Rev. Dr. Suzanne Cobb

The Reverend Doctor Suzanne Cobb was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. She is the daughter of the late Dewey and Florence Crutchfield. She has three siblings Jane Brocious of Raleigh (husband Bob), Joe Crutchfield of Pine Knoll Shores (wife Debbie), and brother Paul of Apex (wife Kim).

She has been married to Jimmy Cobb for 45 years and together they have three sons. James Cobb of Clayton (wife Laura), Joseph Cobb of Louisburg (wife Paige) and Jacob Cobb of Spring Hope (wife Sara).

James and Laura have blessed she and Jimmy with a beautiful 3 1/2-year-old granddaughter Evelyn Joy (Evie Jo) and a handsome 20-month-old grandson Moses James. Jospeh and Paige have blessed them with a beautiful 3-year-old granddaughter Rory Mae.

Suzanne is a graduate of Atlantic Christian College (now known as Barton College) class of 1979. She received a B.S. Degree in Education of Hearing Impaired. She taught Special Education for 5 years upon graduation.

After James was born, she was a “stay at home” Mom for nine years. During that time, she served as the Director of Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian of Raleigh; Cub Scout leader; head swim coach; taught swimming lessons to hundreds of children; volunteered in multiple areas of ministry.

In 1988 she and Jimmy moved their church membership from First Presbyterian of Raleigh to Soapstone UMC where she served as the Children’s Choir Director; Sunday School Superintendent; Youth Counselor; VBS Coordinator; Women’s Group leader; Chair of UMW; Chancel Choir member; was instrumental in the church starting a preschool program where she served on staff from 1992-2004.

In 1995, at the altar of now what is now known as Soapstone Chapel on Ash Wednesday Suzanne finally accepted her call to ministry that she had felt since she was 15 years old. She attended Duke Divinity School from 1996-1999 and graduated with an M.Div. Before she graduated, Soapstone hired her to serve on staff as the Director of Youth Ministry and Missions from 1997-2004.

In 2004 she took her first appointment and served Leah’s Chapel/Shiloh UMC from 2004-2006; Saint Luke UMC-Sanford 2006-2011; The Milwaukee Charge 2011-2015; Fletcher’s Chapel UMC- Durham 2015-2024. She retired in June of 2024.

In 2010, she decided to go back to school and received her Doctorate in Ministry in 2013 from Hood Theological Seminary where her doctoral work was focused on “How to Build Trust in the First Six Months of a New Appointment”.

During her tenure as a pastor, she served on the Conference Disaster Relief Committee; the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Committee; the Chair of the MERCI Board; the Sanford Disaster Relief Coordinator; in multiple positions within Conference Youth Ministry to include the Chair of the Conference Committee on Youth Ministries.

Suzanne retired in July of 2024 and is currently serving as the Chair of the Raleigh Wesley Board and the Conference Safe Sanctuary Committee. She will serve 6 months at Soapstone UMC as our Interim Pastor.
(January 1 – June 30, 2024)