Rev. Dr. Vona Wilson

District Superintendant

Rev. Dr. Wilson grew up in rural Western Kentucky and moved to Tennessee as a young adult. She has 34 years of leadership experience in the public, private, and non-profit sector.  She is an ordained Elder in full connection and is currently appointed as the District Superintendent of the Harpeth River District.  Williamson County is her home.  

Prior to full time ministry, Vona served in a variety of roles, all focused on serving the community and facilitating change.  A former Paramedic, she served as the Director of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Williamson County and in this role, played an integral part in helping the public safety sector respond to a growing community.  After handing over the leadership of EMS to a trusted colleague, Vona served as the Director of Organizational Improvement for Williamson Medical Center and helped facilitate change, strategic planning and leadership development throughout the hospital. 

As a lay person, Vona served the local church as a teacher and on numerous committees, including Long Range Planning, SPRC, Spiritual Growth & Nurture, and Vision 2000, with the growing congregation of Franklin First UMC.  Sensing the call of God to take her experiences into full time ministry, Vona was licensed as a Local Pastor in 2006 and ordained as an Elder in 2010.  She has served on the clergy staff team with Franklin First a total of fifteen years; Bethlehem UMC in Williamson County as Interim Lead Pastor during a midyear pastoral transition;  and three years as Chaplain for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Vona leads the Faith & Innovation Team for the TWK, and serves on the Ethnic Local Church Concerns, Hispanic Ministries, and Health and Wellness Committees.  

Vona’s doctoral work focused on recognizing the body of Christ in an age of disruption. She holds a deep passion and call for the church God continues to reveal in new and powerful ways.  In addition to her pastoral leadership, Vona teaches Mental Health First Aid and QPR, for suicide prevention; and serves pastoral needs within the local first responder community.  She is passionate about creating sacred environments where people and communities flourish as the kingdom of God is being fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.

Recreation and restoration for Vona comes in the outdoors, writing, and time spent with friends and family.

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Talley

District Project Manager

An ordained elder in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Talley currently serves as the Program Manager for the Red River and Harpeth River Districts. In her twenty-two years of ministry, Dr. Talley has served as pastor of the New Providence, Bethel, Woodlawn, and Caldwell Churches in the legacy Tennessee Annual Conference. In addition to her ministry experience, Dr. Talley was employed for eleven years in social services with the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services. Dr. Talley earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry degree also from Asbury Theological Seminary. Currently, she is in the research phase of the PhD program in Intercultural Studies at Asbury. Dr. Talley’s hobbies include traveling, walking, and photography.

Chris Grosson

District Administrative Assistant

Chris Grosson has lived in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts before settling down in Tennessee more than 25 years ago. After being a stay-at-home mom, she worked as an Administrator at Nolensville First UMC for more than 13 years, then came to the Harpeth District office in 2023. Chris and her husband, Andy, have two grown sons and live with four cats. In her spare time, Chris loves sewing, reading, and serving at her home church.