Allen M. Breland, Chairman and CEO, Bank of Forest, has announced the following promotions and staff additions.
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Britt Crowell
Britt Crowell joined the Bank of Forest family in December 2020 as Vice President at the Bank of Walnut Grove location. A resident of the Hillsboro Community, Britt was raised in Forest. He is a graduate of Forest High School and Mississippi State University with a degree in education.
Britt has taught school and coached football, served his country in the Gulf War as a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and spent many years working in his family farming and transportation business. Most recently, he served as Deputy Bureau Director for the Milk and Bottle Water Division of the Mississippi State Department of Health. He and his wife, Jan, have one son Drew. They are members of Hillsboro Baptist Church where Britt serves on the deacon board. He is also a serves on the Board of Directors of the H & H Water Association.
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Celeste Slay
Celeste Slay has recently been promoted to Note Supervisor at Bank of Forest. She began her banking career with Bank of Forest more than 25 years ago, and has been involved in various aspects of banking over those years, primarily in the note department.
Celeste resides in Forest with her husband, Mervyn Slay. They are both active members of Forest Presbyterian Church where Celeste serves as treasurer for the women’s ministry. They have two daughters, Megan Wood and Caitlin Anglin, three granddaughters and one grandson.
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Teresa Withers
A recent promotion, named Teresa Withers as Vice President and Branch Manager of the Walnut Grove location; her duties also include Human Resources Director for all branches. Withers began her banking career with Bank of Walnut Grove in 1991 and was an integral part of the Bank of Forest acquisition in 2017. Originally from Carthage, MS, Teresa has been resident of Walnut Grove since 1989. She graduated from Leake Academy and has an Associate’s Degree from East Central Community College. In 2007 she became certified as a community bank auditor.
Teresa and her husband, Dale Withers, have one son, Tyler. They are members of Walnut Grove Baptist Church where Teresa serves as Treasurer and Sunday School Teacher. She is also Treasurer for Walnut Grove’s Thursday Club and Secretary for the Leake County Chamber of Commerce.
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Tina Sanders-Parker
Tina Sanders-Parker became Teller Supervisor at Bank of Forest April 2021. She originally joined the Bank of Forest family in 2006 as Vault Teller, but left after 8 years of service to pursue a career in the poultry industry. Parker worked for several years in the Human Resources department of Peco Foods in Sebastopol before coming back to her first passion, banking.
Tina is a life-long resident of Scott County. She is married to Carice Parker, and is the daughter of Rev. Jimmy and Bobbie Sanders of Forest. A 2005 graduate of Sebastopol Attendance Center, Tina received her Associates of Applied Science Degree in Business and Computer Technology from East Central Community College. She is an active member of Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church and Heroines of Jericho Union Grove Court #255. Her daily motto comes from scripture, Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (NKJV)
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Vic Prather
Vic Prather joined the Bank of Forest in April 2021 as Senior Vice President. Prather has more than 14 years’ experience in the banking industry most recently serving as Vice President/Information Security Officer with Community Bank.
Prather, a native of Gulfport, grew up in Mize, MS where he graduated from Mize Attendance Center. He received a degree in Computer Information Technology from Hinds Community College. Prather is a 2018 graduate of the FBI Jackson Division Citizens Academy Program, is a Certified Information Security Officer and is a Certified Vendor Manager. Prather has been actively involved with the Mississippi Bankers Association serving on various committees throughout his banking career.
Prather is married to Angie Winstead Prather of Mendenhall. They are the parents of three daughters, Logan (Jared Boe), Bayleigh and Gabi. They are active members of Corinth Baptist Church in Magee, MS where he is a deacon and serves on various church committees.
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Brady Power
Brady Power, a loan officer at Bank of Forest, has recently been promoted to Assistant Vice President. Power joined the bank family in 2017 after completing study at East Central Community College and earning a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from Mississippi State University.
A life-long resident of Forest, MS, Brady and his wife, Kara Beth, reside in Forest and are members of Forest Baptist Church. Brady is a member of the Forest Lions Club and serves on the Board of Directors of the Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Bank of Forest is based in Forest, MS and has office locations in Walnut Grove, MS and Flowood, MS.
