Retired Jefferson County Circuit Judge Caryl Privett, nominated for President, grew up at IPC where she was confirmed on Maundy Thursday in 1961 She is an ordained Ruling Elder and Deacon and has served on the Session, the Deacon Board and a number of committees including Music, Fine Arts, Governance, and is currently on the Worship Team. She served one term on the Board of Kirkwood by the River. She has served as a Confirmand Partner and was one of the drafters of the IPC By-laws and one of the stitchers of IPC's needlepoint paraments. She serves the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley as a member of the Commission on Ministries. During her years practicing law, she was a civil rights lawyer, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, the first female U. S. Attorney in Alabama, a mediator, a municipal prosecutor and an adjunct law professor. She is a proud aunt, greataunt and Godmother, and a devoted follower of Vanderbilt University baseball One of her favorite places is the IPC Labyrinth
Tommy Thomson, nominated for Vice President, and his wife Kathy and were married at IPC in 1993, and have been active members at IPC since moving back to Birmingham in 1998 He is a physician and on the clinical faculty at UAB in the Department of Emergency Medicine Tommy currently serves on the IPC Session and chairs the Global Missions Committee He has a passion for missions and has been on many mission journeys to Africa and Mexico with the church Tommy served two terms on the Deacon board and volunteered with the youth program and Boy Scout Troop 28 as he and Kathy’s children were growing up. Their daughter Ellie is married and lives in New York, where she is in graduate school at Columbia University. Their son Mac is in medical school at the University of South Carolina.
Carl Albright (Elder) is married to Paige Albright. They have three sons, Carl (22), David (20) and Bibb (19). He has been a member of IPC since 1999 and has served as Moderator of the Board of Deacons After a 26-year banking career, he recently retired and is working as a business consultant
Spencer Cobbs (Youth Elder) is an 11th grade student at Mountain Brook High School She is on the Youth Grant Team and loves coming to youth group. She works at Crestline Pharmacy. Spencer is thrilled to be a Youth Elder next year!
Anna Hartzog (Elder) has been a member of IPC for 5 years. She is married to Kent and has two sons, Owen (7) and Emmett (3). She enjoys heading up the Bridges Sunday school class and being a deacon. Outside of church, she is an editorial director at Hoffman Media and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She likes running, traveling, hosting parties, reading far too many books, and drinking hot cups of coffee
Andrew Hicks (Elder) was born in Birmingham and grew up in Mountain Brook He attended Auburn University, graduating with a degree in Architecture At IPC, he is part of the third generation of his family to enjoy participating in the life of this congregation. He has been a long-time member of the IPC Choir and has served as both Deacon and Elder in the past. He has also participated in the IPC hiking group in recent years, leading hikes at DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon. As an architect with ArchitectureWorks, LLP, he has worked with the church during the Sanctuary renovation, to prepare for the new Dobson pipe organ, and participated in the teams that developed both the Labyrinth and Prayer Garden, as well as the new expansion of the Columbarium. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, a LEED accredited professional with the U S Green Building Council, and a member of the City of Mountain Brook Landscape Committee
Steve Hunt (Elder) I’ve been attending IPC since moving to Birmingham in 1984 to begin my internal medicine residency I currently work as a primary care physician in the Whitaker Clinic at UAB I grew up in the United Methodist tradition in a small church in Cumberland, Maryland As a member of IPC, I‘m delighted to be a part of an inclusive faith tradition where all persons who attend the church are welcome to lead and serve while growing in faith together. I’ve been impressed by IPC’s commitment to identify needs in our community and show the love of Jesus Christ in whatever ways we can. I’ve been encouraged to read diverse theological authors and have been challenged to grow in my own faith by hearing different opinions in classes and small groups. I’ve been grateful over the past year for the prayers of many as I have recovered from a cancer diagnosis and have been able to return to work in the clinic I live in Forest Park with my wife Stephanie, who is a member of the Roman Catholic faith tradition Our older son Andrew works as a design engineer for Vertech and lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife Kat, a 1st-grade teacher Our younger son Michael graduated from Auburn in 2023 and works as a mechanical engineer for Hyundai in Montgomery. In my free time, I enjoy classical piano, walking on the golf course (pretending to be able to actually play the game), snow skiing, and trying daily (usually unsuccessfully) to best my wife at Wordle.
Clarence James II (Elder) I am a native of Birmingham and have been a lifelong member of IPC. I am honored to have served as a Deacon for the past three years, and I am looking forward to continuing to be an active member of our congregation My wife Laura and I are proud parents to our son Chris, who currently attends IPC Day School. I currently work for Protective Life and in my free time enjoy watching and coaching our son in youth sports. Our church community has been a source of inspiration and support for our family, and we look forward to continuing to grow in faith and fellowship.
Kate Mather (Elder) has been a member of IPC since childhood. She currently serves as a Deacon and a member of the IPC Foundation Grants Committee Additionally, she is the co-chair of the Food and Hunger Subcommittee under Community Ministries and has co-chaired the IPC Crop Drop for three years She is also an active member of the Parenting Subcommittee. Kate previously served as a catechist for Children's Ministries, as well as in the IPC Day School. She and her husband, Zach, have three children: Will, age 17; Julia, age 15; and Griffin, age 11. Outside of church, Kate teaches math intervention part-time through Better Basics.
Jay Turner (Elder) is a father of four, with two daughters at Samford University, a son in high school, and a son in middle school He currently serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Birmingham and resides in Forest Park. At IPC, Jay is part of the Bridges Sunday school, leads a Grace Group, and serves as a Deacon.
Georgia Miller (Elder) I have been attending Independent Presbyterian Church all my life. I was baptized, confirmed as a member and installed as a Deacon here. As the daughter of parents active in all aspects of life at IPC, service, study, worship - this church is truly my church home. IPC helped to begin my faith formation journey which continues today After teaching Middle School for forty-three years (39 at Homewood Middle), I retired June of 2022 I began as a Language Arts, Social Studies, Computer teacher who also coached Later I transitioned to becoming English as a New Language teacher working with children from all over the world The past year has been a blessed one with much more time to participate in other activities, many at the church, such as a mission trip to Mwandi. Serving and learning as a member of this church is a blessing that helps all see how God is present in every aspect of our lives.
Boone Abbott (Deacon) was born and raised in Birmingham, AL. He was baptized and confirmed at IPC and was an active member of the IPC youth group in high school After graduating from the University of Alabama, Boone began his career as a geologist in Tampa, FL before moving back to Birmingham in 2022 Boone and Siera (wife) have enjoyed the IPC hiking group, the young adult’s group, and attending the 5 o’clock service with his mom and dad, Joe and Susie Abbott.
Jonathan Ashworth (Deacon) I was born and raised in Birmingham AL, and grew up down the street at South Highland Presbyterian Church. I studied engineering at Auburn University where I was involved in UKirk Auburn, the Presbyterian student ministry. At Auburn, I met my wife Cammie, who currently serves as the Director of Youth Ministries here at IPC. I work as an engineer for Kratos Defense, working on satellite communication systems. I enjoy volunteering with the IPC youth program and serving on the UKirk Birmingham Board. I look forward to meeting and serving the members of IPC as a deacon
Jane Cooper (Deacon) was born and raised in Southwest Virginia and has been a lifelong Presbyterian, beginning with the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski, Virginia After graduating from nursing school, she worked in several different areas of healthcare, spending the last 15 years of her nursing life caring for people living with HIV. She is blessed with a daughter and son, along with their spouses, and she has way too much fun being Nana to three grandchildren. 2018 was a banner year for Jane as she married Michael Morrissey in the IPC Chapel and retired from UAB
not on the same day! During the pandemic, Michael and Jane adopted Chester, an elderly beagle, who is widely known and liked by everyone at Heardmont Park. Jane treasures her years at IPC and is very grateful for the many ways her spiritual life has been enriched.
Kelly Falls (Deacon) I was raised in Atlanta, GA, and I graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio I pursued a career in television as a Sports reporter and anchor for five years and moved to sports talk radio for the next six years before the birth of our oldest daughter. In 2011, we were blessed with triplets, rounding out our family of six. Our children Laden (16) and Jake, Cooper, and Kate (12) attend Vestavia Hills City Schools. I have been fortunate enough to work at our Day School here at IPC and in support positions in Mountain Book and Homewood City schools. Currently, I host “Respect the Process” a podcast on the Disrupt the Media platform, focusing on Alabama football, basketball, and baseball. I am a spirited Atlanta Braves fan. I love to read, eat a great steak, and please, no gravy on my mashed potatoes.
Trey Hill (Deacon) is a lifelong member of IPC He and his wife, Jamie, have three children: Charlie (14), Thomas (13), and Caroline (11) Trey is an economic development lawyer at Bradley and a diehard Auburn fan
Tammy Johnson (Deacon) and her son, Luke Zimmerman who grew up at IPC (now at the University of Alabama), has been a member of IPC since 1991. Tammy has served on the elementary sub-committee, co-chaired the IPC Holiday House, volunteered at Advent Workshop, served several years as a tribal mom at Bibletimes Marketplace, is a member of the IPC Hiking group, completed a term as Deacon, enjoys Grace Groups, and taught Sunday School at IPC for 15 years. She is a CCIM, a commercial real estate broker, and President of Commercial Realty Partners She is originally from Gadsden, Alabama, and graduated from UAB In addition to her activities at IPC Tammy is involved in organizations such as ICSC, Board of Realtors, CCIM, Site Source Retail Network, and Vestavia Hills Chamber
Sissy King (Deacon) has been a member of IPC for several years and is happy to serve as a Deacon. She and her husband Roger have two children; 8 year old son Fields, a second grader at Crestline Elementary, and daughter Evans who is a 5 year old Top Dog at IPC Day School. Sissy enjoys working part-time at the IPC Day School, spending time with family and friends and attending her children’s sports and other activities.
Koko McCall (Deacon) grew up attending services at a Navy Chapel in Virginia before joining the Presbyterian church. Her high school Sunday School teacher recruited her to become part of the first large class (100) of women at Georgia Tech After a job transfer from California to Birmingham, she became a member at IPC, inspired by the beautiful services and Dr McClure’s leadership Later she met Tom McEwen (also from Georgia Tech) and he joined IPC, they married and raised their three children in Forest Park She has served as a Deacon and Elder and loved being part of Jeanne Isaacs’ many new programs such as the beginning of S.T.A.I.R. and Wednesday night LOGOs. Their family has been very active in Scouting and Koko has led two groups from Brownie through Senior Gold Awards. Since retiring from the Community Foundation she has enjoyed traveling with Tom to National Parks and being with their seven grandchildren.
Andrew Lindstrom Murphree (Youth Deacon) I am 17 years old and a junior at Mountain Brook High School My parents are Allen and Kristen I have an older brother Lane and an older sister Abby I am a 5th generation IPC member. I was baptized at IPC and attended IPC Day School from nursery through 5K. I loved participating at BTMP as a camper and now as a tribal assistant and tested my stage skills with many of Ms. Beth’s youth musicals. I am an active acolyte and a part of the 2023 Youth Grant Team. In my spare time, you can find me outside on a dirt bike and hanging out with my friends. I am honored to be nominated as a Youth Deacon and look forward to serving IPC.
Don Myers (Deacon) I grew up in Montgomery, after high school I attended East Central Community College and Livingston University (now University of West Alabama). During my senior year I was accepted into the first fulltime Graduate Degree program in Physical Therapy at UAB. My career as a Physical Therapist began at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Montgomery before being named Director of Physical and Occupational Therapy at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Here I became acquainted with the unique strategic mission of IPC; and its commitment to both the community and the Arts My wife Laural and I became members in 1984
Soon after joining IPC, I was recruited to a hospital in Louisiana as Administrative Director, where our son, Bryan was born In 1987 we returned to Birmingham and I became Administrator of Birmingham Operations for a newlyformed company that came to be known as Healthsouth. Our young family, with the addition of a daughter, Sonya, actively participated in IPC activities. Laural and I attended and taught in Sunday school; both children became acolytes and participated in the Youth Ministry. As we made plans for retirement before COVID struck in 2020 we committed to a heightened involvement at IPC. The pandemic did not allow such in-person but remote connections were a lifeline. When I retired as a Division Vice-President at AMSURG in 2022 (based in Nashville); Laural and I reestablished ourselves as participants at IPC (after years of business travel), renewed old acquaintances, and made many new connections; all of which have greatly blessed our lives
Chip Neal (Deacon) joined IPC in 2016 with his family Chip and his wife Beth are both active attendees of the Table Worship service. Chip currently serves as the Vice-President of Sales at Abacus Technologies. They have two daughters, Maggie (Charles), Lucy, and Sally. Lucy and her fiance David will be married at IPC this weekend, Congratulations to the Neal/Harrison families!
Amy Noden (Deacon) I am a native Chicagoan who now calls Birmingham home for the last 11 years. My husband Todd and I have 3 daughters - Grace, Ellie, and Hattie At IPC, I am currently involved with Lift Off, CFAF, Guild, and the PW Sunday School class Outside of IPC, I enjoy traveling (especially to see my daughters who live in NYC, Dallas, and Auburn), reading, and swimming
Cliff Spencer III (Deacon) is a lifelong member of IPC He and his wife, Leigh, own and operate Alabama Sawyer, a furniture manufacturing company that mills urban trees and turns them into furniture and products for home and commercial use His son, Scout, is a freshman at Sewanee, and his daughter, Velma, is in the seventh grade at Homewood Middle School. Cliff and Leigh are also members of Temple Emanuel, where Velma is in Hebrew school. She will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah this spring.
Jan Posey (RNC) My husband, Robert, and I joined IPC when we married. IPC was a compromise: I grew up in a little Methodist church in Brundidge, AL, and Robert was Baptist. My girls, Grace and Lily, grew up at IPC. IPC was a very important part of our family life. I became active here working with children. I still do that today. I am a catechist. I help with Bible Times and the Acolytes. I volunteer with Liftoff and the SLP at the farm. I serve in the Guild and as a funeral usher I love our yoga class! I am a retired teacher after teaching for 32 years, most of that as an alternative school teacher in Birmingham and Mountain Brook schools I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the RNC
Dr. Sean Vanlandingham (RNC) became a member of IPC in 2009. He has previously served as an Elder on Session and has also been a worship leader for the 5pm Evening Service. Earlier this year he led an IPC mission team to Chiapas, Mexico. He works as an Emergency Medicine physician in the St. Vincent’s Health System. Sean and Emily were married at IPC 23 years ago and are the proud parents of Olivia (17) and Gavin (14).
John Martin (Foundation Board) John and his family (wife, Allyson; son, Jackson (4)) joined IPC in September of 2019. A lifelong Presbyterian, John was raised at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, Georgia. Through the church, he participated heavily in local outreach and international mission trips, ultimately meeting Allyson on a trip to Honduras After graduating from Auburn University, his love for mission work led him to Birmingham where he worked for Constructores Para Cristo (CPC) John continues to serve the community and volunteers today as Senior Vice President of Resource Development at the United Way of Central Alabama. He is responsible for the organization’s fundraising operations and volunteer engagement efforts. With two decades of experience working with nonprofits, John is dedicated to serving the community by providing meaningful experiences to donors and volunteers. John is on the board of the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club and is a co-founder and past president of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Birmingham. John enjoys spending time outside and with his family.
Henry Ray (Foundation Board) graduated from The Webb School, the University of Alabama, and Cumberland Law School He was a member of the US Army for 2 1/2 years serving as OCS and Armor School (1st Lt) and he was assigned to JAG Henry has been married to Carolyn McDavid for 53 years and they have two sons, Henry Barnes Ray, III (Margaret Seiblels) and Webster McDavid Ray They are also grandparents to two granddaughters, Margaret Leary Ray and Laurie Price Ray. Mr. Ray has previously served at IPC as an active member of the Deacon and Session Boards.
Sheri Robinson (Foundation Board) has been a member of IPC since 1992. She is a Wealth Advisor and Principal with Linscomb and Williams. Sheri has served on the Christian education committee, taught Sunday school and currently serves on the finance committee She has two daughters, Grace (24) and Magdalene (18) that were baptized at and are members of IPC Sheri served on the YouthServe Birmingham board for 6 years, most recently as treasurer She is incoming president-elect of the UAB National Alumni Association