Floyd P. Smithey, Jr grew up in Humboldt, Tennessee.  He married Sherrill Carter in Memphis in 1971 at historic Trinity Lutheran Church.  He was confirmed as an adult a few weeks later.  He and Sherrill have two sons, Sam and Jesse who both live in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Floyd Smithey worked in the trucking business, mainly in sales and management.  He began a small business in the mid-1990’s  selling promotional products successfully, also starting an embroidery and garment printing shop.  The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod certified him as a Lay Minister after three years of training through Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin in 2000.  He applied to Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the spring of 2001, was accepted, and began study in the summer Greek Class of 2002.  He completed his classroom studies in 2005,  and his vicarage at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McMinnville, Tennessee.  In the summer of 2006 he graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree.  He was ordained as a Pastor in the Missouri Synod on July 29, 2006.  He was installed as Pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hazel Green, Alabama on August 13, 2006 and served until September 15, 2007. 

The Reverend Edward B. Azzam

Ordained:  1952          Retired:  May 2006

Pastor Ed has served as a called Congregational Pastor, Missionary to the Middle East and Hospital Chaplain.  He often interjects anecdotes from his vast lifelong experiences, especially from the Middle East, into his teachings.  Helping to verbalize the realism of the Word of God relevant to our experiences and challenges in life.

He operates a small counseling practice and is the Chaplain at Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville, AL.

Mrs. Edythe Pauline Azzam went home to be with her Lord on June 13, 2006 at the age of 78.  Edye was instrumental in starting and guilding the LWML chapter at Immanuel.  She was active in all aspects of the church.  She was a great person to work with and was well loved by all in the congregation.  Edye had a wonderful spirit and brought joy to all those that knew her.  She will be missed.  A memorial service was held at Immanuel on Thursday, June 15, 2006