Jim & Leigh Eley
Who is your family?
Leigh and Jim, now empty nesters after raising both their son, John and daughter, Caroline at Northminster. They both live in Nashville with their families.
What led you to Northminster?
(Jim) I was raised in a small-town Baptist Church. My entire family on my father’s side were all Baptist, going back generations. My mother’s family were all Methodist. We were very active in our church. ‘If the doors were open’ we were present. My dad was our choir director. After college it seemed only natural that I would choose a Baptist church to attend. Northminster was an easy choice, and proved to be the right one for our family. (Leigh) I came from a long line of Methodists…my grandfather was the minister at my hometown church when I decided to join St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, while attending college at Ole Miss. After moving to Jackson, I joined St. Andrew’s Cathedral, then Northminster after John Claypool married us. I told Jim I would attend Northminster with him if he agreed to let our children be baptized at St. Andrew’s!
What has been your most meaningful involvement at Northminster ?
(Jim) That’s an easy one. Being Chairman of the Building Maintenance Committee for many years, it was my pleasure to serve with all the members and work through many difficult issues. Thank goodness Lucian Harvey was there to help me! And thank goodness Jason Greener is now our chair!! Both Leigh and I were involved with the youth group when our children were teenagers . They were lucky to have Stan Wison as their youth director. Leigh feels the caregiving ministry is so important and helps when she can.
What’s your family theme song?
“Away in the Manger” from John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas album, played every Christmas morning while opening gifts. John and Caroline might be the only ones in their age group that even know who John Denver is.
What’s your favorite Bible story or verse?
(Jim) Luke 15: 11-32 The parable of the prodigal son.
(Leigh) Matthew 6:28 “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow”…
What are you looking for at the church potluck?
Fellowship.
Who has been important to you in your time at Northminster?
That’s a hard one for a family who have been involved for fifty years. There are too many to name. A few: Jane Best, Suzanne Boone, Patty Clark, Cathy Davis, Scott Dickison, Mary Foose, Lucian Harvey, Annette Hitt, Dan Ellen Maples, Ann McDonnieal, Chuck Poole, John Purvis, Kandy Sims, Lesley Ratcliff and Jean Williams.
What’s your favorite Northminster story?
The Sunday morning Chuck Poole returned to Northminster after having left to work with the less fortunate in our city. On Chuck’s first time back in the pulpit, Homer Best took it upon himself stood up and spoke for the entire congregation expressing our joy that Chuck had returned. I’m pretty sure Homer had not planned this, but simply couldn’t contain his joy.
