Meet Our Pastor
Pastor Becca Leathers comes to us as our new pastor. She has a heart for service and a passion
for spiritual growth. Pastor Becca is beginning her pastoral ministry here at Zion UMC. She
grew up in the Fredericksburg area, was raised in the United Methodist church. She completed
some coursework at Liberty University, in the area of biblical and theological studies. She is
pausing this coursework, as she prepares to enroll in the UM Course of Study classes, and an
increased focus on local church ministry. Pastor Becca has been involved in youth ministry for
the past four years, was the director of a food pantry at a church in 2023, and previously led a
worship service bi-weekly at a retirement home. Pastor Becca is committed to nurturing a Christ-
centered community through worship, teaching, discipleship, and outreach. She is looking
forward to the opportunity to learn more about the ministries at Zion UMC, especially the food
pantry.
Alongside ministry, she enjoys crocheting, reading, baking, and spending time with her husband,
Trey. They currently live in Stafford, VA and have a cat named Luna. They are both very excited
to journey with us in faith, as we learn and grow together.
Administrative Assistant
Debra Paytes is the Administrative Assistant at Zion United Methodist Church.
Debra is the proud mother of three children, the youngest of whom still resides at home. Though born in Texas, she is a Virginian. Both parents were raised in Spotsylvania County and reside here. As her father was in the Air Force, Debra moved with the family to various bases. As an adult, she lived in Hawaii, Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and California. During times she lived in Virginia, she received a B.A. in History from Mary Baldwin College, an M.A. in Teaching Leadership from George Mason University, and became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher.
Debra returned to Virginia permanently in 1993 and was a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Spotsylvania for over twenty years.