CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The Session of First Presbyterian Church hereby calls a Congregational Meeting to be held Sunday, February 26, 2023, in the Sanctuary of the church immediately following an abbreviated 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. Sunday, February 26th following an abbreviated 11 a.m. Worship Service.


The meeting includes

  • the State of the Church Pastor’s Report
  • the end-of-year financial update
  • the election of new officers. (New officer nominees & their bios are listed below.)

Click here to follow along with the printed insert inside the Sunday bulletin.

BIOGRAPHIES FOR ELDER NOMINEES: CLASS OF 2026

Jim Barron has been a member of FPC for 40 years. He is married to Jane, and they have two sons - Alden, a junior at The University of Alabama, and Avery, a junior at Northridge High School. Jim currently works at UA in Housing & Residential Communities and Jane is currently a Reading Interventionist with the Tuscaloosa City Schools. Jim has attended the Journey and Current Issues Sunday School classes as well as served as a Deacon and Covenant Partner. Currently, he serves on the Personnel Committee and co-teaches Senior High Sunday School with Amanda Fowler.

Lillian Beavers is a life-long member of FPC.  She is married to Blake Beavers, and they have two adult children - Annabelle & Mary Evelyn. She is employed by United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama. Lillian is a member of the Journey Sunday School Class. Currently, Lillian serves on the Tuscaloosa County Mission Committee and the UPerk Board and is a member of Circle 8. Previously, she served two terms as Deacon and served on the Youth Committee, the Christian Education Committee, Logos, and as the Bible School Chairperson.

Gaines Brake has been a member of FPC for more than 20 years and previously served as a Deacon. He and his wife Line sing in the Sanctuary Choir. Gaines grew up in Birmingham and earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Birmingham-Southern College and a Master of Music degree from the Univ. of Alabama. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and practices law with Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.

Jill Cilimberg joined FPC in November of 2021, but has been an active member of the Presbyterian church since her marriage to Craig in 1985. She has served as an elder at both Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian and Franklin First Presbyterian. Jill and Craig have two adult sons. Michael and Kacey have one child, Noah. Matthew is planning his marriage to Marcella Archambault in October. Jill will be retiring from nursing in April and has been looking forward to becoming more active in the church. She is a member of the Current Issues Sunday School class, the Tuscaloosa County Mission Subcommittee, and the PW Circle 1. She is the FPC chairperson for the 2023 Outside the Walls dinner.

Beth Curtis is a life-long Presbyterian who grew up in Birmingham and has been a member of FPC for 40+ years. Her parents and grandparents were all married at First Presbyterian. Beth attended the University of Alabama. She was a teacher and director of First Presbyterian Preschool in its early years and has been VBS director and previously served as a FPC deacon. After 35 years, Beth retired as the principal at Verner Elementary. Since retirement, she has enjoyed becoming more involved in the church. She is the widow of Billy Curtis and, together, they have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Barbara “Babs” McCurley and husband Bob have been members of FPC & the Bible 101 Sunday School Class since 2000. They have 3 adult children. Previously, Babs served as Deacon and Elder; served on the Worship, SOC, and Sanctuary Preparation Committees; headed up Lunches & Dinners for 8; member of PW Circle 1; Soup Bowl volunteer; and Flower Coordinator. Prior to her retirement, Babs served as Executive Dir. of the National MS Society in North Alabama and later Personnel Director for a company in Florida. She and Bob enjoyed two trips with the M&M’s to Alaska & Greece.

Robert McLeod and wife Debbie have been members of FPC for more than 25 years. They have two adult children - Ashley and Ashton. Robert is a Professor of Finance at the University of Alabama and Chairman of Financial Economics Consulting Group, Inc. He previously served as a Deacon and Moderator of the Diaconate, an Elder, and a member of the Finance and Stewardship Committee. He currently serves on the Long-Range Planning Committee.

Danny Potts has been a member of FPC for 26 years. He is married to Ellen, an Elder, and the father of Julie and Maria, both of whom served as church officers. He previously served on Session and the Diaconate as well as the Service Committee and is a current member and former chair of the Worship Committee. Danny chaired the Organ Committee that procured FPC’s Letourneau organ and has been a member and soloist in the adult choir since 1997. Danny is the neurologist at the Tuscaloosa VA and adjunct faculty at UA, UAB, and the University of South Alabama. He founded a non-profit that collaborates with Caring Days, the adult dementia daycare started by our church, to provide arts-based life enrichment programs for persons living with dementia and students from UA. He enjoys leading singalongs at UPerk, singing, hiking (especially at Living River), writing poetry, and taking photographs.

John P. Summerford married life-long member of FPC, Leigh Ann Danner Summerford, in 1983, and joined FPC in 1988. John and Leigh Ann have a daughter and son - Danner, married to Barrett Brooks, and JT, married to Dr. Kelsey Summerford, and two granddaughters. John attended UA where he worked as a student trainer, lettering in swimming and football (also a National Championship). After attending medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completing an Internal Medicine residency, he entered private practice in 1987 with what is now Tuskaloosa Internal Medicine, LLC. He has served on the Board of DCH Regional Medical Center. He previously served FPC as a Deacon and Chairman of the Diaconate, two terms as an Elder serving on the Endowment Committee and Capital Campaign Committee, and as Clerk of Session for 10 years.

James Tucker has been a member of FPC since 2011 when he and Wendy moved back to Tuscaloosa. They and both of their adult daughters have served as ordained elders in the PCUSA. Their daughter Marilyn interned at FPC and is a solo pastor/campus minister (PCUSA) in Georgia. James grew up in Decatur, graduated from UA, and has worked as a public interest lawyer since graduating from Emory Law School in 1986. He is the Director of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP), a service program of the UA School of Law. His favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 42:20.
Elder Nominees Continued Madelyn Herwig has been a part of the FPC family since age 2. She is now in the 11th grade at Northridge High School. She is the daughter of Lou Ann Sellers and Thomas Herwig. Madelyn enjoys playing soccer and piano and attending youth group activities. She currently serves on the Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery Youth Council and FPC’s Youth Leadership Team. Madelyn is also an active member of the church’s Youth Choir and Youth Handbell Choir.


Madelyn Herwig has been a part of the FPC family since age 2. She is now in the 11th grade at Northridge High School. She is the daughter of Lou Ann Sellers and Thomas Herwig. Madelyn enjoys playing soccer and piano and attending youth group activities. She currently serves on the Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery Youth Council and FPC’s Youth Leadership Team. Madelyn is also an active member of the church’s Youth Choir and Youth Handbell Choir.

BIOGRAPHIES FOR DEACON NOMINEES: CLASS OF 2026

Kalissa S. Bormann has been a member of FPC since 2001. She is married to Gary Bormann, and they have two adult children, David (age 24) and Anna Grace (age 22). Kalissa is the Assistant Director of Tuscaloosa’s One Place, A Family Resource Center. She has previously served on the Youth Committee, Usher team, Appalachian Service Project Mission team and other mission teams.

Ann Smitherman Brenizer has been a lifelong member of FPC. Born of the Patton Clan, her family ties to First Presbyterian go back more than 100 years. After working 34 years in the Tuscaloosa County School System, Ann retired from full time work in 2021 and is now enjoying a part time position as a reading interventionist at Northport Elementary School. She has three grown children and two grandchildren. Ann is a member of the McCain Sunday School Class.

Debbie Durham and husband Gary joined FPC last year. They both were born and raised in Alabama and after 34 years in Atlanta, relocated to Tuscaloosa. They have 5 adult children and 8 grandchildren. Debbie continues to help run three businesses in the Atlanta area. Since joining FPC she has joined the Adult Handbells and is a member of Bible 101 Sunday School Class. She also plays the piano for the the McCain Sunday School Class.

Amanda Gann and husband Chris joined FPC in 2022. They are blessed with five wonderful children. Their oldest, Sarah, teaches/coaches at Echols Middle School. Anna attends grad school at UA (Accounting) and has accepted an auditing position for the State of Alabama upon graduation in May 2023. Jeremiah is an electrician at Nucor Birmingham. Savannah is in the cosmetology program at Shelton. Their little caboose, Silas, is in the 2nd grade at North River Christian Academy. Since 2001, Amanda has worked for the City of Tuscaloosa in various capacities. She is currently the City’s Purchasing Agent. Amanda enjoys driving one of the LOGOS buses each Wednesday.

Jensen Henderson has been a member for more than five years. She is married to Ed Henderson, and they have one daughter, Allie Mae (age 2). Jensen previously served on the Christian Education committee leading her to love helping with all children’s activities at FPC. Jensen is regularly involved with Godly Play as a doorkeeper and a Storyteller. Jensen also enjoys assisting the church valet teams and considers herself “the keeper of the keys.” Jensen and Ed are excited that the Young Adult class is forming again and look forward to spiritual growth in the upcoming class.

Austin Howard has been a member of FPC since 2022. He was very active as a member of UKirk while attending UA, even serving as a “Table-setter” his senior year. He is married to Lauren, and they have two dogs. Austin grew up in Huntsville at FPC Huntsville. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of South Alabama. He currently serves on the college committee and teaches Faith and Film (youth) on Wednesday evenings.

Tabitha Kuria has been a member of FPC since 2001 when she was a student at Stillman College. She is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Plawson Kuria and Mrs. Lucy Kuria and is formerly a member of Thindigua Presbyterian Church in Kiambu, Kenya. She is the eldest of four siblings and is in the U.S. with her sister Cece. Tabitha is a member of the Bible 101 Sunday School Class. She previously served as an usher, former chair of U.S./International Sub-Committee, member of the Mission Committee and Dan The Mango Man Taskforce Committee, Valet Captain, member of the Guild Committee, and volunteer with the Soup Kitchen and United Way. She has worked with Peco Foods, Inc. for 18 years. She loves enjoying nature, singing, reading, writing, swimming and volunteering. She lives with her two dogs - E’liah and Liam.

Chris Redden has been attending and active at FPC since he met his wife Marcella in 2009. They were married in 2012 and have a daughter Anna. Originally from St. Clair County, Chris has lived and worked in Tuscaloosa since 2006. He previously was a chemistry graduate student at UA and science teacher in Tuscaloosa. Chris currently teaches at Greensboro High School in Hale County. Since first coming to FPC, Chris has been a member of the choir and helped in VBS. Although he only recently become a member, he has always felt at home at FPC and looks forward to serving with them in the future.

Laura Woolf’s love of music led her to join FPC in the 1990s while still a college student. Over the years she has worked with the children’s program, sung in the choir, served as a confirmation partner, been a member of the Journey Sunday School Class, and volunteered at Logos. She currently works as a literacy consultant with school districts and state departments of education across the country. She is married to Ben Woolf and they have 5 children - Lillian, MaryElla, Isabella, Thomas, and Vivian.

Andrew Maughan is a fourth generation member of FPC & currently an 11th grader at Northridge High School. He is the son of Ashley & Daniel Maughan and grandson of Robin & Don Maughan. Andrew was baptized at FPC, attended First Presbyterian Preschool, and participated in VBS & Logos. He served as an Acolyte & completed Confirmation Class. He has been active in Youth Group since 6th grade, spending summers helping with VBS and attending Middle School and High School Montreat. Andrew currently serves on the Youth Leadership Team, and his interests include music, theatre, & art.