Biography for the Rev. William Henderson Shurley
The Rev. Will Shurley has served as the pastor of Gulfport, Mississippi’s Westminster Presbyterian
Church since 2014. Prior, he was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Titusville, New
Jersey, beginning in 2009. Before beginning parish ministry, he served in the Office of Seminary
Relations at Princeton Theological Seminary, focusing on alumni relations and development, and in
the Office of Public Affairs at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History working on
marketing efforts for the “American on the Move” transportation exhibition and “The Price of
Freedom” military history exhibition.
Will received his master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2007 and his
bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Baylor University in 2002. Born in Freeport, Texas, he
was raised in Monroe, Louisiana, in the Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was ordained to
ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2008. He became a member
of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 2014.
Since 2008, Will has been married to the Rev. Dr. Anna Kate Shurley, a Baptist minister who has
most recently taught Advanced Placement English at Gulfport High School. Anna Kate, a native of
Radford, Virginia, earned her bachelor of arts degree in English from the College of William and
Mary; her master of divinity and master of theology (magna cum laude) degrees from the Duke
University Divinity School; and he doctor of philosophy degree in pastoral theology from Princeton
Theological Seminary. She is the author of “Pastoral Care and Intellectual Disability: A Person-
Centered Approach,” published by Baylor University Press in 2017.
Will and Anna Kate have two children. Virginia is currently a freshman at Gulfport High School
where she participates on the yearbook staff and power lifting squad. Oliver is a sixth grader at
Bayou View Middle School where he studies cello and robotics. He is also an avid dancer, having
recently performed as “Fritz” in a local production of “The Nutcracker.”
In addition to his professional work, Will has served as president and interim executive director of
the Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony; president of the Rotary Club of Gulfport; a board member of
Feed My Sheep, a local soup kitchen; co-founder of the Coast Ecumenical Fellowship; and a den
leader for Cub Scout Pack 209. He has played both piano and organ for congregations and enjoys
spending time with his family, travelling to new places, and cheering for his Baylor Bears.