Reverend Dr. John Stringer
Pastor
Reverend Dr. John Stringer was born the youngest of five children in Houston, Texas, to Marvin and Mavis Stringer. He was raised in the Southern Baptist Church, and this helped him to appreciate a loving church family and fostered a desire for discipleship. John graduated from Houston Baptist University and took a job in Louisville, Kentucky as a social worker for a while, but then he felt called to the ministry. He began his studies at the Baptist Seminary, however, after taking a class with the renowned theologian and author, George Buttrick, John decided his own theology and beliefs aligned more with the Presbyterian Church. He then transferred to Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. While in his intern year in North Carolina, he met Mary Nell, an educator and principal, who he married in 1980 shortly before graduating with his Doctor of Ministry Degree in 1981.
Over the next 20 years, John pastored several churches in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina, and he and Mary Nell welcomed two boys, Jordan and Seth. As the boys reached college age, John became a State Farm Agent in Denver, Colorado, but continued his ministry as an Interim Pastor for over 10 years at two small Colorado Churches.
Jordan became an attorney and he and his partner, Kosha, live and work in Nashville, Tennessee. Jordan is the Director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and Kosha is Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost at Vanderbilt University. Seth is the sports editor at the Northwest Florida Daily News and he and his partner, Kristi, who is a property manager, welcomed their son, Wyatt in 2022.
John and Mary Nell decided to retire to Fort Walton Beach in 2020 because they love southern culture, southern food, the gorgeous Emerald Coast, and their sweet grandson.
John accepted a position as Interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Walton Beach in September of 2022, and in 2024, accepted the position of Stated Supply at First Presbyterian. He is grateful to serve in such a supportive congregation that values being an active presence in the community spreading God’s word and love to all. In his spare time, John enjoys outings with family, traveling, golf, listening to music, and searching antique and thrift stores for treasures with Mary Nell.
Lorilee Corbett
Office Administrator
By Phone / Email:
(850) 243-3732 / [email protected]
Lorilee Corbett, Office Administrator, a true Florida native, was born in Key West, grew up in Pensacola, and has lived most of her adult life in the Fort Walton Beach area. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Education from Auburn University, and her Master’s degree in Administrative Leadership from the University of West Florida. She was a Florida Registered Paralegal in local law firms for many years before coming to our church. Lorilee has two children, Lauren and Rob (Kristin), and one grandchild, Alayna. When Lorilee is not working, she loves to spend time with her family, her two miniature dachshunds and watch Auburn football!! WAR EAGLE!
