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.
Caroline McKinney
As a charter member of Palmetto, I have fond memories of being part of the beginnings of the church. In my time here, I have treasured being part of the music program through my role as director of both adult and youth handbell choirs. Most special of all to me, however, are the close relationships I have formed with so many in the church over the years. I am honored to continue to serve a second term as an elder at Palmetto. My husband, Mark, and I have two sons, Jonathan (22) and Alex (17).
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
I was raised in a Christian home and in the Southern Baptist Church. I was taught about God’s love and his gift of his son from birth, and accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 10 years old. I was raised in Knoxville, TN, and graduated from UT Knoxville in 1986 with a Bachelors in Nursing. I started my nursing career in critical care, working in a medical ICU and cardiac ICU and helping open an Open Heart ICU. I met my husband, Mark, at the hospital, and we married in 1996 in Charleston. In 1998 I 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. I retired in 2021 and Mark and I moved to Mt. Pleasant. I feel God directed us to Palmetto Presbyterian shortly after our move, and we have been members a little over a year. I have 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.
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.
Holly Horsman
Holly has served on Session in the Elder Class of 2015 and as Clerk of Session at PPC for eight of the past nine years. Although moving throughout her youth with her Air Force family, she considers herself a lifelong Presbyterian. She met her husband, Marshall, at First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC, where they were both single parents raising two teenagers. They were married in 2006, and once all four children (Hannah, Hunter, Marshall, and Emily) were launched to college, they moved to Mt. Pleasant to live in the Darrell Creek Neighborhood.
Holly works as a Legal Assistant at Willson, Jones, Carter & Baxley, P.A., and Marshall is retired but has a “stay-out-of-trouble, fun job” part-time at Ace Hardware. Holly joined the choir during the pandemic in order to support Marshall, a long-time PPC Choir Member. Her passion is Missions, both local (Turkeys for Huger) and abroad. Marshall and Holly have traveled together on several Mission Trips to Guanajuato, Mexico, and separately to Haiti and Puerto Rico.
Shane Shaarda
My faith journey began when I was born to Christian parents, who taught me about Jesus from the time I was born. I became aware of my own sin and NEED for Jesus as my Lord and Savior while attending Bible camp in Helen, GA when I was 10 years old. I attended Covenant College, where I met my amazing wife Lynn. We have 3 boys, Nick (24), Zach (22) and Josh (18). I have been self-employed since 1997, working as a manufacturer’s representative for several home furnishing company’s. My territory is SC and GA. I also sing with the Charleston Men’s Chorus, where I serve as the Tenor 1 section leader. Raised in the Presbyterian church since I was 2 years old, I have served as Sunday School teacher, Deacon Chairman (Eastbridge Presbyterian Church), and as an elder (Two Rivers Presbyterian Church). Our family has been members of Palmetto Presbyterian since 2018.
Adam Ferrara
Adam is a native Charlestonian. He was raised in West Ashley and attended the College of Charleston. He started his career as a home builder with John Wieland Homes and moved to Charlotte, NC, in 2001. Adam is now a commercial general contractor and real estate developer with offices in Fort Mill, SC, and Mount Pleasant, SC. In 2003, he met Becky, and they were married in 2005. They moved to Fort Mill, SC, where they attended Unity Presbyterian. Adam served on many councils, committees, and boards and was a deacon at Unity Presbyterian, where he led the building and grounds committee. Adam and Becky joined Palmetto Presbyterian in 2018 along with their three children, Michael (14), Caroline (12), and George (5). They live in Rivertowne Country Club.
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