Meet the staff at CHUMC. While we strongly believe in the ministry of all believers, we have some gifted full- and part-time staff members who guide us along the way.
Reverend J.D. Allen
Senior Pastor
Rev. J.D. Allen is from The Colony, Texas. He married Katy Allen in 2000, and they have two children. They live in Carrollton, Texas. He comes to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church after serving five years as senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Boyd, Texas. He previously served one year as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church Carrollton and two years as student local pastor at Elm Ridge United Methodist Church.
Melissa Sky-Eagle
Choir Director/Accompanist
Dr. Melissa Sky-Eagle has held continuous jobs as a pianist, collaborator, and music director for the last 26 years. After a recent move from California to Texas, she now serves as the staff accompanist and vocal coach for the Irving Independent School District in Irving, Texas. She is also the music director and pianist at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. During her time in Los Angeles, she worked with theaters, colleges, choral groups, churches, and piano students. Her academic credentials are all in piano performance: BM, Texas Christian University; MM, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University; and DMA, University of Southern California. She is passionate about supporting other musicians and ensembles and helping singers to be confident in sounding their best! She enjoys traveling to historic sites and walking in her neighborhood in her spare time.
Jill Cox
Office Manager
Jill Cox lives in Carrolton, Texas, with her husband, Mark, and four chihuahuas. She moved to Carrollton two years ago from The Colony, where she lived for two years. Prior to moving to Texas in 2019, she lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jill and Mark still own a house in Florida that they plan to retire to in ten years.
Jill comes to us with experience from working in two large United Methodist Churches. One in Denver, Colorado, and the other in Durham, North Carolina. She and her husband have lived in nine different states throughout their forty-year marriage. She is currently a Notary Public and has a small side business as a loan signing agent. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and taking care of her husband and dogs.
Jim Hanigan
Building Manager
Jim Hanigan is a longtime member of Chapel Hill, having been part of this church since 1979. Since 2008, Jim has served as our building manager.