Deacon Class of 2025
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GEORGE BOTANGA
George Botanga joined Westminster in March of 2019 by Reaffirmation of Faith. George worshipped at a Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Africa before he moved to the United States in 2009. He lived in Chicago with his older brother, Dr. Chris Botanga, where he earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from DeVry University. He previously worked with G.E. Healthcare at Silver Cross Hospital, and now is a Clinical Engineer with BCJ Healthcare at Memorial Hospital. |
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CHRIS HICKMAN
Chris and his wife, Rachael joined the church in 2018. Chris has a degree in Criminal Justice and helps prison inmates cope with mental health needs. He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, Madelynn. In his spare time, he takes photos using a drone. |
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SABRINA HOLMES
Sabrina has a B.A. in English and a M.A. in Public History and currently works as a Freshman Evaluator for the University of Illinois Springfield. She is very active in the backstage theater community and was the Props Manager for Westminster’s “Rising Up of the Springdale Ladies Aid Society” in May 2022. She has previously served as a Deacon. |
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MELANIE HUMPHREY
Melanie joined Westminster in 1985. Melanie and her husband Gregg have two adult children, William (Chip) who lives in Georgia and Alex who lives in Springfield. Melanie loves cooking and baking and participates in Westminster Hunger Ministries by making meals for Helping Hands. |
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KATHY KENYON
Kathy joined Westminster as a young woman following her father’s reassignment as a pastor from a Methodist church in Springfield to a yoked Methodist and Presbyterian church in Green Valley. She attended McKendree College and had a career working in various administrative positions within Banks, the State Government and ten years at H.D. Smith. Recent years have been spent traveling with and caring for her mother who lived with her from 2012 until she died in 2021. Kathy sings in the Westminster Choir, enjoys musicals, traveling, hiking, and is an avid reader. This is her second term as a deacon. |
DR. DEBRA PARKER
Dr. Debra Parker was born in West Virginia and was the first college graduate of her immediate family. She attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago majoring in Missions and Intercultural Studies. She also earned master’s degrees from Wheaton Graduate School in Intercultural Communication and in Linguistics while teaching at Wheaton. Debbie taught college English and U.S. culture courses there to international students. Debbie, her husband Jim, and two young sons moved to Springfield where Debbie taught at UIS. She received her Ph.D in English Studies from Illinois State University and currently teaches full time at Western Governors University. She has given presentations for Westminster’s Adult Ed Forum on her pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Dr. Debra Parker was born in West Virginia and was the first college graduate of her immediate family. She attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago majoring in Missions and Intercultural Studies. She also earned master’s degrees from Wheaton Graduate School in Intercultural Communication and in Linguistics while teaching at Wheaton. Debbie taught college English and U.S. culture courses there to international students. Debbie, her husband Jim, and two young sons moved to Springfield where Debbie taught at UIS. She received her Ph.D in English Studies from Illinois State University and currently teaches full time at Western Governors University. She has given presentations for Westminster’s Adult Ed Forum on her pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
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ERIN WINN
Erin joined Westminster in 2018 and is a Co-Nursery Director for our youngest children. She graduated from University of Illinois with a master’s degree in Social Work and currently works as an administrative secretary with the 4th District Appellate Court. |