Dr. Jeff Smith, Pastor
Jeff is a native of Blowing Rock, NC and is grateful to God to serve as pastor at FPC. He is a graduate of Montreat College (B.A. Bible and Religion), a graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary (M. Div.) and a Doctor of Ministry at Union Presbyterian Seminary. He served three different congregations during 14 years of ministry in South Carolina (Bennettsville, Spartanburg, and Columbia) and has been the pastor at FPC since 2014. He is passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and empowering the church in Christ’s mission to the ends of the earth. His wife, Angela, works for Water Mission, a non-profit ministry that provides safe and clean water to impoverished areas around the world. They have two sons, Brennan and Lawson. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys trout fishing, UNC Basketball, and spending time camping with his family.
Rev. Larke Blanton, Pastoral Associate
Larke Alexandria Blanton is the Pastoral Associate for FPC Boone. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University (B.A. Psychology, 2013 and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2023) and Wake Forest University (Master of Divinity, 2015). She bleeds black and gold and has a reference to App State football in every sermon preached during football season. With a heart for faith development, passion for Christian education, and a love for serving the community; Larke is thrilled for the opportunity to serve with Pastor Jeff at First Presbyterian Boone. In addition to serving in full time ministry at FPC, Larke is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFTA) in Washington State and North Carolina. She serves as a part-time couples therapist with Inside Passage Relationship Counseling. Larke is married to Jamie and together they love going to football, basketball, and baseball games as well as grilling good food and listening to live music.
Erin Fowler, Director of Children’s Ministries and Office Adminstrative Assistant
Erin has her BA and NC teaching license. She has been a preschool teacher most of her adult life, most recently at First Morning Out. Erin enjoys children and her role as Children’s Director and is embracing her new job as the church’s Office Administrative Assistant. In her time away from church, Erin enjoys being a mom to a brood and a grandma. Most importantly, she enjoys sharing God’s love with His people.
Jennifer Jones, Financial Director
Jennifer was our office administrator from January 2002 to 2024. She is now director of finance for the church and FMO. She lives in Todd with husband, Greg, and boxers Zeus and Zoe. She has two wonderful sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Jennifer loves her family, dogs, shopping, and photography, anything to do with technology and computers, cooking and kitchen gadgets.
Ellen Brown, Interim Choir Director
Ellen Brown has been coaxed out of retirement to serve as our interim choir director (after 30-plus years of music ministry) due to her love for our choir and congregation. Her experience in church music includes playing organ, piano and directing choirs for adults, youth, children and handbells. Ellen also taught middle and high school choral music and was NC Teacher of the Year for middle school choral music in 2010. Her expertise in developing choral technique led to many invitations to lead county honor choirs throughout NC and to lead choirs for Music Week at Lake Junaluska, Lutheridge and Bonclarken. She has been accompanist for high school choirs on European concert tours and for several national honor choir performances at Carnegie Hall in NYC.
Ellen recently moved to Boone and is loving being near son Joe, his wife Laura and their two girls to whom she is “Grelly.” Her daughter Emily lives in Columbia, SC with her wife Ashley and Ellen’s two amazing teen-aged grandchildren. Cooking and baking for family and friends are among her favorite things. Not to brag, but she is famous for her pimento cheese. Her furry mutt Stitch adds to the fun and happy chaos.
Tyler Dellaperute, Pianist
Tyler joined our staff as our new pianist in August, 2022. Tyler has a B.A. in Music from Cedarville University and is a recent graduate of ASU with a M.M. in Piano Performance with an added Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy. He has been playing the piano since he was in middle school and has grown up the son of a Baptist pastor. He brings the comfortability of playing both contemporary and traditional music. Tyler has worked with Brandon Winbush at Watauga High School and through music camps at ASU.
Cindy Clawson, Worship Band Leader
Cindy has a wide background of musical experience. She has been a church musician for 30 years in various positions as Choir Director, Church pianist, attempted organist (but her legs were too short), Children’s Choir Director, Hand bell Director and just about whatever has come up in music. She has also worked as a public school music teacher. Wherever her family moved she found some available position in a school from grades K-12. Her favorite public school forum was directing high school chorus. As life brought new challenges and different circumstances Cindy took on a job at Boone Drug, Inc. This is where she gets to work with a great group of people every day. Cindy has 3 children.
Brooke Hollar, First Morning Out Preschool Director
Brooke has a passion for children and has worked with children what seems like her whole life. She graduated ASU with a degree in Special Education. Brooke is married to her high school sweetheart John, they have 4 children. She enjoys the outdoors, their farm, managing an online boutique, and spending time with her family. She looks forward to serving all the FMO families and growing our preschool program.
Elders
Class of 2024
Neville Chaney – Property & Personnel
Frank Mayberry – Communications
Sue Newell – Church Life
Greg Warmuth – Finance & Stewardship
Class of 2025
Jack Butler – Christian Education
Allison Harrison – Worship
David Kesler – Property & Personnel
Carrie Merschat – Christian Education
Class of 2026
Melissa Bahleda – Mission
Margaret Gregor – Mission
Joe Hutelmyer – Finance & Stewardship
Patrick Moree – Communications
Margaret Gregor – Mission
Joe Hutelmyer – Finance & Stewardship
Patrick Moree – Communications
Anna Lehman – Clerk of Session
Deacons
Class of 2024
Katherine Logan
*Ben Miller, Moderator
Linda Ruff
Jo Sorrell
Class 0f 2025
Jane Butler
Andrew Glover
Dot Hutelmyer
Guy Rippy
Class of 2026
Barb Edwards
Sarah Gordon
Barb Edwards
Sarah Gordon
Jerri Mayberry
Dee Pelliccio