Rick Armstrong

Rick and his wife, Nancy, have been members of Peachtree for 32 years. He completed a 30-year career in corporate banking with Wachovia Bank, retiring as Managing Director of International Corporate Finance. He received his BA degree from Washington and Lee University, an MBA in Finance from Tulane, and an Advanced Professional Certificate in Finance from New York University. Rick has been a board member of many non-profit organizations devoted to the health and well-being of young people, adults, and those with developmental disabilities. At Peachtree, he has served on the Finance Committee and is serving as a member of the Global Missions Committee. He currently works to bring solar power to African countries as a co-founder of African Mini Grids, Inc. Nancy and Rick have three grown children, Sarah, Richard, and Cameron.

James W. Cross, Jr.

James is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University where he received a BA in Sociology and his MA in Educational Psychology. He and his wife, Teresa, were led to Peachtree after the death of their son, Mark Anthony Cross, an Atlanta Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty on April 23, 2005. James and Teresa have five children, Mark, Rick, Eric, Mikelle, and Bradley. He has served two previous terms on Session and as Clerk of Session. James has participated in mission trips to the Holy Land as well as being part of two mission trips to Kolkata, India with Peachtree’s partner, International Justice Mission. He served several years on the Bill Maness Good Samaritan Scholarship Board, is a member of the Heritage Sunday morning Belong Community, and most recently served on Peachtree’s Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) after the retirement of Dr. Vic Pentz. James retired after serving 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and thereafter 12 years as Vice President of Security at AmericasMart-Atlanta. Currently, James is semi-retired and owner of the private investigation firm, James W. Cross & Associates.

Bill Eavenson

Bill and his wife, Wendy, joined Peachtree in 1985. Their two adult children, William and Annie, were baptized and raised at Peachtree. Bill is from Abington, Pennsylvania, and was raised and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Westminster College, BA, Bowling Green State University, MA, and Vanderbilt University, MBA, Bill has worked both in banking and consulting for forty years. He is a Stephen Minister and greeter, serves as a Table Leader for Exploring Peachtree, and coordinates Outbound Communion. He also attends Ironmen, and is a member of the Heritage Sunday morning Belong Community.

Hyland Justice

Hyland and her husband of 42 years, Hal, have been members of Peachtree since 1981. Hyland grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, graduated from Hollins College, and most recently received a Masters of Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). She and Hal have three adult children and four grandchildren. Hyland’s involvement at Peachtree has included serving in various areas of Women’s Ministry, the Prayer Ministry, and the Peachtree Needlepoint Guild. She currently serves on the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team, co-leads the Thursday morning women’s study, and was previously involved with the leadership of WCBS and Word Before Work. She also co-authored Backyard Blessings, a book on the life of Martha Wilson Jones, helped start the blanket ministry, and has helped with the coordinating and stitching of the Nativity, 100 Centennial crosses, two kneeling cushions, and 36 reserved pew covers. She and Hal have served as co-presidents of the Anchor Belong Community. She works part time for Redeemer City to City, has served as elder two previous times, and is honored and excited to serve again.

Stephanie Kirkpatrick

Stephanie was born a Baptist in South Georgia, but saw the error of her ways in 2005 when she joined First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida. She served on Session after being ordained as an Elder, chaired the Property Committee for this 170 year-old historic campus, and led an adult study class. Prior to moving to Florida, Stephanie headed the Property Committee and served on the Church Council for Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. Stephanie, her husband Stan Everett, and son Xander Everett are active at Peachtree Church. Singing in the Chancel Choir (soprano), serving on the Capital Project Team, and helping lead Partners in Faith are significant parts of her church life. In her professional life, she is a partner in one of Atlanta’s largest architecture firms, Niles Bolton Associates.

Julie Mann

Julie is an Atlanta native, lives in Sandy Springs, and has been a member of Peachtree for 30 years. She was happily married to Marty Mann for 41 years until he passed from colon cancer in September of 2017. As a mother of two married adult children with one baby granddaughter, family is what she considers her biggest blessing. Julie is a member of Partners in Faith Sunday morning Belong Community and has been actively involved with Urban Recipe for many years. She has led the Friends in Faith neighborhood women’s Bible study in her home (and other homes) for 23 years. She served on the Peachtree Community Ministries Committee for about eight years in the early to mid 2000s. After the passing of her husband, Julie became CEO of his mechanical contracting business, which has been a true test of faith and reliance on the Lord for guidance. It is mostly a board chairman and advisory position. She has enjoyed being an oil painting artist for 15 years, previously an interior designer for about 20 years. Community is very important to Julie. She is truly grateful for the many different communities of friends and family in her life, which she sees as reflections of Christ’s love for her.

Ross Mullins

Ross grew up in Melbourne, Florida and holds a BS degree from the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business. Ross has spent his career in sales and is a Director of Business Development for the Global Commercial Services division of American Express. He moved to Atlanta in 2011 and began attending Peachtree in 2012. Ross and his wife, Mary, were married at Peachtree in 2019 and enjoy serving the church’s Student Ministry together. A member of the Young Adult Communities Leadership Team, he serves as a high school small group leader, a Confirmation table leader, has participated in the Radical Mentoring program, and also traveled with the church to Israel in 2018 as part of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Susanne O’Neal

Susanne is from Lexington, Virginia and comes from a long line of Presbyterian heritage growing up at her home church, Collierstown Presbyterian. She went to Radford University. Susanne and her husband, Bert, have been married for 13 years and moved to Atlanta in 2010. They have 3 biological kids: Addie Gray, 9; Louise, 7; and Bo, 6 and a 2-year-old foster son. Susanne has been a member of Peachtree since 2010 and is a member of the Explorers Sunday morning Belong Community and has been involved with WCBS for 10 years where she served as a small group leader the last three years. She served on the VBS Planning Team for five years and volunteer teaching our children’s Sunday school classes at Peachtree. Susanne is also involved in Peachtree’s Foster Care Ministry. She is so excited to serve Peachtree Church as an elder as she truly feels like Peachtree is her second home!

Emily Simpson

Emily Simpson is originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina and has lived in Atlanta for the last 12 years. Emily and her husband, Andrew, joined Peachtree in 2012. After a career in sales, Emily became a stay at home mom to their three young children, Hagan, CeCe, and Elsie. Emily has served on the MOPS leadership team, served and co-chaired VBS, currently co-chairs the Feast and Flourish Belong Community and has served on women’s ministry events over the years at Peachtree. She is also a member of the Connections Sunday morning Belong Community.

Boynton Smith

Boynton Smith has been a member at Peachtree Church for over 20 years. Boynton has been actively involved at Peachtree having previously served twice on Session. He has also served as a Sunday school teacher, an Ironmen table leader, Elder Nominating Committee member, Chairman of the Human Resources Committee, and a small group study leader. Boynton and his wife, Elizabeth, were married at Peachtree and have baptized their two daughters Adair (14) and Amelia (13) in the church. Boynton is a Senior Vice President with McGriff Insurance Services, the fifth largest insurance brokerage and risk management services firm in the country. He is actively involved in the Atlanta community, including serving on the Shepherd Center Board of Directors, past president of the Shepherd Center Foundation Board of Trustees, currently serves on the Trinity School Board of Trustees, and has served on the board of Buckhead Christian Ministries. Boynton is actively involved in other business and insurance related organizations.

Will Wray

Will first attended Peachtree Church at age two when his family moved to Atlanta. As a teen, Will was involved in the youth ministry, including many summers at Camp Rutledge as a camper and a college counselor. Will’s previous service at Peachtree includes chairing the board of the LifeGate Counseling Center, the Pastor Nominating Committee, and two previous terms on Session. Will and his wife, Tiffany, are founding members of The Branches Sunday morning Belong Community. Will and Tiffany have two children, Kate and George.

Margaret Young

Margaret has been a member of Peachtree Church since 1990. She and her husband, Bill, have been married for 30 years and they have two sons, Bill (27) and Brandon (25). Margaret has served as an elder on two former occasions, on the Pastor Nominating Committee to call Dr. Kannwischer, on the Elder Nominating Committee, on the Women’s Ministry Committee, and the Women’s Retreat Committee. She also has served as a Stephen Minister, on the Sanctuary Guild, and as co-chair of the Sacraments Committee with her husband, Bill. Margaret and Bill also started the Legacy Sunday morning Belong Community 16 years ago, where they served as presidents for five years, and continue to lead as teachers. Margaret has taught Adult Sunday school for over 25 years. She has also been a member of the Women’s Community Bible Study for 25 years, serving on The Advisory Board, as a Speaker, as a Group Leader, and on the Media Team. Margaret graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2009 with a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies. She currently runs a Christian-based blog called “My Sunshine Room.”