Staff & Leadership

William Andrews

William Andrews
Mr. Andrews has been at First Presbyterian Church since September, 1993. He handles many projects for First Presbyterian Schools. As one of the members of our night crew, he is always here to make sure everyone is safe and that the buildings are secure at the end of the day.

Willie Atkins

Willie Atkins
Willie has been a constant presence at First Presbyterian Church since April 30, 1973. He provides loving care to our beautiful sanctuary and makes sure our campus is always well-lit.

Elizabeth Cook

Elizabeth Cook
My husband, Thomas, and I have served as youth advisors for three years. I am originally from Memphis, Tennessee. Thomas and I have a one-year-old daughter, Evans, and a pug named George.

Lucy Caldwell

Lucy Caldwell
My husband and I joined First Presbyterian Church more than 30 years ago and raised three children here. I grew up in Kentucky and graduated from the University of Kentucky…suffice it to say I bleed a different shade of blue than most people around here!
After many years in corporate America, I founded a web design company in 2007. I sold the company in 2016 and started working for the church soon after. I am fortunate to have a job where I get to meet so many thoughtful, curious people who have chosen to visit our church.
Outside of church and family, I try to be an oil painter and tennis player…in both areas, I’m a work in progress.

Jan Gaddis

Jan Gaddis
I joined First Presbyterian Church staff as Finance Manager in the summer of 2010. After earning a B.S. degree in Accounting from Gardner-Webb University, I served as an internal auditor and financial manager in both corporate and private sectors. I’ve served schools and non-profits, and as a board member to help further the mission of non-profit organizations.
For almost 32 years, I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart, Dean. We have two grown sons, Marshall and Charles. Marshall and his wife, Tara, are expecting their first child—my first grandchild—in July 2017! Dean and I recently moved to McAdenville and we’re enjoying living in Christmastown, USA.

Tanya Gaspar

Tanya Gaspar
What I’m about to say may surprise people: I’m not from Charlotte. I was born in Brooklyn and raised in south Florida. People in Florida called me a Yankee and my New York relatives laughed at my “southern” accent. I have a Master’s degree from Florida State University (go ‘Noles!).
My husband Ryan and I have been masquerading as Charlotteans since moving here in 2006. We have a blended family with two daughters (19 and 3 years old), two dogs, and a cat. I came to FPC in 2014 as a part-time employee, then a member, and now they can’t get rid of me.

Jamar Goodwin

Jamar Goodwin
I’m one of those rare people who is a born-and-raised Charlottean. My parents and most of my family members are, too. I graduated from Central Piedmont Community College and plan to return to school to study business. I’ve worked for First Presbyterian since 2010. When I’m not at work, I enjoy working out at the gym, playing video games and watching movies. I also love to dance.

Jennifer Graves

Jennifer Graves
I was born and raised in Washington, DC. In the 1990s, my husband, Louis, and I moved to Richmond, VA, where he became a pastor. We moved to Charlotte in 2006, when Louis was called to pastor a new church. He passed away in 2010, but I loved it here and decided to stay.
I have a BA in social work from Catholic University and do crisis counseling as a volunteer. I love cats and ballroom dancing and I study nutrition as it relates to disease reversal.

Jesse Hite

Jesse Hite
Since retiring from my engineering career in 2013, I have served First Presbyterian as Church Administrator. I have been active in local churches in both Norfolk, Virginia, and here at First Presbyterian, serving two terms as Deacon and Elder at both. I have also served both the Presbyteries of Eastern Virginia and Charlotte, as well as serving as a Commissioner to the General Assembly in 2008 and 2016.
The family joke is that I have no hobbies, which is probably true. My wife and I enjoy traveling and I do a lot of reading on a variety of subjects.

Dartinia Hull

Dartinia Hull
I joined the FPC staff in 2010. I grew up in Rock Hill and McConnells, South Carolina, where I learned not to name the farm animals.
I earned a B.A. in Mass Communications from Winthrop University, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing/English from Queens University, and have worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, The (Charleston) Post and Courier, and The Charlotte Observer. I taught Latin, research and tech skills at Trinity Episcopal School and have written for various publications about, among other things, parenting, food and farming, and the disappearance and killing of a childhood friend. I have served on the boards of a non-profit health-care organization and an independent non-profit preschool.
I live in Derita with my husband, our two daughters, two cats and one cranky turtle.

Savannah Jillani

Savannah Jillani
I joined the First Presbyterian Church Communications team in 2016. A graduate of UNC Charlotte and a native Charlottean, I previously worked in digital media for various local non-profits, politicians and museums, and have been actively involved with the Charlotte theatre community for more than ten years. While working part-time here at First Pres, I continue to provide media support for local businesses and ongoing independent projects in Charlotte and the surrounding area.

Milton Kidd

Milton Kidd
I was born in and raised in the Cherry neighborhood of Charlotte. One of eight children, I grew up playing in Little Sugar Creek and watching the city grow up and out. My wife and I have been married 27 years. We have two sons and three grandchildren, who also live in Charlotte. I’ve been with First Presbyterian for 12 years. I enjoy working on cars in my spare time. I like GM and Chevy above others. And I like Frosted Flakes.

Diane Maye

Diane Maye
Baptized at First Presbyterian Church, I moved with my family to Huntersville to open a drug store in 1954. I worked in the family business, worshipped at Huntersville Presbyterian and graduated from North Mecklenburg High School.
After finishing college at UNC-Chapel Hill, I taught English for 34 years at my alma mater North Mecklenburg.
In 1992, my son, Dowd, and I joined First Presbyterian, and I have worked at the church since 2012. My husband Larry and I have been married for 45 years and live in Huntersville. I enjoy reading, gardening, flower arranging, interior decorating and vacationing at the beach.

Caryn Overbey

Caryn Overbey
I grew up in southeastern Kentucky and have lived in North Carolina since attending Davidson College, where I met my husband, Warren. I received my MBA at Duke and worked in corporate banking and operations at Wachovia before leaving the business world to be at home with our two daughters.
I joined First Presbyterian Church and the choir in 1996. I began working as a volunteer in Music Ministry in 2011 and joined the church staff in 2013. In addition to music, I enjoy traveling, cooking and spending time with friends and family, especially with our daughters in New York and Philadelphia.

Cecil Peay

Cecil Peay
I came to Charlotte after eight years in the U.S. Navy. I travelled to more than 13 countries while I was in the Navy. I have a son who is ten years old, a daughter who is three and we’re expecting twins next spring. I’ve been in Charlotte for a while—my mother moved here from New Jersey, where I’m from originally, in 2004—so I’ve known about First Presbyterian for a long time. I wanted to get out of the restaurant field and thought working here would really benefit my family. I’m an outdoorsy person; in my spare time I love to fish.

Mary Scott Peterson

Mary Scott Peterson
I’m originally from Tupelo, Mississippi, and moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, in high school. I attended UNC-Chapel Hill, followed by a five-year adventure working on Capitol Hill for John Kerry and Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. I met my husband, Chad, in D.C. and we began our life in Charlotte.
I had the wonderful opportunity to work in the Development Offices of Presbyterian Hospital Foundation and Queens University of Charlotte. We joined FPC in 1997.
Chad and I have three children, Cam, Ward and Shepard. After taking a long break from the work force to focus on child raising, I jumped back in and worked as the Membership Coordinator at First Presbyterian and as the Capital Campaign Coordinator at Trinity Episcopal School, before joining the staff at First Presbyterian Church, first as Ministry Team Coordinator and then, in 2019, as Capital Campaign Director.

Peg Robarchek

Peg Robarchek
I came to First Pres in 2016, after serving in a similar position at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. My biggest challenge here is wanting to be two places at the same time on Sunday morning—I love being here on Sundays, but I am a member at Caldwell Presbyterian Church, where I have served as an elder and clerk of session.
I graduated from Florida State University but spent most of my college years at Samford University, where I was a work study student in the communications department and the first hippie on campus. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, I’ve lived in and worked for newspapers in Florida and Nebraska, as well as here in North Carolina. I was Director of Marketing at Central Piedmont College and have worked as a writing coach and editor for many years. Nothing makes me happier than helping people tell their stories.
Having moved to Charlotte in 1980, I try to pass myself off as a native Charlottean. I read, I write, I knit, I do centering prayer and yoga. My cat, Miss Bailey, believes my primary role is to enable her to live a life of luxury and indolence. Who am I to argue?

Ben Treece

Ben Treece
Ben joined the church as Technical Production Coordinator in 2008. He manages and supports the TV ministry, Audio/Visual Systems, and IT systems for the church. Ben graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a B.S in Recording Industry Production. While in school, Ben worked with several recording studios and churches in Nashville, TN doing audio and video production. He holds CTS and CTS-I certifications from Infocomm and is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.
Ben is a native Charlottean and an Eagle Scout. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, seeing new movies and spending time outdoors with his dog Rocky.

Kewana “Keke” Turner

Kewana “Keke” Turner
I got into food services because I miss the old days when it was mandatory for everyone to come to the table to eat. I started missing those days of bringing people together. So I started working in the food services industry about seven years ago and received my culinary certificate last year. I like seeing people smile, especially around the table.
I was born in Jacksonville, NC, at a hospital on a Marine Corps base, but I’ve lived in Charlotte practically my whole life.
I have three children by birth and one who is adopted, ages 24, 22, 11 and 7.

Jim Tyndall

Jim Tyndall
I’m a native Charlottean with more than 25 years of experience in the Charlotte facilities management market. After attending Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools, I attended UNC-Charlotte, where I majored in history. I consider my love of history an important aspect of my work here in the upkeep of such a historic building. I am certified in EPEC Building Management, FSN HVAC, and CPR/First Aid.
My wife, Christy, and I have been married 27 years. We have two daughters – Madison, 23, and Casey, 18. I’m an avid sports fan and enjoy playing golf when my schedule (and my wife) allows.

Kathleen Zeppernick

Kathleen Zeppernick
Before joining the staff here, I spent 15 years as Executive Assistant to the CEO of a luxury condominium and resort developer in St. Petersburg, Florida. I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri—go Rams!
I studied art, interior design and dance. I was also one of youngest in the country to hold General Class FCC Ham Radio Operator’s License at the age of 13. I have three sons, a stepdaughter and nine grandchildren. My father and husband were professional musicians, so I have a great appreciation of music of all kinds. I enjoy visiting art museums, attending concerts and love hiking, horseback riding, cooking and decorating.