What is an elder?
“As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25) but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of word and sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships.” -Definition from the Book of Order
Below, you will find PPC’s elected elders that are currently in session. Read more about them and how they have enjoyed being connected at PPC.
Our Elders
Nan Mann
Nan grew up in Lynchburg, VA, where her identical twin (Susan) still lives. She graduated from
Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC and UVA Medical Technology School. Nan was briefly married while living in Minneapolis, MN in the mid ‘80’s. While working at University of MN hospitals she received her Specialty in Blood Banking. She worked in Blood Banks at several large tertiary care hospitals as well as being Technical Director of Community Blood Bank of Erie in PA. While in Erie she was a deacon at Church of the Covenant.
Singing has been her passion, and she spent 25+ summers performing with Berkshire Choral International. Her other passion is teaching. She instructed Medical Technology students in Charlottesville, Erie, and Cleveland. Nan retired in 2020 after working the last two decades with JNJ. Now it is time to give back. This charter member has taught Sunday school at PPC, sings in the choir, is a member of Soul Sisters, and serves on the Mission Team. I am grateful and humbled to be asked to serve as Elder.
Kris Cooper
Chris was born and raised in Endicott, NY and graduated from college in PA and grad school in Atlanta. He married Tricia in 1975 and they have two daughters and three grandkids. He spent most of his working career in commercial real estate selling investment properties around the US for over 45 years. Chris retired about 4 years ago and then made a permanent move to Isle of Palms. Before joining PPC, they were longtime members of Roswell Pres and both Tricia and he served as elders. He was also the Chair of Mission Counsel for many years including mission trips to Kenya and Guatemala.
“I look forward to being a member of Session at PPC and strengthening my faith in Christ!”
Hank Maxwell
Hank is a native South Carolinian—born and raised in Bamberg. He attended Clemson University.
Since graduating, he has worked in the construction industry for both residential and commercial contractors. He currently owns his own residential construction company here in Mt. Pleasant.
Hank met his wife, Sarah, in Charleston after moving here out of college. They moved to North Augusta for her to attend medical school, moved back to Mt. Pleasant after medical school, and have lived here for the last 12 years. Hank was very active in the Baptist Church where he grew up, an active member of Fairview Presbyterian Church in North Augusta, and also a member and Deacon at Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church.
Hank and his family have been attending and been a member of Palmetto Presbyterian for the past six years. Hank and Sarah have three children, Lilian (10), Cora (7), Riggs (4) and they live in Carolina Park.
David Morrow
David grew up in Anderson, SC, and after attending the College of Charleston, he never left the Charleston area. David previously attended Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian for 18 years before coming to Palmetto in 2020. David has been very involved with the church, serving as a Deacon at MPPC, small groups, Sunday schools, and working with the youth group for 10 years, including taking a Mission Trip to La Ceiba, Honduras, to work with Habitat for Humanity with 21 youth.
David works as a Production Planner for Gildan Activewear and, in 2017, met his wife, Jenny. Big brother Griffin (9) was excited to welcome his little sister Arabella (5 months) to the Morrow family this past summer. The Morrows live in Darrell Creek.
Melanie Rose
Melanie was raised in a Christian home and in the Southern Baptist Church. She was taught about God’s love and his gift of his son from birth, and accepted Jesus as my Savior when she was 10 years old. She was raised in Knoxville, TN, and graduated from UT Knoxville in 1986 with a Bachelors in Nursing. Melanie started her nursing career in critical care, working in a medical ICU and cardiac ICU and helping open an Open Heart ICU. She met her husband, Mark, at the hospital, and were married in 1996 in Charleston. In 1998 she left critical care and went to the Diabetes Center, and then in 2005 left the hospital to work for Medtronic in their Diabetes division as a clinical manager. Melanie retired in 2021 and they moved to Mt. Pleasant. She feels God directed them to Palmetto Presbyterian shortly after our move. Melanie has served as elder and deacon in the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
“I look forward to serving as elder at PPC, getting to know more of the church family and helping as needed.”
Gary McAuliffe
Gary grew up in Atlanta, the son of Christian parents dedicated to their faith. After graduation from Southwest High School, Gary entered Georgia Tech and, while there, met his future wife, Sandi. In 1968, Gary and Sandi married in Tampa and then lived in Atlanta. Gary completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at Georgia Tech in 1969, served in the US Navy from 1969 to 1975 (the last two years in Charleston), and he and Sandi returned with their children, Gary Jr. and Tricia, to the Atlanta area where they became active in the local Methodist Church. Gary worked in the power industry for almost 40 years, helping to complete many power projects with his firm. Gary and Sandi have often returned to the Charleston area, visiting Tricia (Nutting) and her family in Mt. Pleasant. With a strong interest in being here, they moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2018 and joined PPC in 2019. Gary and Sandi enjoy being part of the PPC community of believers and look forward to continuing service here.
Chris Ballew
Chris has been a PPC member since 2017. He plays in the Handbell Choir and is serving on the task force planning adult education, in addition to volunteering with Children’s Church and VBS.
Roxanne Glover
A PPC member since 2018, Roxanne has produced and directed our children’s Christmas musicals and played a large leadership role in VBS, as well as preparing children to sing regularly in worship.
Stephane Lafortune
Stephane joined PPC in 2013. He has served on the PPC Session previously, and he has served on the Faith Formation Team and the Youth Task Force, as well as heading up our ushering ministry and leading the men’s Bible study on Friday mornings.
Paula Custer
Paula was born in Texas, raised in Mississippi and has been living in the Charleston area for 40+ years. She and her husband Jim have between them, three children and five grandchildren living on the Isle of Palms, in Atlanta, and in London. Paula’s professional career was in the field of organizational effectiveness, although she is now happily retired. Paula also loves gardening, reading, hiking, traveling, and volunteering.
She and Jim have been members of Palmetto Presbyterian for a little over three years, but both have Presbyterian backgrounds and have served previously as elders in other Presbyterian churches. Locally, she is one of the team leaders at the Hope House, a volunteer with the Hibben Cold Shelter and is involved with various mission projects.
Paula is also involved with the Connections Team, helping to create a warm welcome for our visitors and helping new members become engaged in PPC. She is also trained as a Stephen Minister/Leader and has served in that capacity with two other churches. Paula feels blessed to have been raised in a strong, Christian family where her parents did not only have them at church every time the door opened but modeled Christian values and practices. Jim and Paula love being a part of a small church that is warm, friendly, spirit-filled and feels like family.
Becky Ferrara
A native South Carolinian, Becky Ferrara was raised in Anderson, SC , the second in a family of four children. She was very involved at First Presbyterian Church (Anderson) throughout her childhood and youth. After high school, she gained her BS and MS in Accountancy from Clemson University. She worked in public accounting as an auditor for five years, gaining her CPA license. She moved to the Charlotte area and married her husband, Adam, in 2005. They have three children – Michael (17), Caroline (15) and George (8). They started a construction business in 2007 in Fort Mill, SC, which they continue to operate today. Becky contributes to the business as the human resources director & controller. In Fort Mill, the Ferraras attended Unity Presbyterian Church, where Becky was active as a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School chair, and Women’s Retreat Chair. In 2017, they decided to expand the business into the Charleston area, moving the family to Mt Pleasant. The family joined Palmetto Presbyterian Church in 2018. Becky quickly integrated into the fellowship team and served a children’s church teacher. She currently serves on the Women’s Ministry team.
Becky enjoys spending her free time reading and running. She is the team manager for her neighborhood’s swim team and serves as the Children’s Supervisor at her local Bible Study Fellowship group in Mt Pleasant.
Drew Deeter
Drew and his wife, Amy, have been members of PPC since 2023. They have two children, Katie and Sam, who are active in the youth program. The family moved to Mount Pleasant in 2021 from Pennsylvania. Drew currently plays music with the team at the 9 a.m. service and is involved with the men's group. He was ordained as an Elder at Doylestown Presbyterian Church in Doylestown, PA, and also served as a session member at Lenape Valley Church in Chalfont, PA. He looks forward to being a member of the PPC session during this exciting time in the life of the church.
JoAnn Thomas
A charter member of our church, she has previously served on the Session. She was on the Nurture Team for many years, including serving as chairperson, and she plays in the Handbell Choir, volunteers in the nursery, and is a member of the Fellowship Team.
Ralph Wetherell
Ralph Wetherell and his family have been worshiping and growing with Palmetto Presbyterian Church for over eight years. He comes to us from within our congregation, having served as an elder. Ralph is on staff at Palmetto as a Lay Pastor Commissioned by the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery. During his Lay Pastor process, Ralph felt a deeper call to gain a better insight and understanding of his faith. Currently, both he and his wife, Terri, are completing seminary. Ralph has earned a Masters in Christian Leadership.
“I am a tent-maker, in that I have realized a thirst and passion to serve God and the church in a bigger way, but I also go to work every day to earn a living for my family. I have come to realize and enjoy the fact that there are a large number of folks out there who do just that. Palmetto is blessed with caring folks who live this life daily; I really love this about our church. We are a community of Christ-like people who desire to serve, not because of duty, but because of a burning passion!”
Ralph and his wife, Terri, have four children: Tayler, Alex, Richard, and Harrison. Harrison is attending Clemson University. They also have two grandchildren, Anne Elliott and Price.
JoAnn Thomas
Clerk