Sam comes to Cochran Chapel after working several years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as both a residential and commercial lender. Prior to his career in banking, he served in ministry in North Carolina, Colorado, and Texas. Sam has served both large and small churches and is known for his ability to connect congregations with the surrounding community. He has a heart for serving the least, the last, and the lost and strives to lead people into servant ministry. Much of his outlook and understanding of the gospel is shaped around his experience of serving as a chaplain for an inmate on death row in Texas. He has degrees from Sam Houston State University and Duke University and is the father of three wonderful young men he loves dearly.
Jeff was appointed as the pastor of Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in July 2016 after serving for 14 years as an associate pastor at another church. His ministry involves leading worship, preaching, teaching, offering pastoral care, and overseeing the life of the church. He is always ready for conversation about life, faith, or the rules of good grammar over a cup of tea with milk and sugar. Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Jeff graduated from Emory University with a degree in political science and philosophy, to which he added a master’s in political philosophy from the University of Dallas. After working in Southern California, Jeff attended the Divinity School at Duke University, where he served two congregations in North Carolina. Jeff had the honor of spending a year in the British Methodist Church as
a circuit minister on the Isle of Wight, England. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology at SMU, concentrating on intentional faith formation.
His mission work has taken Jeff from Haiti and Guatemala to Russia and Cambodia, which only feeds his love of travel.
An avid fan of the Texas Rangers and Duke men’s basketball, Jeff is married to the Rev. Dr. Maria Dixon Hall, an ordained deacon and associate professor in the department of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Southern Methodist University. They are the proud parents of Carnell, Harmony, and Faith, as well as owners
of a mischievous American Staffordshire pit bull terrier named Thatcher.
Kay has a passionate faith in Christ and a deep love and commitment to provide beautiful music that touches hearts and helps to lead the congregation into worship. As an accomplished organist, pianist and accompanist, Kay has accompanied choirs, orchestras and soloists. Over the years she has played for many weddings and other church services as well as accompanied for numerous other musical programs.
Kay grew up in Glen Rose, TX. Her parents ran Glen Lake Methodist Camp, so she has been a life-long Methodist, and she has always been very involved in church and conference activities. Kay began her first position as pianist for First UMC in Glen Rose while in 6 th grade. She became organist there in 8 th grade and has been serving at United Methodist churches ever since.
Throughout her church musician career, Kay has served as organist/pianist for churches in Granbury, Fort Worth, and Hillsboro. In addition, she served at Corsicana UMC for 7 years before receiving a call from the pastor at Cochran Chapel UMC asking her if she would like to
play for a church closer to home. She gladly accepted and has been a member of both the staff and the congregation since August of 1999. Kay has 2 sons, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons. She loves attending the Dallas Summer Musicals, the Dallas Symphony and Symphony Chorus, and she enjoys all kinds of needlework. She loves spending time with friends and family.
Kay attended Tarrant County College and has studied piano and organ privately for over 19 years. She continues to participate in keyboard and choral sacred music educational events. Kay is also a Legal Assistant for a large law firm. Kay is a member of the Dallas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and as well as a member of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.
Neil joined Cochran Chapel UMC to walk alongside the congregation as they discern a new vision for their ministry for the next century. Neil will be out and about in the neighborhood, meeting folks with whom Cochran Chapel might find mission alignment and renewed energy to
live the Gospel in our city. He continues to work with Partners for Sacred Places, based in Philadelphia, to bring their expertise in preservation, community engagement, and capital campaigning to congregations in Texas. Neil also works with numerous congregations through a
new business, Church Cartographers, to find new hope and life in their mission fields.
Prior to joining forces with Cochran Chapel, Neil was Director of Community Engagement for White Rock UMC and the Owenwood Farm & Neighbor Space, which have become models of innovation in urban church revitalization. Neil (along with Rev. Mitchell Boone & Victoria Sun-Esparza) took the Owenwood Farm Neighbor Space through a learning cohort for spiritual innovation created by Columbia University Business School and the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL). Prior to White Rock UMC, Neil worked in more traditional youth, global missions, and adult ministry roles at Highland Park UMC and University Park UMC in Dallas.
Neil spends most of his time with his better fifteen/sixteenths, Rev. Elizabeth Moseley, and their three kids: Nathaniel, Evangeline, and Josephine. Neil likes to drink coffee, hike, discuss politics, see live music, travel, and collect old baseball cards and first-edition books. Neil’s favorite baseball cards in his collection are a 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson (portrait) and a 1933 Goudey Mel Ott (portrait), and his favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Nick Hornby, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Neil is a cofounder of Union Coffee House, and has loved participating in numerous boards and committees, including: QuadW Foundation – Board Member; Genesis Women’s Shelter – Faith Coalition; Wesley-Rankin Community Center – Strategic Planning Committee; Texas Methodist Foundation – President’s Advisory Committee, Legacy Church National Team, and is a co-facilitator of the Edge Cohort of TMF’s Courageous Leadership Imperative.
Neil received a B.A. in philosophy from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology.
Sandra Hanger has been the secretary/administrative assistant at Cochran Chapel UMC for the past 24 years. She has worked for four pastors since coming to CCUMC.
Sandra was born in Wharton, Texas, and went to school at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where she graduated magna cum laude with a liberal arts degree. She has worked at banks, a doctor’s office, and SMU before coming to Cochran Chapel.
She is presently lives in East Dallas and is married to a plumber, Dave Hanger, and they have a son, David, who lives in Los Angeles. Sandra attends St. Thomas Catholic Church in East Dallas where her son went to elementary school, but she considers the folks at Cochran Chapel
to be her second church family. Sandra loves to read and can be found doing this in her spare time.
Cornileus (Cory) Roberson was born and raised in Dallas and began to sing at the age of three and to direct choirs at the age of eight. Throughout middle school and high school Cory won recognition for his vocal talent, including being named outstanding soloist at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition and Best Male Gospel Vocalist in the State of Texas in 2004. He has sung with Gospel legends Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann, Lecrae, and Fred Hammond. He has also sung with Brian McKnight.
Cory attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas as a music education major where he studied private voice, piano, and choral conducting. While a student, Cory distinguished himself as a leader in several campus organizations and is a proud brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He was awarded the Young Composers Scholarship for his piano composition, “Winter’s Requiem”
Cory began his teaching career in the Wichita Falls ISD as a private voice instructor at Hirschi High School and Rider High School. Subsequently he has taught at Red Oak Junior High School, Bessie Coleman Middle School, Cedar Hill Ninth Grade Center, and Cedar Hill High
School. He is currently the Director of Choral Activities for Lancaster High School and the Barack and Michelle Obama Ninth Grade Campus in Lancaster ISD. He also serves as Choral and Vocal Coordinator for the district. Students under Cory’s tutelage have earned superior ratings in a variety of sweepstakes and competitions.
Already a veteran staff member at a young age, Cory has served as choir director or youth pastor at a variety of Baptist and United Methodist churches from South Oak Cliff in Dallas to Wichita Falls to Vernon. He was appointed Music Minister for Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in August 2015. He deeply values his church and believes in its purpose, welcoming all who would like to sing God’s praises.
