Leadership Team
 

Glen Thompson, PharmD, President

Born on November 1st in Birmingham, Alabama. Grew up in Center Point and graduated from Hewitt Trussville High School. Glen is married to his high school sweetheart, Patricia, who is also a member of First Lutheran. Their son, Aaron Thompson is married to Carrie, and they have two daughters.

Church Affiliation: Lifelong Lutheran. Confirmed at First Lutheran Church in 1964. Has been a member of various Lutheran Churches as career transitioned. Glen is currently serves as a Deacon, and is President of First Lutheran Church.

Career and Experience: Graduated from Auburn University with a BS in 1973 and with a PharmD in 1982. Graduate of Samford University in 1976 with a BS in Pharmacy. Completed residency training at UAB in 1977. Career has been focused on hospital pharmacy management.

Personal Peek: Retired. Married to Pat Thompson on March 17, 1970 . Enjoys singing, piano, woodworking, and his two grandchildren.

 

Henry Mosley, Vice President

Henry Mosley was born on June 15th in Bessemer, Alabama.
 
Church Affiliation: He was baptized in 1952 and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Henry held many roles at Zion including the Church Secretary’s position as a young man. He was a member at Zion until 2010 and then moved to St. Paul Lutheran Church. In 2011 he became a member of First Lutheran Church. Henry is Vice president for the Church’s governing Board, he is a Deacon and serves as a worship assistant.
 
Henry retired from Virginia College as head of their campus security in 2015. Now he pursues one of his passions—basketball. As an official for the JEFFCO Basketball Association, Henry serves as a referee for elementary and high school games. He states this provides an opportunity to set an example for young people telling them, “God doesn’t see color. I lead by example by being truthful especially to the coaches and young officials”.
 
Henry has two sons, Leon and Quinton, a daughter-in-law, Isahia, and five grandchildren, three boys and two girls.
 
Personal Peek: his hobbies are basketball and singing.

 

Frances Robinson, Treasurer

Born on June 3rd in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Church Affiliation: Baptized in the Baptist Church. Confirmed as a Lutheran at St. Paul Lutheran – Birmingham, member for ten years where she served in various leadership positions including Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Stewardship Chair and Director of Adult and Youth Choirs. Joined First Lutheran in 2011. She is presently
Treasurer of the Gulf Coast LWML District and previously served as President of the North Central Alabama Chapter of Thrivent Financial, Board of Directors for Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, Board of Directors Secretary and Treasurer of the Southern District
Lutheran Foundation. 
 
Career and Experience: Graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. Retired Senior Project Manager from AT&T Telecommunications after 32 ½ years in the marketing division.
 
A Personal Peek: Married to Lorenza Robinson. They have three sons (Alex, Derek and Everett); one daughter (Adrienne); son-in-law (Joseph); daughter-in-law (Desland); six grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, bowling.
 
 

Wendy Harris, Secretary

Born in Birmingham. Al, on October 9th. Graduate of Shades Valley High School and Birmingham Southern College with a degree in Business and Finance. 
 
Church Affiliation: lifelong member of First Lutheran Church, she has served in several positions at First Lutheran. Currently serves as Secretary.
 
Career and experience: now retired from hospital administrative positions with St Vincent’s Health System and Baptist Health System.
 
A personal peek: Married to Shane Harris. She enjoys creative crafts, bunko and spending time with her family.
 

Carol Lackey, Member at Large

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church.

Church Affiliation: Carol has been a member of First Lutheran Church since 1971. She is married to Pastor Emeritus Tom Lackey and is currently on the Board as a Member-at-Large. Carol also serves on the Altar Guild and is a member of LWML.

Career and Experience:  Retired from Andrews Sports Medicine where she worked as a registered Radiology Technologist.

A Personal Peek: Carol became a naturalized US citizen after marrying her husband.  They have three adult children and two grandchildren. Her favorite activities are reading, gardening and traveling (especially to see the grandchildren).

 
 

Lynn M. Phifer, BSN, MPA, CRRN, RN Member at Large

Born in Aquebogue, New York, Lynn grew up on a potato farm. 

Lynn attended Clara Maass Memorial Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Belleville, New Jersey. She joined the US Army Nurse Corps and served stateside and in Germany.

Career & Experience: Lynn worked for 25 years as an Emergency Room/Trauma nurse before moving into Rehabilitation nursing.  She obtained her BSN degree and MPA, (master’s in public administration). She became a nursing instructor and developed

proficiency in stroke care. She served as Chief Nurse of the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, GA. While at Vanderbilt in 2011, Lynn was voted, “Nurse of the Year”, for Nashville, TN. She is a certified rehabilitation registered nurse, (CRRN), and is currently certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. 
 

Lynn is on the PRN staff for Encompass Health, both at the Lakeshore and Pelham Rehabilitation Hospitals.

On a personal note, Lynn is married to Rev. Dan Phifer, they have three grown sons, five grandsons and one granddaughter. Her hobbies include studying DNA, forensic sciences, and mysteries. She loves walking her Weimaraner, Buddy, and keeping up with her grandsons’ soccer games.

 

 

Deacons

Charles Craig, Deacon, Chair

Born on January 27th in Birmingham, Alabama

Church Affiliation: He attended Payne Chapel A.M.E. as a child and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church as a teenager. Confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1966. He has served in various positions of leadership including Sunday School superintendent, vice president, president, elder and completed the Lay Ministry Training Institute, as a first step toward ordination. Mr. Craig has served as a Lay representative on the Southern District-LCMS Board of Directors and as a member of the Lutheran Laymen League. He joined First Lutheran Church in 2011.

Career & Experience: Tuskegee University (formerly Tuskegee Institute), holds a certificate from Raymond J. Horn School of Drafting and Illustration and a certificate from UAB in Photography. Retired from Southern Company Services, Inc. after 21 years an Illustrator.

A Personal Peek: He enjoys gardening, photography, baking cakes and reading. His wife of 57 years, Ernestine, is a member of First Lutheran Church.

 

Mike Halbrooks, Deacon

Born: in Birmingham, AL on September 29. Grew up in Birmingham, married Beverly on September 4, 1977. Attended Ramsey High School, Jacksonville State College and Jefferson State College.

Church Affiliation: Member of First Lutheran Church since his baptism as a baby.  Mike parents, Dot and Buck Halbrooks were the first couple to hold their wedding in the current sanctuary of First Lutheran Church. He was confirmed by Pastor Mark Kuehnert. Mike is a Deacon and active in Man-Up.

Career and Experience: Retired from Post Welding and Airgas with 49 years of service, progressing from shop foreman to welder and then cryogenic technician in 4 states.

Personal Peek: Married to Beverly on September 4, 1977. They have two sons, Nick and Judson. Enjoys hunting, grilling and helping others.
 
 

Shane Harris, Deacon

 

Shane was born on November 3rd at Poughkeepsie, New York. He attended public schools in the Central School District of New York. 

Church Affiliation: born and raised Catholic, Shane became a member of First Lutheran Church in 2016,  and now serves as a Deacon and is a member of the Trustee Committee.

His career began at the early age of 14 when he started “throwing bags” for major airlines. He learned airline operations from the ground up and is now Director of Airline and Military Operations for Atlantic Aviation for over 100 locations.

Hobbies: Shane enjoys woodworking, building furniture and crafts. He travels a lot and enjoys the great outdoors—especially camping.

Shane married Wendy Lepp on June 20, 2017.

 
 

Henry Mosley, Deacon

Henry Mosley was born on June 15th in Bessemer, Alabama. He was baptized in 1952 and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Henry held many roles at Zion including the Church Secretary’s position as a young man. He was a member at Zion until 2010 and then moved to St. Paul Lutheran Church. In 2011 he became a member of First Lutheran Church. Henry is Vice president for the Church’s governing Board, he is a Deacon and serves as a worship assistant.
 
Henry retired from Virginia College as head of their campus security in 2015. Now he pursues one of his passions—basketball. As an official for the JEFFCO Basketball Association, Henry serves as a referee for elementary and high school games. He states this provides an opportunity to set an example for young people telling them, “God doesn’t see color. I lead by example by being truthful especially to the coaches and young officials”.
 
Henry has two sons, Leon and Quinton, a daughter-in-law, Isahia, and five grandchildren, three boys and two girls.
 
A Personal Peek: his hobbies are basketball and singing.

 

Anthony McGraw, PhD Ed, Deacon

Born on August 6 in Harpersville, Alabama.  Grew up in the area, graduated from Vincent High School in Vincent, Alabama.

Church Affiliation: Baptized in the Christian faith at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Harpersville, Alabama; confirmed in the Lutheran Church in 1997; member of St. Paul Lutheran; became a member of First Lutheran in 2011.  Served in many capacities in church leadership: president, elder, deacon and completed the Lay Ministry Training Institute, as a first step toward ordination.

Career and Experience: Attended Alabama A&M, earning Bachelor and Master degrees in Education.  Received a Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University. Employed with the Birmingham Schools for 18 years; serving as Principal, Vice Principal and Teacher.  Dr. McGraw recently retired as the Vice Principal at Carver High School.

A Personal Peek: His wife of 14 years, Sheree, is a member of First Lutheran along with their son, James Anthony II.  Anthony also has three adult children.  He likes to fish.

 

 

Robert Regulus, Deacon

Born on October 10th in Birmingham, Alabama. Attended Birmingham public schools. Graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Church Affiliation: Introduced to the Lutheran Church at the age of two. He was baptized and became a member in 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He became a member of First Lutheran Church in 2011. Robert has held various leadership positions at the church over the years including immediate past Vice President, and is very knowledgeable with Lutheran Service Builder and Shepherd’s Staff programs. He is currently serving as a Deacon and is on the Call Committee.

Career and Experience:  Retired as a Captain with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department after 32 years. He headed the installation of mobile laptops in all of the department’s patrol cars. After several people had attempted to lead this change for the department, Robert was successful in encouraging officers to “embrace change.”

A Personal Peek: Married to Gwen for 42 years.  They have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Robert enjoys his little theater (at home) for watching movies and sports.
 

Lorenza Robinson, Deacon

Born on September 12 in Birmingham, AL. Attended Birmingham Schools and the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
 
Church Affiliation: joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1991 and served in several ministries; Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee, Deacon, and Choir. Joined First Lutheran Church in 2011 and presently serves as Deacon and head of Fellowship (Called to Serve).
 
Career: Retired from AT&T in 2014 as an Accounting Assistant with 32 years service.
 
A Personal Peek: Married to Frances Robinson in 1974 and are the parents of 4, Alexander, Derek, Adrienne and Everett. We now have 6 grandkids and 4 great grandkids. Enjoys spending time with family, fishing, travel and golf..
 
 

Nelson Sharit, Deacon

Born in Birmingham on August 12th. Nelson attended Mortimer Jordan High School in Jefferson County.

Church Affiliation: became a member of First Lutheran Church where he serves as a Deacon.

Nelson’s career focus is on small water treatment plants where he managed

the Big Oak Boys Ranch, Ragland School and other plants.  He retired, then decided to return to work part time at various small treatment plants including Cheaha State Park and other locations. Nelson is happy when he is busy!

A Personal Peek: Nelson enjoys his hobby as a blacksmith reusing car parts and scrap metals to form new tools and decorative items; he is an avid gardener, woodworker and loves motorcycle camping. Nelson built his own “man cave” a log cabin, where he paints on canvas with acrylics and oils. He said his favorite inspiration for his art comes from church bulletin covers.

Nelson married Marcy on July 17, 1993.
 
 

Andy Sullivan, Deacon

Andy was born on March 30th at Lynchburg, Virginia. He grew up in the Birmingham area and attended Homewood High School.

Church Affiliation: became a member of First Lutheran Church as a child; he now serves as a Deacon.

Andy joined the Army and became a combat medic. After his discharge he attended a culinary arts school, later working at several local restaurants as chef and restaurant manager. His career path returned to his passion of helping people and after completing paramedic training he joined the Springville Fire Department and continues to serve with the Regional Paramedic Services.

A Personal Peek: Andy’s hobbies include “tiquing” (antiquing), playing his acoustic bass guitar, and working jigsaw puzzles.

Andy shares his home with Chelsea.The.Cat—who pretty much rules the castle!

 

Stan Weir, Deacon & Ministry Coordinator-Facilities & Church Properties 

 

Born on January 22 in Tuscaloose, life-long resident of Birmingham Alabama.
 
Church Affiliation: Joined First Lutheran Church in 1993 through adult confirmation.
 
Career and Experience: Graduate of Samford University 1971. Graduated Birmingham School of Law 1975. Career is concentrated in the banking business for over 45 years and now happily retired. Currently a Board member in the Southern District LCMS.
 
A personal Peek: Member of the Samford Alumni A Cappella Choir, loves music, singing and Auburn Football.
 
Married June Reeves-Weir on Nov. 11, 1995.