REV. J. HAYDEN LASTER

1948-1949     

Laster was born in 1901 and died in 1996. He married Willie Nell Harold around 1930. A graduate of Maryville College in 1930 and Princeton Theological Seminary in 1933, Laster was ordained to serve the Irondale Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL on July 1, 1933. He also served pastorates in Ivyland, PA; Grove Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, MD; and Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. 

Rev. Laster’s service in French Camp fell during a time of great financial hardship for both the church and Academy. Pressure was mounting in presbytery to close the Academy and Mrs. Laster became quite ill under the strain. This forced Rev. Laster to resign after only a short tenure. 

After leaving French Camp Rev. Laster was called to the Presbyterian Church of Milan, TN, and later served from 1952-1958 as pastor of First Presbyterian of Harriman, TN. He led the church there through a time of record growth and construction of a new building.