Board of Directors
Honorable Allison Kizer,
President & Co-Director
Judge Allison Kizer has been a vital part of camp life since 2003. She joined the Board of Directors in 2004 and currently serves as President and Camp Director. Allison is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women and University of Mississippi School of Law. She currently serves as the County Court Judge of Lowndes County, Mississippi, presiding over Youth Court, civil matters, and criminal appeals. Prior to her election as County Court Judge in late 2018, Allison served as County Prosecutor for 7 years, as well as a Guardian Ad Litem, representing abused and neglected children for over 16 years. She is a Life Member of Junior Auxiliary of Columbus, having served on the Executive Board for over 5 years. She recently began her 9th year on the Board of Directors for Heritage Academy, having served as Board President from 2017- 2018. In her personal life, Allison is married with two sons.
Siggy Weeks, Co-Director
Siggy Weeks has always held a passion for working with children and serving others. Before moving to Columbus, MS in 1988, Siggy was a substitute teacher and volleyball coach in Idaho. After moving to Columbus, Siggy became a stay at home mom and become heavily involved within the local community. In 1988 Siggy joined the Columbus Junior Auxiliary. It was then she started volunteering with Camp Rising Sun and served as co-director for several years. When the JA passed the torch, Siggy became one of the founding members of the current Board of Directors and has been a member of the board and co-director for 20 plus years.
Siggy is a prominent member of the First Baptist Church in Columbus and through the church leads the Love In Deed benevolent program assisting those in need. Siggy is also a member of the Board of Directors for Last House on the Block, a faith-based organization providing hope to men and women who are recovering alcohol and drug addicts, helping them reclaim their integrity and place in society.
Siggy loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. When asked about other hobbies, Siggy humbly responded, “I don’t know, I just always seek ways to serve and help others.”
Doctor Lisa Elgin, Vice- President
Lisa Elgin first came to Camp Rising Sun as a nurse in 1995 and has been an essential part of the Camp Rising Sun medical staff since that first year. She has served on the Camp Rising Sun Board of Directors since 2010 and is responsible for all things medically related to Camp Rising Sun. Lisa holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from University of Alabama and has been an emergency nurse practitioner for 23 years. Camp Rising Sun is a family affair - her husband and children help set-up and break-down camp, and her daughter, Layne, also serves as an overnight counselor.
Her favorite part of camp is taking care of the minor medical emergencies – it is amazing what information a person can gather when taking care of bug bites and sun burns!
Fred Kinder, Treasurer
Fred Kinder, now living in Columbus, MS, is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fred received his degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University. He has been a volunteer at Camp Rising Sun since 1989 and has served as treasurer for 18 years. Fred has owned an independent bookstore and frame shop, and worked several years at the Columbus Urology Clinic. Now completely retired, most of his time is spent volunteering at Camp Rising Sun, his church’s soup kitchen, the Columbus Arts Council, and is the past President and Board member of the Columbus Exchange Club.
Fred handles Camp’s fundraising and budgeting obligations.
Brenda Comer
Brenda Laws Comer joined the CRS Board in 1999 and has served Camp in various positions since 1993. She is mainly responsible for planning meals, purchasing food supplies, soliciting volunteers for the kitchen, and working with food donors that provide meals and snacks to Camp. A lifelong resident of Columbus, MS, Brenda graduated from Heritage Academy High School and Mississippi University for Women. She was employed with Bennett Ophthalmology Group for 34 years. Brenda has served her community through various outlets, including Main Street Presbyterian Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Heritage Academy Alumni Association, and the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus. She serves on the Boards of Directors for Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society and Trinity Place Retirement Community. She was the 2019 Recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds Award.
Larry Stone
Larry Stone is from Columbus, MS. He works as an Area Director for National Scouting Report. There, he assists potential student athletes and their families throughout the recruiting process of finding a school and athletic program that fits their specific wants and needs. Larry is a former director of YMCA Camp Henry Pratt. He’s been a Camp Rising Sun Volunteer since 1998.
Paula Sudduth
Hailing from Orange Beach, Alabama, Paula Sudduth has deep roots in Mississippi. Raised in Coffeeville, Paula spent most of her adult life in Columbus. She started volunteering at Camp in 2003 to honor the memory of her grandmother who bravely battled cancer. For 13 years after, Paula served as an overnight counselor in the middle-school girls’ cabin. In 2006, Paula joined the Board of Directors. Now, her main duty is Co-Chair of Camp Arts and Crafts and training overnight counselors & CITs. Paula & her family help set up and break down camp each year. Paula says her favorite thing about camp will forever and always be the smile on a child’s face that has forgotten about cancer and is just having a good time. The deep belly laugh of a sick child is what keeps her coming back year after year. She is also proud that many of her previous campers in her cabin have now taken her place as overnight counselors
Jordan Hudson
Jordan Hudson is a Columbus native, but has lived in Ft. Benning, Georgia and Heidelberg, Germany. She moved back to Columbus in 1999 and graduated from New Hope High School in 2002. She holds a Bachelors and Masters of Nursing from the University of Alabama. Jordan obtained a Post Masters Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and is the owner of Caledonia Community Clinic in Caledonia, MS. Jordan started attending Camp in 2014. Jordan joined the board in 2018 and serves as assistant to the camp director. She is a member of Piney Grove United Methodist Church where she co-teaches the youth Sunday school class. She has 2 dogs, Jed and Rudy, and is an avid fan of the Crimson Tide.
Dana Butler
Dana Butler first started volunteering with camp in 2005 and has served on the board since 2019, where she oversees overnight counselors. She completed undergraduate & graduate school at Auburn University before attending University of Alabama School of Law. Dana has practiced as a family law attorney in Birmingham, Alabama for several years. In her personal time, Dana has served as a member of the Junior League of Montgomery, treasurer of the Holiday Market, former-president of Rotary Club, and former-president of Junior Board of ARC of Alabama in which she advocated for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is married with twins.
Dana’s favorite part of camp is rocking a multicolored bandana tutu & giant megaphone at the Camp Olympics.
Ann Marie Langford Higgins - Recording Secretary
Ann Marie Langford has been involved with camp since 2016. The first year, she started volunteering in the kitchen for a few hours but quickly became a day volunteer mostly helping with arts and crafts. In 2019, she joined the Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of Camp Arts and Crafts. She is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a biology degree and has been a deputy Circuit Clerk for Lowndes County for the past 10 years. She is active in her church and also serves on the boards for Exchange Club of Columbus, Friends of the Library, and Wesley Foundation at MUW.
Ann Marie says the best part of camp is that everyone who comes to camp becomes family, from campers to volunteers.
Jason Kirkland - Marketing Coordinator
Jason Kirkland of Tupelo, MS has been part of the Camp Rising Sun family since its very first session in 1988. He spent several years as a sibling-camper before transitioning into volunteer service, and for nearly 30 years he has faithfully served as an Overnight Cabin Leader.
Jason holds a B.B.A. in Business & Marketing from Mississippi State University. Although he lived in Los Angeles for 13 years, he returned to Mississippi every summer to volunteer at Camp Rising Sun. In 2020, he moved back home to the South but continues to work remotely for Warner Brothers Television as a Production Accountant for The Pitt.
Jason joined the Board of Directors in 2021 and serves as the Director of Public Affairs, Marketing, Advertising, and Social Media. He is an active member of the Fundraising, Finance, and Activities committees and plays a major role in Community Outreach, as well as Camper and Volunteer Recruitment. In 2023, he was honored with the COCA Camp Spirit Award in recognition of his many years of dedication and service to the Camp Rising Sun program. He also serves as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee for the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA), which supports more than 135 oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys running, working out, spending time with his six nephews, and training his three golden retrievers—Sir Leopold (Leo), Lady Elana (Lana), and Dame Lexi. Jason, Leo, and Lana are certified through Love on a Leash for pet therapy and volunteer regularly with the North MS Medical Center, the Children’s Advocacy Center of North Mississippi, and Itawamba Community College.
Looking ahead, Jason hopes to one day build a career in the nonprofit sector with a special focus on serving oncology patients and their families.
Carl Miller
Carl Miller has been a volunteer with Camp Rising Sun since 2011. He has served as a cabin leader since 2012 and recently joined the board of directors in 2021. Carl is originally from south Florida and currently resides in Washington, D.C. In his professional life, Carl is a 20-year active duty Air Force officer and pilot. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Florida, a M.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University.
Lane Myers - Fundraising Coordinator
Lane Myers joined the CRS Board in 2023, but he has been a part of the Camp Rising Sun family for almost 20 years. Lane started coming to CRS as a patient camper in 2006. After six wonderful years as a camper, he entered the CIT program in 2012 and has been an overnight counselor ever since. When he’s not attending activities with his campers or trying to steal a nap in Arapaho, Lane is usually helping plan and setup the dance and talent show. Lane is our tech guru and brings new meaning to “CRS Rocks” as our CRS Dance DJ. A native of Madison, MS, Lane graduated from Madison Central High School in 2013 and attended college at the University of Alabama. When not at camp, Lane works as a carpenter for Myers Family Home Improvements, LLC, and has previously served as the Volunteer Task Force Leader for the Mississippi Ride for Kids. He is the recipient of the 2024 COCA Camp Spirit Award recognizing him for his years of service and commitment to the Camp Rising Sun program.
Andrew (Andy) Miller - Corresponding Secretary
Andy Miller of Meridian, MS has been part of the Camp Rising Sun family for more than two decades. He first came to camp in 1999 as a friend of a patient-camper, and in 2007—once he was old enough—he began volunteering as a Counselor-In-Training. Since then, he has spent nearly 15 years serving as an overnight cabin counselor.
Andy graduated from Auburn University in 2014 with a degree in Building Science. He married his high school sweetheart, Kristen, in 2015, and the couple welcomed their first child, Hal, in October 2022, followed by their second child, Dolan, in 2025. After college, Andy worked throughout the Southeast as a multifamily building superintendent and project manager, completing projects in seven states and helping construct more than 2,500 apartments. He and his family have recently settled in Dallas, PA, where he now enjoys being a full-time stay-at-home dad.
A passionate fisherman, Andy can almost always be found on the water with a rod in hand during his free time.
Andy joined the Camp Rising Sun Board of Directors in January 2023 and is excited to continue serving the CRS family in his new role as corresponding secretary.
Lt. Tammy Prescott, In Memoriam
Lt. Tammy Prescott devoted her life to service. A respected member of the law enforcement community for more than 25 years, she began her career with the Columbus Police Department before joining the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, where she served faithfully for nearly two decades. A proud Steens native, Tammy always sought ways to give back, offering her time and talents to organizations such as the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, and, of course, Camp Rising Sun.
Tammy first came to Camp Rising Sun in 2004 through her role with the LCSO, and it didn’t take long for her to become part of the heart of the organization. Joining the Board of Directors in 2005, she quickly earned a reputation as the “go-to girl”—the one who would roll up her sleeves and do whatever was needed to make camp happen. Whether mowing grass, cleaning the riverbank, or removing pests from cabins, Tammy took on every task with determination, joy, and unmatched devotion. Her love for Camp Rising Sun and the children we serve was evident in everything she did.
Tammy also inspired service in others. She encouraged trustees from the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center—non-violent offenders who assisted with work around the sheriff’s office—to join in preparing the camp property each year. Under her guidance, they helped clean and ready the grounds both before and after camp week, a tradition that strengthened the community she cared so deeply about.
Her creativity left a lasting mark as well. Tammy was responsible for designing our annual camp T-shirts—works of art proudly worn by volunteers and campers alike. She brought that same talent to the Arts & Crafts cabin, often staying up late into the night to complete personalized projects requested by campers. And, of course, the beloved dog mascot that has become a symbol of Camp Rising Sun came straight from Tammy’s imagination and heart.
In 2018, Tammy was diagnosed with gastric cancer. Yet even in the face of illness, her focus remained on Camp Rising Sun. As we prepared for the 2019 session, she made it clear that she had no intention of slowing down—and that the camp she loved must continue long after her time on Earth. Tammy wanted her legacy to live on in the joy, comfort, and community she helped create.
We lost Tammy on September 20, 2019, but her presence has never left us. Each summer, her spirit shines throughout Camp Rising Sun—in the laughter of our campers, the dedication of our volunteers, and the traditions she helped build. All who had the privilege of knowing her were blessed by her kindness, her passion, and her unwavering commitment to children with cancer.
It is our honor to remember Lt. Tammy Prescott and to carry forward the work she held so dear. Her legacy lives on in every moment of magic at Camp Rising Sun.