Our Staff
Pastor Mike Derflinger
Senior Pastor
Email at mikederflinger@vaumc.org
Carolyn Mills
Organist and Director of Choirs
Carolyn earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Radford University with concentrations in piano, organ and voice, and a masters of education degree in reading from Longwood University. She holds a Level I Orff-Schulwerk certification. Working alongside Radford University Music Department, Carolyn has been an adjunct professor working with numerous college music education students in their blocking and student teaching experiences. Nine of her students went on to be music teachers in Montgomery County Public Schools. She retired in 2016 after 33 years of teaching music in the public school system of Virginia.
For over 57 years, Carolyn has taught children and adults private piano lessons in her home music studio. She continues to instill a love of music and understanding of the fundamentals into her students of all ages.
Carol Slaughter
Administrative Assistant
Carol started with St. Paul UMC in 2016 as a part-time media consultant. She became the Administrative Assistant in 2020 when the previous administrator retired.
Carol has always had a love for photography and graphic design. Her photography has been published in newspapers and calendars. She was also a wedding photographer for many years until she decided to go back to school. She received her A.A.S. degree in Information Technology & Computer Graphic Design (more design than IT) from New River Community College with plans to transfer to Radford University. Those plans changed quickly when she and her husband were blessed with triplet boys.
Carol and her husband reside in Christiansburg, VA. Their triplet boys are college graduates and reside locally.
