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Sarah Montford
Director of Music
Sarah is our part-time choir director and organist. She was hired as organist in 1978 and worked with Director of Music Rebecca Smelser until her retirement in 2018. Sarah then became the Director of Music. In 2021, Sarah retired from the Vidalia City School system after serving as Choral Director and general music teacher for 22 years and as the media specialist for 7 years. She was born in Rome, Georgia, and grew up in Alamo, Georgia.
Sarah studied music at Brewton-Parker College, Georgia College, and Georgia Southern College.
Highlights of her musical career have been serving as accompanist for the Vidalia Community Chorus at several local and international concerts. The group has performed on the top of a mountain in Switzerland, on a river cruise in Scotland, in cathedrals and churches in Italy, England, Ireland and Wales.
Sarah is married to Dwight Montford, and they have two sons, Kyle (Amanda) and Daniel (Heather). She especially likes spending time with her grandchildren; Dalton, Carson, Grayson, Avery, and Jett. When she's not running around after the grandchildren, she enjoys reading, growing flowers, playing the piano, and watching football.
Juanita Carpenter
Juanita Carpenter has joined our staff serving as the Office Administrator. After years of leading teams in the administration of post-secondary education, she brings a depth of experience working with technology, managing projects, and serving multiple audiences. Her most recent assignment was as the Manager for Academic Support Services at the University of Central Florida Direct Connect Center at the Valencia West Campus.
Last year, Juanita and her husband Dan retired to Tarrytown. They share their home with two dogs, Maggie and Katie, and a cat, Scout, who has adopted them all. She has two grown sons residing in Kentucky and Missouri and is the grandmother to adorable, active twin girls.
Juanita looks forward to serving our members and leadership as we seek to be a light for Christ in the Vidalia community. Her goal is to love God and love people.