2021-2023 Area 6 Board

Chair

Chair

Sheri Roach retired after 24 years teaching math and science in K-12 public schools and moved with her husband and fur babies from Alaska to Nashville, Tennessee, where she edits and writes as a certified aromatherapist. Music has also played an important role in her life, from the time she was very young, although handbells have been a relatively new part of her musical life.  She believes that music depicts both the abstract and the concrete, and can embody mind, soul, and spirit. Sheri supports on-going efforts in Area 6 to spread a love of handbells and music throughout the region by serving as the Area 6 chair.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato

Chair-Elect

Chair-Elect

Gary Bynum has been involved in handbell programs since the fourth grade.  His experience with various church choirs lead to his involvement in the founding of The Metropolitan Bells, Chattanooga’s advanced community handbell ensemble, in 1993.  After ringing in the group for 10 years, Gary assumed the role of music director, a position he still holds today.  He is co-chair of the annual Chattanooga Area Handbell Festival, Performance Coordinator for Handbell Musicians of America’s National Seminar, and Associate Director of Music at Christ United Methodist Church in Chattanooga. Gary holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee and a Masters of Business Administration from UTC.  He is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and is Manager of Marketing Operations for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

Treasurer

Treasurer

Becky Price has 37 years of experience in accounting. She began her career in public accounting, and worked for a CPA firm for 16 years. She is currently the accounting manager for a local civil engineering firm.  She also free-lance and has several small business clients.  She has been ringing handbells for over 20 years, and has been with The Metropolitan Bells since 2008. She currently serves as their treasurer. She has been married for 30 years and has two adult children. Her hobbies include traveling, painting, and knitting, plus other things crafty.

Secretary

Secretary

Beth Wilson is, first and foremost, a self-proclaimed “bell hog”. Beth was born and raised in Central Arkansas, where she is an active member of several handbell choirs and ensembles along with serving on both the Arkansas State and the Area IV Handbell Boards. After graduating from Hendrix College with a BA in Psychology, she returned to play, teach and direct handbells in her home church, Searcy First United Methodist Church. Inspired by Beth’s love of handbells, her husband, daughter, and son-in-law all have become handbell enthusiasts. She oversees the legal research department for a well-established financial institution in her hometown. She lives with her husband of 11 years and enjoys her grandbabies, her fur babies, and lake days.

Past Chair

Past Chair

Melissa Emerson is Director of Music Ministries at Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville, where she oversees a vibrant multi-faceted ministry which includes vocal choirs, handbells, and brass. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance and K-12 Teaching Certificate from The University of Iowa, and a Master of Sacred Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from Boston University School of Theology. She is an accomplished French horn player, and in her spare time competes in triathlons.

Alabama State Chair

Alabama State Chair

Heather Batchelor began ringing bells at the age of 10 with her TN church’s youth handbell choir. She continued playing throughout high school and college and also when she relocated to Alabama. She has been ringing with Huntsville’s Heritage Ringers community handbell choir since 2006 and also directs the handbell choir at Asbury Church. She has trained with wonderful handbell aficionados including Michael Glasgow, Fred Gramman, Cynthia Dobrinski, Lee Afdahl, Valerie Stephenson, and Dave Harris. In addition to directing the handbell choir, Heather is on staff at Asbury, serving on the Operations and Traditional Worship Teams. She enjoys facilitating KIDS’ choirs, playing percussion in Asbury’s orchestra, and singing in the choir and women’s ensemble. Heather also serves as President of the Tennessee Valley Handbell Association. An avid reader and foodie, she enjoys traveling the world with family and friends to discover new foods and cultures. She has been married to Mike since 1993 and has 2 adult sons and one soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Arkansas State Chair

Arkansas State Chair

Scott Wilson has been involved with handbells only since 2012 when his wife invited him to a handbell rehearsal with the local church choir.  Handbells were a perfect fit into the over 25 years’ experience as a percussionist and his deep love of all types of music.   Scott directed music and music programs for about 20 years total in several small Baptist Churches across Arkansas.  He is presently attending Searcy First United Methodist, where is active in the music department.  Scott is an active member of the Arkansas HMA chapter where he has served as Northeast Arkansas Representative.  Scott attended the University of Arkansas has traveled the US, Canada and Mexico while working as an Industrial Safety Consultant.  Scott presently works as Custom Solution Expert for a firm that caters to banks and other financial institutions in the mid-west and southern United States.  Scott is married to his beautiful bride, Elizabeth, and has been blessed with two wonderful children, Emily and Jackson. He loves the outdoors, genealogical research and woodworking.

Louisiana State Chair

Louisiana State Chair

Vacant

Mississippi State Chair

Mississippi State Chair

Vacant

Tennessee State Chair

Tennessee State Chair

Carole Millard is a retired medical technologist from Chattanooga, TN.  She has 18 years of handbell experience.  Currently she is a member of the Metropolitan Bells, an auditioned community ensemble. She also rings with her church handbell choir.