TERRY HAMILTON-POORE
Pastor & Head of Staff
Terry Hamilton-Poore comes to us from First Presbyterian Church in Neenah, WI, where she has been serving as the interim Head of Staff for the past two years. Born in Chicago, she moved with her family to Greensboro, NC when she was 10. Terry earned her Master of Divinity (with emphasis on Preaching and Christian Ethics) from Duke Divinity School, where she was also the recipient of the Senior Preaching Award. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry Program, with an emphasis on Congregational Revitalization, at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, where she has also completed the seminary’s Certificate Program in Executive Leadership. Terry is married to Sam Hamilton-Poore, a native South Carolinian who graduated from the University of South Carolina, and, like Terry, attended Duke Divinity School (where they met). They have three grown children.
Nicole Newton
Transitional Associate Pastor
Nicole Newton comes to us from First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC, where she served as the Associate Pastor for Children & Youth for two years. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University School of Divinity (with a concentration in Bioethics) and a Master of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. She is the mom of two wild and wonderful daughters, Alecia and Lena Scout, and spouse to Jonathan, who is quite possibly the most patient husband known to humanity. In her free time, she enjoys growing flowers, cooking for large crowds, traveling the world, and having silly dance parties in the kitchen.
HYE-SOOK JUNG
Director of Music & Organist
Hye-Sook Jung was born and grew up in Seoul, South Korea. She had grown up in a strict Presbyterian family in Korea. Her father was an elder for many years at their church and she began to serve as a church pianist and organist when she was in 5th grade. In 1999 she moved to the USA with her husband to pursue their advanced degrees. Hye-Sook is currently the Instrumental Director at Indian Springs School where she teaches private piano lessons, AP Music Theory, Music Ensembles and accompanies the choir. She has previously served as an Assistant Professor of Music at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for nine years, and an organist/pianist at Northport United Methodist Church for fourteen years. She received her Bachelor of Music degree of Piano Performance at HanYang University, and her Master of Music Degree of Piano Accompanying from Sungshin University in South Korea. Hye-Sook completed her Doctoral Degree from The University of Alabama where she was a student of the late Amanda Penick. During her entire study at the University of Alabama, she was a recipient of the Narramore Music Scholar Award, which is the most prestigious fellowship at the School of Music. She is very happy to be a part of the First Presbyterian church.
LAURA ROBERTSON
Church Administrator and Property Manager
A native of Alabama, Laura keeps FPC on schedule and on task. Born and raised in Birmingham, some might say she is an obnoxious ALABAMA fan! She & her husband have a wonderful kid that is currently in college. After sixteen years of being a stay-at-home Mama, she decided to join the working world!
She is a member of St Stephen's Episcopal Church and also on the Jr Board of Visitors of the UAB School of Nursing.