Staff
A cradle Presbyterian, Whitney grew up in Florence, South Carolina. After graduating from Presbyterian College with a Religion/Christian Education degree, she served as PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Reading, England. Whitney then began serving Presbyterian congregations in St. Simons Island, Georgia, Spartanburg and Greer, South Carolina. She graduated from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina with a Master of Divinity degree, and began her call as pastor of Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church in January 2021. Whitney loves being an aunt, likes to travel, and enjoys engaging with others in mission experiences.
Tracy Ricard grew up in Lexington, SC, where he began playing the violin when he was 5 and has been playing some musical instrument ever since—he has been a church organist or pianist since he was 15! Tracy attended the Governor’s School of Arts for music and subsequently graduated in 1994 with a BA in music from Anderson University.
Tracy and his wife Donna have two children, and he works as a mortgage loan officer during the week. He became the organist at Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church in 1998. Tracy enjoys working outside, traveling, and planning special events for others.
Shannon O’Shields Weinel was born and raised in the Upstate in Greenville, Mauldin, and Simpsonville. She was baptized at Tryon Presbyterian Church, grew up at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mauldin, and was married in the new church development of Foothills Presbytery, Pilgrim Oaks, where she and her husband Ken were involved.
Mrs. Weinel holds a degree in design from Winthrop and works part time in office space layout and design. Shannon came to Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church in 1993 and began her ministry in youth as Mid High Youth Advisor for three years. After her two sons were born, she became Youth Chair on the Session, and her Youth leadership has remained constant since that time. She is a second mother to the youth of Fountain Inn Presbyterian, and organizes and executes an amazing calendar of youth activities and enrichment each and every year. Shannon says, “The reason I enjoy Youth so much is I learn so much. The youth of FIPC are incredible and continue to amaze me by the maturity and expressions of their faith that they are so willing to share with each other and the community.”
