Ministry Team Bios

Cliff Mayton, Senior Pastor

Cliff Mayton came to Memorial Baptist Church in May of 1999 as Senior Pastor. He previously served as pastor of churches in Texas and Arkansas.

Mayton earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He also did graduate work at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned the Master of Divinity degree at Luther Rice Seminary.

He has been married to his wife Georgianna since 1971, and they have three children: Cliff, Jr., Bob and Joy; two daughters-in-law, Kristina and Lindsey and two grandsons, James Clifton Mayton, III (Trey) and Greysen Wyatt Mayton.

Pastor Cliff has a heart for seeing people come to Christ here at home and around the world. He has preached internationally in Israel, Romania, Brazil and Mexico.

Jim Godwin, Associate Pastor

Jim and his wife, Bobbie, joined Memorial Baptist Church in 1986. At that time, he was nearing completion of thirty years as an educator in the Aldine School District. He also served as pastor and interim pastor at several small Baptist churches.

In 1988, Jim joined the staff as part-time Associate Pastor and Minister of Missions. In 1989, he became full time Associate Pastor with major responsibilities in the areas of hospital, nursing home and homebound visitation. He also serves as staff liason for the Missions Committee and Evangelism Team. 

Jim has a heart for ministering to people, especially those who are hurting. He has a desire to share the love of Christ. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful church family.

Robert Smart, Worship Pastor

Robert Smart came to Memorial Baptist Church in March of 2009. He has previously served at churches across the state of Texas in Music Ministry positions.

Robert received his Bachelor of Music (Choral Music Education Concentration) Degree from North Texas State University in 1986. He received his Masters of Music Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in December of 1989. 

Robert has been married to his lovely wife Lori since 1987, and they have two wonderful children: John (19) and Sara (14). As a family, they enjoy all types of sporting events, watching reality TV, and playing video games.

Robert’s passion is to lead people to encounter the Lord in fresh ways through worship.

Anita Wood, Director of Education & Evangelism

Anita Wood and husband Ed joined Memorial Baptist Church in February of 2006. She joined our staff in December, 2011.

Anita has years of ministry experience, and completed her Master of Arts in Christian Education in May 2007, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her ministry service includes leading women’s ministry work in Texas through Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. She authored Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge, which tells the background story of how her deceased husband Dick Onarecker prayed for Don Piper.

Anita has two grown children and five grandchildren. She and Ed married in 1997.

Tim Darst, Youth Pastor

Tim Darst became the Youth Pastor at Memorial Baptist Church in August 2011. Originally from Ennis, TX, he attended East Texas Baptist University and graduated in May of 2008 with a Bachelors of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Youth Ministry.

Tim has been married to his wife, Jenni, for three years. Their son Eli (Elijah Wayne Darst) was born 2/17/2012. Tim has a passion for reaching teens and leading worship. He also loves playing and watching sports with his wife and family. Nothing excites him more than seeing people come to Christ and growing and walking in a daily relationship with our Creator.

Carlee Qualls, Director of Preschool Ministries

Carlee became Director of Preschool Ministries in December 2006. With her husband, James, she came to Memorial after serving nine years on the Preschool Ministry staff at Woodlands Church. James and Carlee were married in July 1980 and have raised 2 daughters named Jessica and Jennifer.

Under her leadership, our classrooms have been designed with a Noah's Ark theme. Each room has a certain animal representing their age group. This provides a fun environment, but also serves as a teaching tool. Every preschooler learns that God is the Creator who has made everything. They are taught that God loves them and they are very special to Him.

Carlee has a heart for preschoolers and their families. She desires the hearts of the families to become one for God at each stage of their preschooler's experience. The Preschool Ministry begins with prayer with the expectant parents and offers different ministry opportunities for the parents to experience God's direction in raising their child with Godly influence.

Carlee enjoys knowing it all begins with one heartbeat of an unborn child, but continues with many hearts joining together in the knowledge of God's plan and purpose for their lives.

Marisol Morales, Director of Children's Ministries

Marisol joined Memorial Baptist Church in 2007, along with her husband, Heber, and their two daughters, Aime (11) and Daniela (9). She began serving as part-time Director of Children’s Ministries in October 2009.

Marisol has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Her ministry experience includes volunteer work in AWANA, Vacation Bible Schools, Upward Basketball, church camps, and as a Sunday school teacher at Memorial Baptist Church and Primera Iglesia Bautista in Borger, Texas where she lived since she was five years old.

Marisol has a desire to help children build a spiritual foundation through which they can come to know Jesus Christ personally and grow in their relationship with Him through the Kingdom Kidz Children’s Ministry at Memorial Baptist Church.