Meet Our Staff
Milton Harrington, Senior Pastor
Pastor Milton was called to First Baptist in December 2022. He and his wife Kelly moved to Charleston from Tallahassee, FL. The two have been married over 30 years and are ecstatic to be new grandparents. Kelly and Milton met volunteering with youth at Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee in 1991 while he attended The Florida State University, and they have been serving the Lord together ever since.
He is a 96’ alum of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and has pastored in Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida. His favorite verse of scripture is Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“I love preaching God’s word and mentoring new believers, helping them awaken to the wonderful truths God has for them.”
When not spending time with Kelly or at the church office you will find him next door at the Brew Jay, the local coffee shop.
Kyle Johnson, Youth Pastor
Kyle has served at First Charleston as youth minister for six years. He describes himself as “a Bible toting, Christ Following, born again believer! I am a Father of three amazing kids, and a husband to one Awesome wife. I thank the Lord every day for all my blessings!” He received his Associates of Arts Degree from Williams Baptist University in 2005, his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts in 2018, and a Masters in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University in 2020.
Kyle is also the Jobs for America Graduate teacher at Charleston High School. “I have been blessed by the Lord to be in both of these positions to help lead our community’s young people to a better knowledge of who Christ was, IS, and will always be!” In his free time Kyle enjoys watching professional wrestling, watching Sci-fi movies, Comic Cons, Traveling
His favorite bible verse is Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Mary Katherine Branum, Music Director
Mary Katherine has been involved in the music ministry in various roles through years of excellent
musical presentations ranging from Southern Baptist cantatas to Handel’s Messiah! She still has a Bible
presented to her by the Ladies Sunday School Class when she was born, so you could say she has been a
part of First all her life! Mary Katherine accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was 7 years old
and was baptized. She has been married to her husband Bill for 44 Years, and they have two grown
sons. In her down time she likes to read and listen to music.
“I love all music but have recently discovered a leaning to contemporary worship and am currently
leading First in a Blended Style of Worship. I truly believe God had a plan, or sometimes I feel a sense of
humor, by placing me in the music leadership role. My prayer is that I remain open to what God wants
for our fellowship as we change and grow in the ministry God has for us in our community.”
Her favorite scripture that continues to guide her is Colossians 1:17, “He is before all things, and in Him
all things hold together.”
Phyllis Whitehead, Financial Secretary
Phyllis Whitehead has been with First Baptist Church for 33 years, and the part-time Financial Secretary since 2019. She has been married to her husband Benjamin for 50 years. She is blessed with 2 wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, and 3 wonderful grandchildren. Her hobbies include camping, kayaking and spending time with family.
Her favorite scripture verse is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
Kathy Garrard, Secretary
Kathy Garrard has been a lifelong resident of Charleston and First Baptist Church. She began working part-time as the Church’s secretary in 2019. She and her husband, Mike, met through a blind date set up by her uncle, and have been married for 42 years. They have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law, who have blessed them with two adorable granddaughters. Kathy enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her dog, and friends. She likes to read, travel, and piddle in the yard.
Psalm 121 is one of her favorite scriptures, I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your protector; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time and forever.”
“I love the Lord and am blessed to have such a wonderful church family!”
Harold Winston, Church Custodian
Harold is a lifelong resident of Charleston. He has been Custodian at First since 2014. “The thing I like best about my job is the interaction I have with the people of the church.”
His hobbies are reading and walking. His favorite bible verse is Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,”