Jack Lovelady, President and Chief Executive Officer at First Southern State Bank announced the promotion of veteran bankers James Easterling, Kyle Edmonds, Cole Justice, Barry Kennedy and Walter Vinson.
James Easterling has been promoted to Vice President and Director of Information Technology. He began his career as an Information Security Officer and Loan Officer at Vantage Bank of Albertville & Crossville, where he served until the merger with First Southern State Bank in 2020. Easterling has served First Southern as a Loan Officer, It Technician, and Systems Administrator. Mr. Easterling said, “First Southern State Bank has been really good to my family and me. It is a wonderful place to call home and an excellent family to be a part of.”
Easterling is a disabled, three-time War Veteran who served in the US Army 3rd Infantry Division. While in the military, he graduated from Flight School as the Distinguished Honor Graduate. He holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the Andersonville Theological Seminary. Easterling graduated from the Alabama Banking School at the University of South Alabama and is a Certified Banking Information Security Officer.
Mr. Easterling resides in Boaz with his wife, D. C., son, Hunter Bussey, and Venti, the dog. In his spare time, he enjoys working in his small business, a server-hosting company. “I love working in Information Technology,” continued Easterling. “Each day is a new challenge, and I enjoy supporting the best bankers in the business at First Southern.”
Kyle Edmonds has been promoted to Vice President and Branch Manager of the Main office in Stevenson. He began his career at First Southern in 2009 at the Loan Department in Centre and served as a Loan Officer in the Fort Payne and Rainsville offices. Edmonds said, “I am very thankful to work with such a great group of people at First Southern State Bank. It has been a pleasure to serve our local communities.”
Edmonds is a graduate of the Alabama Banking School at the University of South Alabama, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Auburn University, and graduated from Sylvania High School.
A native of Sylvania, Mr. Edmonds and his wife, Candace (Starling) Edmonds, have two children, Kylie Brooke, and Cruz Jacob. They are active members of Sylvania Baptist Church. In his spare time, Mr. Edmonds enjoys attending and supporting Sylvania athletics; go Rams!
Cole Justice has been promoted to Vice President. Justice began his banking career in high school at First Southern State Bank as a part-time teller and has worked his way up within the organization. He currently manages the North Fort Payne office and serves as a Loan Officer. Mr. Justice said, “I am thankful for First Southern State Bank’s continued investment in me. I have been able to serve my community, which has welcomed me as their hometown banker. I am blessed to work among an excellent team of professionals who care. Our mission is to be more than your bank but your friend. I am thankful for the many friends who have trusted me. I am honored and look forward to serving you for many years.”
Mr. Justice is very active in the community serving on numerous boards, including the Northeast Alabama Community College Advisory Board, the DeKalb County Entrepreneurial Center Board of Directors, the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Fort Payne Board of Zoning & Adjustments Board and more.
A native of Fort Payne, Mr. Justice and his wife, Alli, have four children. They are active members of the First Baptist Church of Fort Payne. In his spare time, Mr. Justice enjoys spending time with his family.
Barry Kennedy, CPA, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He joined the Bank in 2020, previously serving as a Shareholder of CK Business Solutions, PC in Albertville, an affiliation that spanned 27 years. Mr. Kennedy said, “Changing jobs late in life is not an easy feat. However, with the great team of professionals assembled here at First Southern State Bank, the change has been a challenging but joyous time. I want to thank Jack Lovelady, Mike Ellenburg, and the Board for allowing me to continue my professional growth and development in the community banking environment. It is with this enthusiasm that I look forward to the future with the team at First Southern State Bank.”
Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Accounting from Jacksonville State University. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of CPAs.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kennedy has been active in a host of civic, charitable, and community organizations. He is a member of Paul Harris Fellow of the Albertville Rotary Club, and a Past President and Charter Member of the Boaz Rotary Club. He previously served as the Chairman and Board member of the Albertville Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Jacksonville State University College of Commerce and Business Administration’s Board of Visitors. He has served as a USSF and AYSO Certified Soccer Official and coached youth soccer in Albertville for ten years. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the First Baptist Church of Albertville.
Mr. Kennedy and his wife, the former Leigh Ann Rogers of Geraldine, are residents of Albertville. They have four adult children, Austin (spouse Dr. Katie Greer), Chloe (spouse Mike Jones), Ellie and Zach (spouse Faith Bell), and the latest addition to their family, granddaughter Adeline.
Walter Vinson has been promoted to Executive Vice President. This will be Walter Vinson’s 20th year at First Southern State Bank and his 23rd year in community banking. A native of Stevenson, Mr. Vinson graduated from Auburn University and the University of South Alabama’s Alabama Banking School. Over the last 20 years, his primary concentration at First Southern remains residential, consumer, agricultural, and commercial lending. Vinson said, “Both the Bank and our customers have been good to my family and me over the years, and I have been dedicated to showing the same respect to the Bank and our loyal customers. We have a good thing at First Southern, something I have been blessed to be a part of, even as a child.” He is a second-generation banker behind his father, Billy Vinson, who also held the Executive Vice-President position until his retirement in 2004 after a 45-year career with First Southern. “I am grateful to be working with some outstanding people. They are my bank family. However, I am equally appreciative and value those past banker relationships because those are the people most influential in my career. I hope to continue assisting generational customers with their local community banking needs and helping them to attain their financial goals.”
Vinson is the chairman of the Stevenson Industrial Development Board and is dedicated to numerous civic and bank-related functions, primarily activities promoting historic downtown Stevenson.
Mr. Vinson is the proud father of his 13-year-old son, Bo Walker Vinson, and is an avid horseman. Away from the office, he is most likely to be found trail riding his Tennessee Walking horses with family and friends while cooking out and spending time with the same.
“We are grateful to have dedicated associates who serve our customers and the community,” Lovelady said. “It’s always a joy to promote employees from within our organization. These officers play a vital role in the success of the Bank, and we are delighted to celebrate their career growth and success at First Southern. The future of community banking remains bright in Northeast Alabama!”
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