans. John's interests include aviation, competitive shooting, and astronomy.

Paul Graves

Paul Graves was born and raised in the Weiland community near Greenville, Texas, and attended Lone Oak public schools. While serving in the US Army in Massachusetts, he met his wife, Ruth. They have one daughter, Jessica, and she and her husband Joe live nearby with their four children, Isabel, Phoebe, Leo, and Julian. Paul is currently employed as a Senior Programmer/Analyst at NETData, a small software company in Sulphur Springs, TX. He has several hobbies, woodworking, (he occasionally builds a horse-drawn carriage as well as traditional furniture, and cabinets), road trips, and all types of outdoor sports, but the activities involving the church family at Pecan Grove are the most rewarding. As an elder, he oversees two areas of service, Special Events and Benevolence. Special Events involve fun activities such as the Christmas parade, Fall Festival, and others that provide a valuable outreach to the community as well as fun and work for our members, both young and old. Paul says, "There's always something going on in our group at Pecan Grove, the "doing-est" bunch."

Dr. Richard Johnson

Richard is a School Psychologist and a Licensed Professional Counselor with the Greenville Independent School District. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Special Education. He and his wife, Gail, who is also a psychologist, have four grown children and seven grandchildren. Richard and Gail were high school sweethearts who met in a 10^th grade math class. Together, Richard and Gail engage in counseling, play therapy for children, various forms of assessment and spiritual direction through the Whitestone Counseling Center at Pecan Grove. They very much enjoy spending quality time together, boating, playing golf, and enjoying the outdoors.

Richard is a life-long Christian, and before entering the field of psychology was a full-time church pastor for 20 years. He is in the preaching rotation at Pecan Grove and enjoys teaching adult Bible classes. He has a Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from Sam Houston State University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.