Staff
Dianne, although a Texan by birth, is an Arkansan by choice. She was raised in the desert of West Texas, but has spent most of her adult life in the tree-filled states of Louisiana and Arkansas. She and her husband Greg have been residents of Texarkana, AR for almost 18 years. They have 5 children and 15 grandchildren. In her spare time, when she’s not working or keeping grandchildren, Dianne enjoys baking, gardening, playing the piano and getting together with family and friends.
Dianne attended LSU and the University of North Texas in Denton, TX where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1973. Following graduate work in music at Baylor University, she and Greg married in 1986 and began the task of raising the 5 “his and hers” children. She taught public school music and served churches of several different denominations as Organist/Organist Director. In 1989 she became the Director of Christian Education and Organist Director at the First Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, LA. It was from there that she went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1995. Dianne has pastored churches in Malvern, AR, Big Spring, TX, Texarkana, AR, Shreveport, LA, and Plain Dealing, LA. Although she officially retired in 2011, we are pleased to welcome her back to FPC Texarkana.
E-mail Rev. Dianne Brown: gregbrown@cableone.net
Leah Doughty, Christian Education Consultant
Leah (pronounced Lee) has extensive Christian Education experience. Prior to moving to Texarkana she worked full-time developing and overseeing children, youth, and family ministries at a large church in Indiana. She has also launched women’s ministries, Christian Education programs and parenting classes. Leah has recently completed graduate school to earn her license in clinical mental health counseling. She is lending her expertise in Christian education ten hours a week at First Presbyterian to help us improve and expand our Christian Education Program.
E-Mail Leah Doughty: leahodoughty@gmail.com
Michael D. Odom, Organist and Choral Director
Michael (who has a day job as Principal of Arkansas High School!) brings a wealth of experience to FPC, including a BA in Organ Performance and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting, and many years of service at churches in Smackover, El Dorado, and Camden. He played for us for several months, and joined the staff officially in 2020. He now directs the Adult Handbell Choir in addition to work with the Chancel Choir and the Children’s Choir.
E-Mail Michael Odom: odom472@gmail.com
Roy Thomas, Custodian
Roy joined our staff in 2019 and is a US Air Force veteran and a certified para-legal who also attended Simpson Bible College in his home state of Redding, California. Married to Joyce for over forty years and the father of one son and two daughters, we are delighted that he and his family chose Texarkana as their home.
Blanche Barber, Nursery Staff
Blanche has enjoyed working with the children in the church nursery for over a dozen years. She loves seeing all “her kids” growing up!! She has worked full-time at Miller County Abstract and Title since April of 2013 after many years at Stanhope’s. She still loves creating and leases studio space with several other artists at the 1894 Gallery in the 1894 City Market on Olive Street in Texarkana, Arkansas. Blanche loves our downtown area and so glad it seems to be revitalizing. She also enjoys reading, and listening to singer/songwriter daughter, Caitlyn, do her own amazing version of creativity!
Rebecca Johnson, Administrative Assistant
Rebecca has been employed by the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) since September 2015, first in a part time capacity and now full time. Rebecca attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she met her husband Chad. They married and moved to Memphis, Tennessee so that Chad could pursue a degree in doctor of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Rebecca worked as the Director of Operations for an executive suite for over four years in the colorful and refurbished downtown Memphis.
While in the last year of dental school, the Johnsons received the amazing news they were expecting a baby boy. The day their son, Griffin, turned one, they packed up their bags and moved back to the beautiful Northwest Arkansas area to start their own dental practice which they managed for fifteen years before deciding to move to Texarkana to be closer to family.
Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and watching college football, rooting for TCU where Griffin is now a student.