Pastor Emeritus Pearl Glover Boles and family moved to Orange Park in January, 1980, and joined OPUMC on Mother’s Day.  She and Grady are the parents of Laura (Rick), and Katherine (Phillip) and the grandparents of Nadia, Dorian and Charles.

​

A 6th generation native of Jacksonville, Pearl received her call to ministry and missionary service in junior high school, and worked as a youth director during summers in college; she also taught Sunday School in a mission church in Nashville her senior year.  A graduate of Andrew College, Cuthbert, Ga. (A.A., Phi Theta Kappa, 1965), Scarritt College with dual enrollment at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (B.A., Drama, 1967), and Candler School of Theology, Emory University (Master of Christian Education, 1969); post-graduate work at Garrett Theological Seminary (1991) and Clinical Pastoral Care- St. Vincent’s Hospital (1999-2000).  Consecrated a Diaconal Minister in 1992, Pearl was ordained a Deacon in 1997 at the Florida Annual Conference in Lakeland, Florida.

​

While in seminary, Pearl began serving on the staff of Trinity United Methodist Church, an inner-city church in Atlanta, and later served as the director of Christian Education of North Decatur United Methodist Church (1975-76) near Emory.  In 1976 the family moved to the Dallas, Texas area for Grady’s work with the U.S. General Accounting Office and they were involved in a new church start, the Colony United Methodist Church, where Pearl was the volunteer Christian educator and assistant to the pastor.  She also served on the North Texas Conference Week-Day Ed. Board of the UMC. 

​

Pearl served on the Orange Park United Methodist Church staff for over 30 years.  Her work began as director of Christian Education in February, 1980 and concluded as an associate pastor on June 30, 2012.  She was privileged to serve the congregation in many capacities, including educational ministries for children, youth, and adults, church growth & new member classes, Wonderworks, Shepherd’s Center, Stephen Ministry, pastoral and congregational care, teaching pre-marital classes/Disciple Bible Studies, program ministry development, missions and mission trips (Mexico & Cuba), staff development and supervision.  Her pastoral duties also included preaching, teaching, counseling, officiating funerals and weddings, and whatever else needed.   Moreover, Pearl’s volunteer service included membership on district boards/conference committees since 1979; today she continues to serve the conference on the Camp Pioneer Board of Directors (Special Need Adults).

​

In retirement, Pastor Pearl directs the Good Samaritan Ministry, officiates for funerals upon request, serves on the Missions Committee and the Cuba Team and provides other services as needed.  She loves the Orange Park Community and Clay County and serves on the Board of Directors for Mercy Support Services, The Clothes Closet, and the Penney Retirement Community.