Reverend Kelly Pope is a graduate of Central High School in Jackson.  He attended Hinds Jr. College, received a Bachelor of Music Education from University of Southern Mississippi and Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

      He served as pastor of Barnesville Circuit in Barnesville, Georgia while attending the last year and a half at Emory University.  He has served as associate pastor of Galloway Memorial United Methodist church (1yr); Ramsay Memorial UMC in Gulfport (6yrs); Forest Hill UMC in Jackson (3yrs); Madison UMC (8yrs); First UMC in West Point (4yrs); St. Paul UMC in Ocean Springs (8 yrs); First UMC in Brandon (6yrs). He retired in 2010 and served the Freeny-Sebastopol Charge in Carthage (1yr) before moving to Pearl UMC where he is presently serving.

      Before being directed toward the pastorate, Rev. Pope was Minister of Music at Court Street UMC in Hattiesburg, MS and Columbia Drive UMC in Decatur, Georgia.  He appeared regularly on the United Methodist Hour as a member of the Hour Quartet.

      Rev. Pope has preached many revivals, camp meetings, camps and retreats throughout the state.  He has served on numerous boards and committees of the Mississippi Conference.

      He is married to the former Sherrell Hanna of Jackson.  Sherrell has taught kindergarten for many years throughout the state.  They have two children, Michael John who lives in Brandon and Shellie who lives in Ocean Springs.  Kelly and Sherrell are the proud grandparents of Conner, who is 10 and Lowrie who is 2.