By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

The new assistant choir director at Thompson Middle School is Lauren McKenzie. Born in Hope, Ark., McKenzie spent most of her childhood growing up in Decatur and graduated from high school at Westside High in Macon, Ga.

Then it was on to Samford University (class of 2004) then on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (class of 2007) in Fort Worth, Texas, where she earned her master of arts in music, which completed her formal education.

“Our family is music and education-oriented. My dad, Eddie Card, is a minister of music, mother, Marcia Card, teaches elementary school and sister Lana is a music therapist,” she said.

Singing in church choir by age 3 and in a musical environment all her life, McKenzie is new to her Alabaster job, but hopes to be part of even greater levels of achievement and excellence as has been brought to Thompson Middle School by Choir Director Jeannie Bubbett.

Mckenzie’s two main hobbies include sewing and monogramming. Husband, Rhett, a counselor with Pathways Professional Counseling (an outreach of the Alabama Baptist Childrens Home) and son Stephen, age 2, comprise the rest of her family. They are actively involved at First Baptist Church of Alabaster.

When asked about her favorite trip or vacation, Mckenzie quickly named her honeymoon to the Cancun area and also a trip to Russia, which she made as a member of the Samford University Choir.

Loving God and her family, helping others, staying in touch with her students and putting forth her previous job experiences from Willow Park, Texas, and Keller, Texas, make her life even more fulfilled.