Leadership
Staff
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Emily Boles was born and raised in Montgomery, AL. In 1999 Emily moved to Birmingham to attend Samford University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies in 2003. Shortly after college, Emily attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earning her Master of Arts in Christian Education through the extension center in Birmingham. While in seminary, Emily worked as the Children’s Minister at a local Baptist church.
Following her graduation from seminary in 2006, Emily joined the staff at Saint Luke’s as the Director of Children’s Ministries. Emily oversees Sunday School classes involving children in third through sixth grades. She is also in charge of all other activities such as Vacation Bible School, Children’s Chapel, and other fellowship and outreach events.
Emily married Brian Boles in 2007 and they had their first child in May 2011, Eley. She also enjoys doing almost anything outside, trying to cook, Auburn football, and hanging out with her two boxers Goose and Bauer.
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Helen was born and raised in the very small town of Hughes, Arkansas, just across the river from Memphis, Tennessee. She is the oldest of 5 children. After high school graduation she moved to Memphis and attended Memphis State University. She met her future husband there, left school and worked for 10 years as a draftsman with the engineering department of what was then Southern Bell Telephone Company.
Helen has lived in Memphis, Columbia, SC, Cincinnati, OH, Anniston, AL, and finally moved to Birmingham in 1982. Her son Kevin lives in Birmingham and her daughter Dana lives in Minneapolis.
After her son was born in 1970, she became a stay at home mom and housewife and remained so until a divorce took place in 1993. At this time it was necessary get a “real” job. This is what brought her to Saint Luke’s in 1994.
Helen’s free time outside of Saint Luke’s is spent working with a support group, for the divorced, widowed and separated, called The Beginning Experience Ministry. She is known as a good cook and enjoys reading, but her favorite pastime is working in her garden. She says her backyard is a wildlife preserve with butterflies, numerous birds including hummingbirds and blue birds. She even likes snakes.
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My name is John Arnold Burgess. I was born Oct.17th 1950 in Birmingham. I attended Birmingham City Schools, and graduated from Samford University. My wife’s name is Becky, she is Billing Manager for Birmingham Radiological Group and has been employed there for 34 years. We have 3 children, Melissa, Britton, and Matthew. Melissa graduated from Auburn, Britton from Alabama, and Matthew is a senior at Hoover High. I have one grandchild, Cameron Allen Creel, born to Melissa and Jeff Creel. I came to Saint Luke’s in Feb. 1999 as facility manager. As facility manager my mission is to maintain the integrity of the physical structure to ensure the highest quality of its serviceability and to ensure that future generations will inherit a physically sound, fully functioning, safe, clean, and beautiful facility. Favorite quotes include the line from the Baptismal Covenant to “respect the dignity of every human being.” I like John Claypool’s motif that “Life is gift.’ I like the quote from my early childhood Sunday school teachers to “Be ye kind.” Hobbies include reading, collecting, music, concerts, boating, and fishing. My family and I enjoy being confirmed members here at Saint Luke’s. I also enjoy being an usher in Jay Higgenbotham’s group.
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Nancy Cain
Parish Secretary
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Birmingham is my hometown, born and raised. I was educated in the Birmingham public school system and the Univ. of Al. I am well in to my second decade of marriage to my lovely wife Belinda. I am the proud papa of two children, Rachel Denise and Michael Jr. My job as systems administrator covers support for just about anything that plugs into an ac socket and includes desktop support, email administration, web administration, network administration, network security, data security, and church ministry technologies. My favorite pastime (I must be getting old) is working in my yard and walking barefoot in the grass. I think the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned come from the example of my mother’s life, how she served in the church and the value she placed on education.
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I was born in Opelika, Alabama. I have a BS degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University. I am married to Lester Hamiter and have 2 girls, Clay and Bradshaw Ratcliffe. Clay is a junior at Auburn and Bradshaw is a freshman at Alabama. I am the Executive Director of PreSchool Partners, which is a preschool for at risk inner city children and their parents. We prepare the families for kindergarten and success in school. I oversee the program, write grants, and hit people up for money. I love music, gardening, traveling, and making mix cd's. My favorite quote is from Calvin Coolidge who said: "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
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Edward Colbert
Sexton
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Jim Dorroh has been Organist and Director of Music at Saint Luke’s since 1989. He holds music degrees from Birmingham-Southern College, The University of Texas (Austin), and Vanderbilt University. He has also spent several months of sabbatical time at Saint John’s College of Cambridge University in England. He teaches organ as an Adjunct Instructor at Samford University.
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Hi! My name is TaraKy Eason. I grew up the youngest of four girls in Montgomery, Alabama and lived there until I went to college at Auburn University. (War Eagle!) My husband is John, and we have a son, Cole, who was born June 29, 2005, and two (big) dogs. Jake and Jack. All are the light of my life and keep me very busy at home.
I have always had a love for children, and knew that I wanted to receive a degree in something child-related. I received a BS degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus in Early Childhood. I taught for a few years after college and then had the opportunity to be a Child Development Consultant, in which I did a lot of trainings for child care administrators and teachers. I lived in Virginia for almost 4 years, and began my career in administration. I moved back to Birmingham in 2008 and have been at Saint Luke’s ever since. I am very excited that I have been given the opportunity to work here. I look forward to all the fun things that are in the works here at The Day School, and hope you and your family will enjoy this school as much as I have already!
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Parker Garrett
Youth Minister
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Madison Hurt
Building Superintendent
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Kelly Lamkin
Lead Catechist
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Derrick May
Sexton
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Betty came to Saint Luke’s in June, 1982 as Business Administrator responsible for all financials including budgeting, accounting, payroll and stewardship as well as administrative supervisor for Lay Professional and Housekeeping staff. As the position expanded in responsibility she purchased Saint Luke’s first computer system and software in 1984 and hired a financial secretary. Her title was officially changed to Parish Administrator in 1987. Immediately upon her hire Betty joined the National Association of Church Business Administration where she has actively participated on both the local and national level having served as an officer in the local chapter, the Episcopal association and eight years on the Board of Directors of NACBA including two years as National President. Betty received her certification training at the Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and was certified as a Fellow in Church Business Administration in 1997 and re-certified in 2006. Betty is married to Doug and they have three grown children plus two sons-in-law and four fabulous grandchildren. Family, gardening and Lake Martin are a few of her favorite things.
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George Patterson
Sexton
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Shaun Pezant
Music Associate
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Sandy Porter
Director of Communications
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Renee Renew
Director of Food Services
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Jeanna has worked part time as Director of Senior Adult Ministry since July 1999. She grew up in Birmingham, attended the University of Alabama and has a degree in music therapy form Tennessee Tech University. She is married and the mother of two children. Jeanna plays the guitar and piano, loves all genres of music, is an avid Alabama football fan, and enjoys cooking. She loves to be around people, to plan and organize, and always believes the glass is “half-full”.
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Leslie serves as the Associate Organist at Saint Luke's and provides the organ music for the 8:00 am. Most recently, she served as Director of Music and Liturgical Arts at The United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston in Westport, Connecticut. Her duties there included working as Organist and Director of the Choirs as well as playing an integral role in worship conception and planning. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Leslie was a member of the adult and youth choirs and handbell groups, as well as various instrumental ensembles at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. In 2001, the Peachtree Handbell Quartet recorded a self-titled album. She holds a Bachelors in Music for Organ Performance and Dalcroze Eurhythmics from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Todd Wilson and David Brown, and a Masters in Music for Organ Performance from Yale University with a Certificate from Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music, studying with Thomas Murray.
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Leslie received the Henry Fusner Award for achievement in Organ Performance while at CIM and served as Assistant Director of Music and Organist at Disciples Christian Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In addition, she founded and was Director of the Case Women’s Glee Club, a sister club to the historic Case Men’s Glee Club. She also served as Assistant Director for Sing Out!, a biennial benefit concert for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center which during her time raised over half a million dollars to help women and families in crisis.
When not performing and practicing music, she enjoys crafting (mainly crochet), cooking (mainly baking), cycling (mainly to work off the baking), and living in New York City with husband Frederick Teardo, new Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of the Advent -
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Life for Barbara started in Knoxville TN and she continues to be a Tennessee fan—thus a Peyton Manning/Colts Fan. [Don’t miss seeing the UT mug and Manning photo in her office!] Go Vols!!!
Her family moved to Georgia when she was in third grade and they lived there through college years. After graduate school in New Orleans, LA, where she survived Hurricane Betsy, she came to Birmingham to serve as Preschool Minister for Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.
Before coming to work at Saint Luke's, she marketed a self-designed water play toy for children and worked part time for Gardendale Presbyterian Church, Anderson Leadership, and Lease Capital. She moved from Homewood to Vestavia in 2005, and shares a home with her mom, one sister, and her adventurous cat, Conway Kitty.
Baptist through and through, having attended a Baptist nursing school, a Baptist college, and a Baptist seminary, she is a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. There she was ordained a deacon, sings in the choir, and has served on various committees, presently on Grief Support. She enjoys writing curriculum for preschoolers for LifeWay, Smyth & Helwys, and currently writes for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship [CBF].
Barbara became a part of the Saint Luke's staff in 2000. Although much of her work here is spent with pastoral care, worship preparation, and outreach responsibilities, she finds it neat to be involved behind the scenes with the varied programs and opportunities the clergy and educational staff offer.
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Johnailla Wright
Assistant to the Rector
