Deacons

Russell E. Pennington had his eyes and heart opened to saving faith in Jesus Christ at his church home of 16 years, Faith Baptist in Barton, MS. He began visiting South Woods in 2002 at the invitation of his prospective father-in-law to gain insight into the biblical instruction his daughter (whom he was interested in marrying) was sitting under. Here at South Woods, Russell was first introduced to the Doctrines of Grace and leadership by elders. After marrying, it was these truths and the atmosphere that they nurture that led him and his new bride Amanda to join the body as a couple in 2004, build a family here, and invest in people between here and their home in Byhalia, MS.  Russell has served as a deacon since 2012. Amanda extended their ministry in 2023 by serving as Nursery Director. Russell, a graduate of the University of MS with a BA in Business Administration, currently serves as the Technical Services Manager of Northcentral Electric Cooperative in Olive Branch, MS and a proprietor in home maintenance. Amanda, a graduate of Crichton College, is a homemaker and educates their youngest children, Silas, Jonah and Emma. Their oldest son, James is studying at MSU.

Steven has been a member at South Woods since 2004. He and his wife, Kristin, were married in 2005 and they have 2 children. Steven graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Commerce & Business Administration. He is a Director of Revenue Cycle Management at AdaptHealth. If there is time to do so, Steven enjoys playing basketball and reading.

Mark, a former Roman Catholic, was converted to Christ by God’s grace in 1988. God used Mark’s wife Nancy, then recently converted, to both live out the Gospel before him and speak it into his life. Mark and his family began attending South Woods in 1997. During the week he works in the insurance industry specializing in risk management consulting. He enjoys playing tennis when he has time. Mark and Nancy have three children. He and Nancy also enjoy spending time with their 5 grandchildren God has blessed them with.

Jay began attending South Woods in 1988 shortly after the church's first anniversary and, with the exception of when he lived away from Memphis for college and law school, has been a member since that time. Jay met his wife Jennifer (Sharp) Campbell at South Woods and they have two daughters.  Jay is a graduate of George Washington University and Vanderbilt University. Jay is an attorney who assists clients with corporate law matters.  In addition to his service at South Woods, Jay serves on the boards of directors of a number of nonprofit entities.

Brian was saved during the summer of 2004 and was encouraged greatly in his faith through involvement with the University of Memphis Baptist Collegiate Ministries from 2008-2013.  Brian has been attending South Woods since the Summer of 2014 after he and his wife Emily's engagement.  Brian and Emily were married in 2014 and had their son Cooper in January of 2019.  Brian and Emily both have hearts for missions and investing in the children of our church.  Professionally, Brian is a CPA in the state of Tennessee working for CCL Label in Collierville.  In his free time, Brian participates in kayak bass fishing tournaments in West Tennessee.

Butch has been a member of South Woods since 1992. His primary responsibility has been facilities maintenance.
He and his wife Joy were married in 1975 in Jackson, Tennessee and they lived in Corinth, Mississippi for seventeen years before moving to Memphis in 1992. He is retired from industry where he was a product design engineer and engineering manager with several companies. They have two children, Jennifer and Jeremy and seven grandchildren. Jennifer lives in Memphis with her husband, Jay Campbell. Jennifer is an interior design manager and Jay is a contract lawyer. They have two daughters, Caroline and Isla Jane. Jeremy lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi with his wife Mary Hunter Arant. He is an engineer with the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers. They have three sons, Sawyer, Hayden, Barrett and two daughters, Anneliese and Alice.

Sam has been a member of South Woods Baptist church since 1999. Sam is a Memphis native where he graduated from Overton High School. He attended Guilford College and Greensboro Bible Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina where he lived for 9 years. Sam has taught numerous classes and has been teaching the pre-teen and teen Sunday School for more than 10 years. He is involved with the church's book ministry, website and church security. Sam has been employed in the IT department of a local, major Auto Parts retailer for 30+ years.