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 a part of the Camp Rising Sun family since the first camp in 1988. Jason attended CRS for multiple years as a sibling-camper before he grew up and became a volunteer. For the past 25 years, Jason has served as an Overnight Cabin Leader. In his professional life, Jason holds a B.B.A. in Business & Marketing from Mississippi State University. Although he lived in Los Angeles for 13 years, Jason devotedly returned to Mississippi each summer to serve the children of Camp Rising Sun. Jason left Los Angeles, returning to his southern roots in 2020 but continues to work remotely for Warner Brothers Television as a Production Accountant for Young Sheldon.
Jason joined the Board of Directors in 2021 and serves as the Public Affairs, Marketing, Advertising, and Social Media Director. He serves on the Fundraising, Finance, and Activities committees and plays a huge role in Community Outreach as well as Camper and Volunteer Recruitment. He is the recipient of the 2023 COCA Camp Spirit Award recognizing him for his years of service and commitment to the Camp Rising Sun program.
Jason is a strong supporter of Just Jesus Inc, helping to organize fundraisers for this non-profit organization which purchases and distributes Bibles where there is a need.
In his free time Jason enjoys running, spending time with his 6 nephews, as well as training his golden retrievers Sir Leopold (Leo) and Lady Elana (Lana). Jason and Leo are certified with Love on a Leash for pet therapy and volunteer regularly with the North MS Medical Center, the Children’s Advocacy Center of N MS, and other care facilities around NE MS.
Looking into the future, Jason would love to have a career working in a non-profit sector with a special emphasis of serving the oncology camping community.
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 more than 17 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.
Andrew (Andy) Miller - Corresponding Secretary
Andy Miller of Meridian, MS has been part of the Camp Rising Sun family for more than 20 years. Andy began attending as a friend of a patient-camper in 1999 and started his volunteer service in 2007 when he was old enough to be a Counselor-In-Training. He has now served as an overnight cabin counselor for nearly 15 years.
Andy graduated from Auburn in 2014 with a degree in Building Science. Andy married his high school sweetheart Kristen in 2015 and they just welcomed their first child, Hal, in October 2022. After graduating from Auburn, Andy travelled around the Southeast working as a multifamily building superintendent and project manager. He has worked in 7 different states and successfully built over 2,500 apartments. He currently lives in Daphne, AL.
Andy is an avid fisherman and in his free time you will most likely find him on a boat with a fishing rod in hand.
Andy joined the Board of Directors in January 2023 and is looking forward to serving his Camp Rising Sun family in his new role.
William (Will) Pate - Counselor in Training Coordinator
Will Pate is from Mooreville, MS. He began attending Camp Rising Sun in 2005 as a friend of Spencer Hanskiewicz, who now serves as a fellow overnight counselor and a camp nurse. Will came back as a day volunteer in 2015 and began serving as an overnight cabin counselor in 2017. In 2020, Will and fellow counselor and board member, Lane Myers, continued the legacy of Marian "The Music Lady" Chancellor by beginning to lead the camp songs, that she taught them in their years as campers, at meals, morning watch, and campfires. They are honored to close the talent show each year and remember our camp angels with our beloved camp songs, Lean on Me and Angels Among Us. Will joined the CRS Board of Directors in 2023 and will play a major role in developing a new Counselor-In-Training program.
Will is a middle school and high school band director. He graduated from Mooreville High School and holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Arts in Music & Music Education from Teachers College, the graduate school of education of Columbia University in the City of New York. He is currently pursuing National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. Will is a member of Northstar Church in Tupelo, MS, where he plays piano. Will loves listening to audiobooks and podcasts and attending musicals and plays. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his family and spoiling his niece and three nephews, his dog, Dolly, and his cat, Rio.
Tammy Prescott, In Memoriam
Bio Coming Soon!