Rev. Dr. Embra Jackson Jr. is the first African American Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi. Prior to this appointment, he had been the District Superintendent of the Starkville District since 2011. He served as the Administrative Assistant to Bishop Hope Morgan Ward from 2005 to 2011. He is a retired pastor of the Mississippi Conference.

Rev. Dr. Jackson graduated in 1974, Cum Laude from Tugaloo College (Jackson, MS) with a bachelor's degree in Political Science; in 1979, he earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Mississippi (Oxford, MS); in 1985 he received a M. DIV. from the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA). In 1992, he received a teacher's certification from Mississippi State University. In addition, in 2003, he received a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) from Memphis Theological Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Jackson has served as pastor to Holmes County Larger Parish of the UMC; Kosciusko Wesley UM Charge; Griffin UMC; St. Paul UMC, West Point, MS; Central UMC, Jackson, MS; and Aldersgate UMC, Jackson, MS. He has been the Executive Director of the United Methodist Metro Ministers, Jackson, MS; Chaplain of Hospice Ministries, Inc., Ridgeland, MS; Instructor at Wood College; and as a teacher in the Starkville Public Schools.

Embra possesses an ecclesiastical endorsement from The Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He is a Certified Coach in the International Coach Federation and CoachNet and currently a Spiritual Leadership Institute Apprentice.