ROBERT ALMON joined
First Presbyterian in 1978 along with his parents, Bob and Marion, and
sister, Julie Jamison (Carl). In 1984 he married Ree Hale Almon and she
then joined the church as well. Ree and Robert have two grown children
Nathan (Katherine) and Bradley Bailey (Charlie). They have three
grandchildren with another on the way in April. Robert previously served
as Chairman of Building and Grounds during his term as Deacon and
currently serves on the Finance Committee.
MELANIE DANNER has
been a member of First Presbyterian for thirty years. She is married to
Tom Danner who is a life-long member. They have two children,
Elizabeth, who is in graduate school at Alabama, and Tommy, who is a
senior at Northridge High School. Melanie is a Certified Public
Accountant and the Director of Financial Affairs in the College of
Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama. She
served as an Elder, Deacon, chair of the Finance and Stewardship
Committee, chair of the Christian Education Committee, member of the
Preschool Committee and children's Sunday school teacher.
EMILY DEAL joined
First Presbyterian in 1982 and is married to Bill Deal who is a
life-long member. They have two adult children, Betsy Escher and Steven
Deal. Emily previously served on the Strengthening of the Church,
Buildings and Grounds, Endowment, and Nominating Committees. She has
served as the treasurer for the Presbyterian Women, was a member of the
Security and Disaster Taskforce, a Deacon, and an Elder. She is
currently a member of the Worship Committee.
JENNIE KING
and her husband, Bill, are lifelong Presbyterians. They joined First
Presbyterian nearly 20 years ago. Bill served as Deacon at First Pres
and is a perennial usher. They have three adult children, Sam (Crystal),
Maggie (Carson) and Cecilianne (Tee), and four grandchildren. Jennie
was active in all of the Presbyterian churches where she was a member.
She taught Sunday school to all ages, toddlers to high school. She was
President of the Women of the Church and served on several committees.
At First Presbyterian, she worked with Logos, taught Sunday school, and
sang in the choir. For the past year, she has served on the Feed My
Sheep Ministry – truly a blessing during the pandemic. Since graduating
from the University of Alabama with a Master of Library Service, she was
a librarian in the Birmingham Public Library, a legal assistant for her
husband, a Latin teacher at Tuscaloosa Academy and until, her
retirement last year, a Career Consultant at the University.
STACY MCCANTS and
his wife, Allison, joined First Presbyterian in 2008 and have three
children, Nathan (10), Josie (8), and Charlie (4). As a Deacon, and in
addition to his other committee assignments, Stacy served as Vice
Moderator, then Moderator of the Diaconate in 2018. Stacy teaches the
Young Adult Sunday School class, serves as an active usher, and has
served as Executive Director of UPerk since December 2019. After a
lengthy career at Randall-Reilly, Stacy now hosts the faith-based
podcast, A Stronger Faith, among other community serving activities.
W. DAVID MCGIFFERT, a 4th generation member of First Presbyterian Church, is married to Ann Woodley McGiffert, a 3rd
generation member. David and Ann have one daughter, Megan, who is
presently serving a second term as Deacon. David is a civil engineer and
land surveyor. He retired from McGiffert and Associates, LLC in
2020. David has served on the Board of Presbyterian Apartments of
Northport for 29 years since replacing his father, David G. McGiffert.
David was on the Living River Camp Board for 17 years, starting at the
time of its conception and continuing through its construction and
initial years of operation. David has previously served several terms as
Elder at First Presbyterian Church.
EMILY MERIWETHER is
a life-long member of First Presbyterian. She is married to Tom who has
been a member since 2009. They have two children, Mary Dunlap (9) and
Thomas (6). Emily has taught in the Tuscaloosa City Schools for 15
years. She previously served as a Deacon. She is a member of the
Balancing Faith Sunday school class and has volunteered with children’s
Sunday school. She has planned and led Vacation Bible School groups for
many summers. She served on the College Committee during the exciting
origination of UPerk, on the Preschool Board, and several Nominating and
Pastoral Search Committees.
GEORGE MILLER
is a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. He and his wife,
Bess, have three children, Katherine Rick-Miller, John Miller, and
Margaret Goodlet. They also now enjoy seven grandchildren. George was
first elected a Deacon in this church when he was a student at the
University of Alabama. He has served several terms as a Deacon and an
Elder. George has served on the Personnel Committee, Long Range
Planning, and was Stewardship Chairman. He served on the Steering
Committee for the three previous Capital Campaigns. He has served on a
Pastoral Nominating Committee and currently serves on the UPerk
Board. George is retired from Tuskaloosa Internal Medicine but still
practices medicine as the Medical Director of Hospice of West Alabama.
LINDA PHIFER has
been a member of First Presbyterian since 1976. She is married to Tyler
Phifer, who is a lifelong member of the church. They have two sons, Joe
(Amy) and Russell (Amanda). They are also the proud grandparents of
Joe, Mary Raynor, Miles and Ella Phifer. Linda attended the University
of Alabama and graduated with a Master's degree in Elementary
Education. After teaching for 26 years, she now enjoys retirement with
gardening and traveling. At FPC she has taught 2-year-old Sunday school,
served on the Communion Committee, the Sanctuary Committee and has been
a member of Circle 1.
BOB SINGLETON and
his wife of 33 years, Tracy, joined First Presbyterian in 1994. They
have two adult sons, Trey (Meredith) and Gregory. Bob is a petroleum
engineer that has worked his entire career in the oil and gas
business. He recently transitioned to the real estate industry when he
joined the staff of Tutt Land Company. Bob has served FPC as a Deacon
and an Elder.
MAEGAN SLATEN BIEHN and
her husband, Alex, became members of First Presbyterian in 2018 shortly
before their daughter, Eliza, was born. Since then, she has been active
in the FPC Early Childhood Committee as well as helping with various
activities and projects with the preschool. Maegan and her husband both
grew up in North Alabama (the Decatur area). They moved to Tuscaloosa
for college in 2003 and have been here ever since. She is a three time
graduate of the University of Alabama, holding bachelor's and master's
degrees in Elementary Education and a Ph.D. in Instructional
Technology. Maegan is currently employed by the University of Alabama as
a computer science instructor in the College of Engineering. She is
also a member of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa and the Original City
Association, serving as the social committee chair and the OCA
representative for her neighborhood in downtown Tuscaloosa.
PORTER CHAMBERS and
his wife, Bailey, were married at First Presbyterian Church of
Tuscaloosa in 2008 and joined the church upon moving to Tuscaloosa in
2017. They have two sons, William (7) and Pierce (5). Porter grew up in
Andalusia and graduated from Auburn University. He is currently employed
as a Sales Manager with Phifer Incorporated and has served on the
Family Connections Committee at FPC.
LAUREN CURTNER-SMITH has
been a member of First Presbyterian Church her entire life. She is a
University of Alabama Alumna and currently works as a night shift
Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery. Lauren can be found on her days
off walking her dog with her family or reading or watching Harry Potter.
Growing up, she was an active member in Youth Group, UKirk College
Ministry, and now in the 20s in 2020 Young Adult group. She served as a
youth member and music leader for the Presbytery of Sheppards and
Lapsley Youth Council, a Youth Deacon and member of College Committee, a
Table Setter UKirk Intern and a UKirk music leader, and youth and adult
choir member. Some of Lauren’s favorite high school and college
memories occurred on mission trips. Lauren’s claim to fame is being
UPerk’s first customer in 2017. Lauren is currently an adult advisor for
Sheppards and Lapsley Youth Council and reprising her role of music
leader.
SAGE HICKMAN has
been a part of FPC for as long as she can remember. She was confirmed,
married and had all of her children baptized in the church. She
graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011 and then married her
husband, John Taylor. They have three daughters Ann Fletcher (6), Hill
(4) and Lillian (2). She is currently a member of the Strengthening of
the Church committee.
KRYSTA HOOD
joined First Presbyterian in December 2013. She is married to Jonathan,
who has served as a Deacon at FPC. They have two children, Jamesdon (1st
Grade, FPP Graduate) and Kathryn (FPP Pre-K). Krysta is a Nurse
Practitioner with the Alabama Department of Public Health. She grew up
in North Alabama and moved to Tuscaloosa to attend The Capstone College
of Nursing and has obtained a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. She is a
member of the Preschool Advisory Board and serves on the Early Childhood
Committee.
CLINT MOUNTAIN has
been a member of FPC for 10 years. He is married to Lindsay, and they
have one daughter, Julia. Clint practices law with his father at
Mountain & Mountain here in Tuscaloosa. He grew up in Montgomery,
but earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of
Alabama. Clint previously served as a board member and officer for Arts
'n' Autism, a board member for the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, and
is currently legislative chair for the Alabama Association for Justice.
KYLE NEIGHBORS is
a fourth generation lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. He is
a University of Alabama graduate where he earned a degree in civil and
construction engineering. Growing up at FPC, Kyle served as an acolyte,
choir member, and usher. He was very active in UKirk college ministry
and is a Bible 101 Sunday school member. He serves as an adult advisor
for the Presbytery of Sheppards & Lapsley Youth Council. Kyle was
active in FPC Boy Scout Troop 2 where he obtained Eagle Scout and is
currently registered as Assistant Scoutmaster.
KERRI MORTHLAND
is originally from Selma where she was a member of First
Presbyterian. Kerri and Martin were married in 2000, moved to Tuscaloosa
in early 2002, and found their church home at First Presbyterian. They
have lived in Tuscaloosa since 2002 with a brief hiatus to Brunswick,
Maine. Kerri and Martin have two girls – Abby, a freshman at the
University of Alabama, and Ava, a junior at Northridge High School.
PHILLIP WARD and his wife, Suzanne,
have been married for 37 years and members of First Presbyterian for
approximately 18 years. Phillip completed his Master’s Degree from UA
and also his ABD from UT. Phillip recently retired as the Director of
Quality Assurance and Risk Management the Alabama Department of Mental
Health. He has worked in varied capacities in hospitals and Pharma in
Alabama, Iowa, Tennessee, and Virginia. Phillip served in various
capacities in an American Baptist Church in Iowa City. Phillip and
Suzanne were members of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville,
TN. As retirement progresses, Phillip has been doing community
volunteer work, contract work, and is looking forward to travel,
spending time with family and friends, and homework projects.