MARIETTA — First Presbyterian Church of Marietta has selected a South Carolina pastor as its new senior pastor, the Journal has learned.

Dr. David Lee Mayo was selected Sunday by church members during a congregational meeting. A pastor nominating committee had recommended Mayo for the position. He is scheduled to preach his first sermon at the Marietta Square church on Oct. 21.

Mayo has served the past eight years as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood in South Carolina, according to his biography. Before that, he served as senior pastor at Canonsburg Presbyterian Church near Pittsburgh. He was previously an associate youth pastor at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh and taught as an adjunct professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

According to FPC’s website, Mayo has been examined by the Cherokee Presbytery Committee on Ministry and recommended for membership in the Cherokee Presbytery. He is scheduled to be presented to the Cherokee Presbytery for membership on Tuesday.

On Sunday, FPC members were presented with a biographical statement and photograph of Mayo with his family.

The 2,300 members had been without a senior pastor for two years.

In June 2010, Dr. Sam Henderson announced that he would step down as senior pastor at the church after nearly three years. The prior senior pastor, David Jones, left in 2005. He succeeded Jim Speed, who had led the church for 25 years.

Mayo was raised in Virginia and North Carolina. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife, Loretta, a regional bank executive, have two daughters, Becky, director of children’s ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, S.C., and Lindsay, a recent graduate of Presbyterian College.

Mayo is reportedly a golfer and an avid college sports fan.

FPC is one of Cobb County’s oldest churches. Twelve members from four families formed themselves into what was then known as Marietta Presbyterian Church in November 1835, according to church history. The present Colonial Revival-style church was originally built on Church Street in 1854 and has undergone several additions since then.

Members of the pastor nominating committee were chairman Dr. Bob Harper, Rachel Byrd, Allison Gruehn, Tom Higgins, Helen Hines, Corey Owen, Paul Phillips, Bob Smith and Becky Wright.