FBC-St. Marys

Gary Smith, Senior Lead Pastor

Prior to joining FBC St. Marys, Gary Smith and his wife, Sharon, lived in Chatsworth, GA, the gateway to the Appalachians. He served as the Worship Pastor at FBC Chatsworth for 12 years. Prior to serving FBC Chatsworth, he served churches in Jacksonville, FL and Lawtey, FL. His experiences include leading worship for revivals and associational meetings, and directing the middle school choir and various ensembles at FBC Jacksonville. Gary served as the Vice-President of the Florida Baptist Convention Church Music Conference, was President of the 300 voice FBCJAX Chancel Choir and has also sung with the FBC Quartet and various ensembles and praise teams.

Gary felt the call to serve God through music and worship as a young man, and has faithfully followed that call as a layman, bi-vocationally and vocationally all his life. He has a heart for the church and encouraging others to worship God in spirit and truth.

Gary and Sharon have two daughters and four granddaughters, who all live in the South Georgia and North Florida area. Gary has degrees from the University of North Florida (BBA in Finance) and Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary (MA in Worship Studies.) Sharon is a gifted special education teacher and loves working with the youth at church. They are both certified scuba divers and love getting under the water when time allows.

Bro. Gary can be reached by email at Gary@FBCStMarys.com.

Pastor Gary and Sharon Smith

Robin Bostic, Ministry Assistant

I am married to the love of my life, Mike Bostic and I am a Mother of three, Joshua, Sarah and Nathaniel, Grammie to 5, Aiden, Kaylan and Harper Vanderburg, and Morghan and Garrett Bostic and a puppy mommy to a French Bulldog named Peaches.

I gave my heart to Jesus in February of 2006, and I have not been the same since that day. I have been here at First Baptist for 14 years as Ministry Assistant. I thank God every day for the blessings that He has given me and my family, too many to mention and His grace overwhelms me every day. My life verse is Galatians 2:20.

Robin can be reached by email at Robin@FBCStMarys.com.

Robin Bostic

Karen Kilgore, Finance Secretary

I am a Marietta, Georgia native. My husband Lee and I have been married over 14 years and have a son, Aaron (13), and a daughter Kayleigh (10).
In 2020 we moved into an RV full time for 16 months and traveled around the US homeschooling and adventuring as a family. We settled in Camden County in December 2021. We enjoy being at the coast and visiting Jekyll and Cumberland Islands. We love camping and anything adventurous outdoors.

I was saved at 21 years old after having been “in church” for a long time. When my children were born, my husband and I made it a priority to be at church as much as possible. We want to study, worship, fellowship, serve, and to teach our children that having your social life revolve around people trying to be more and more like Jesus every day is important and fulfilling.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration from Kennesaw State University and hold certificates in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, and Grant Writing. I have over 20 years’ experience in churches, schools, nonprofit organizations, and the for-profit sector. I was Director of Middle School Outreach for a United Methodist Church serving students in a public middle school for 3 years. I have volunteered for AWANA, VBS, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, PTA, and other youth groups for over 10 years.

My life verse is Mark 12:30-31

Karen can be reached by email at Finance@FBCStMarys.com.

Karen, Aaron, Kayleigh and Lee Kilgore


Ashli Shaw, Children's Ministry Director

I am honored to be chosen as your Children’s Director and understand that this is a calling placed upon my life by God that I have answered with an astounding “Yes!”

I have 3 goals that I am praying for, for the children of Saint Marys First Baptist and of Saint Marys as a community. I ask that you will join me in praying as we see growth, gleaning and grasping. I want to see growth not only in our Children’s Ministry in a numerical amount, but in the understanding of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit just as the disciples did. I want to see our children glean the truth just as Ruth did in the fields of Boaz while they are hungry for the Word of God. I want to see them grasp and hold on to what they have learned so when they are old it will not depart from them. When they are on their own and the enemy comes to kill and destroy they are prepared to fight and know how to defend themselves.

I look forward to seeing God’s hand and His plan fold out in Saint Marys First Baptist Children’s Ministry and how He will use each and every one of us as He unites the Body of Christ.

Ashli can be reached by email at Childrens.Director@FBCStMarys.com.

Ashli Shaw, husband Eric and children Walt, Clark, Maxine, Mamie Grace and Royce