Ask anyone who has ever known Lee Ann Petty and they will undoubtedly tell you the Birmingham native’s name is synonymous with inspirational service to the community she loves so dearly.
“Birmingham is my home and I am committed to supporting the organizations and the initiatives that make our community strong,” Lee Ann shares. “It is a privilege to work for a bank and to be part of service-minded organizations that see the value of investing financial resources and providing volunteer support to impact lives throughout our community.”
Lee Ann works at Regions Bank as Vice President and Volunteer Services Coordinator. She was part of the 2018-2019 class of Leadership Alabama and recognized in 2016 in Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2014, she received the Regions Better Life Award, the top honor given to a Regions associate for outstanding dedication and job performance as well as exemplary involvement and commitment to the community.
“Lee Ann is an incredible asset to Regions,” says Marta Self, Regions Bank Head of Corporate Philanthropy & Executive Director of the Regions Foundation. “She connects our associates, many times whole teams, to opportunities to serve the community. Opportunities that you or I would not even know are there. She takes time to listen to people and learn about them, then she draws on the amazing knowledge of our communities and finds meaningful ways to connect people’s skills and interests with community service.”
Much of Lee Ann’s time outside of work revolves around opportunities to serve the community. Currently she serves on the Board of the Firehouse Shelter, the Advisory Board for the Alabama Governor’s School, as Roundtable Past President for the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, on the Finance Committee for Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, and as Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) Community Vice President.
“Lee Ann is a true champion for our community,” says Amy Jackson, JLB President-Elect. “Her commitment to Birmingham spans numerous organizations, representing a life of service and leadership. There are not enough words to represent the ripple effect of Lee Ann’s service and leadership in Birmingham.”
For the past 9 years, Lee Ann has given countless hours of dedicated service and leadership to the JLB in various leadership roles, inspiring those she serves alongside every step of the way. This year, she is leading the JLB and its more than 40 projects as Community Vice President. In a normal year, this role is pivotal to building and cultivating relationships with community agencies to accomplish the organization’s vision of “Building Partnerships for a Better Birmingham.” Given the challenges of the global pandemic, Lee Ann has connected with each of the JLB’s more than 30 agency partners to offer support and to reimagine community projects for nearly 650 volunteers to safely deliver meaningful programs in education and culture, safety and crisis, health and wellness, and economic security and financial stability.
“For Lee Ann, it is so important that JLB brings significant value to our community partners,” says JLB President Toni Leeth. “This value is at the center of every phone call, every email, every interaction with our partner agencies and with our members. She exemplifies the spirit of JLB leadership and service in our community. Lee Ann diligently worked closely with each community partner agency to redesign our projects to be safely conducted in this environment, which for most meant transitioning to a virtual setting. Pre-recorded videos and live Zoom sessions create greater accessibility as well, extending the impact of our projects and the value for our partners to many more people than ever before.”
Lee Ann’s knowledge of the Birmingham community, her understanding of its people, the interconnectivity of non-profit and business sectors across the region and her endearing demeanor have allowed her to seamlessly transition between various JLB leadership roles with confidence and ease.
“Lee Ann has a true servant’s heart,” shares Penney Hartline, JLB Past President and Sustaining Advisor to the Community Council. “She serves the community through her work, by the many ways she volunteers in her personal time. Lee Ann has a kind spirit and love of people. Her joy is infectious when she shares the stories of agencies, her church family, and her JLB family. She is a light and an inspiration.”
"There are not enough words to represent the ripple effect of Lee Ann’s service and leadership in Birmingham."
David Eldridge, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Senior Pastor, says Lee Ann’s commitment to her faith community is just as strong. “Lee Ann is a fierce example of what it looks like to follow Jesus faithfully. She is kind, compassionate, and welcoming. Her spirit and strength are contagious. Over her long years of service at Dawson, Lee Ann has been involved in many aspects of the life of our church.
“She is a tireless champion for volunteering in both church and community. “In all areas of her life, she leads by example. This is especially true as she advocates for volunteering with organizations that can make an impact in the lives of others. Lee Ann believes in the importance of the ‘long haul.’ She exemplifies the importance of consistent, patient action that benefits the needs of other people.”
Alison Scott, JLB Past President and Sustaining Advisor to the Executive Board, relishes the friendship she has forged with Lee Ann over the past seven years.
“I adore Lee Ann,” says Scott. “I have watched her grow from a volunteer with a heart into an amazing community leader. Our lives keep intersecting, in different projects and different organizations, and I am so grateful for it. For Lee Ann, service to others is more than just a way to feel good and give back, it really is a calling. She cares for others and the world around her on a deeper level than most of us. Her personal fulfillment truly comes from her selfless commitment to making life better for others.
“She is a very faith-driven individual, and I think it’s her strong faith that fuels her passion to help others. She wakes up every morning and goes to bed every night thinking about ways to connect resources and people and loving others the way faith calls us to love. It’s a gift. Our community is so very lucky to have Lee Ann quietly, thoughtfully, deliberately and selflessly caring for us all every day.”
Amy Jackson says she has never met anyone driven by such purpose and selfless aspiration to help others. “Lee Ann’s passion for Birmingham, her genuine connection with individuals in and outside the JLB, her hope for a better future, and her positive spirit are light not only in the JLB but in our community.”
When asked what she loves most about Birmingham, Lee Ann she says she can’t imagine living anywhere else.
“What’s not to love about our beautiful city that affords me opportunities to explore the great outdoors, to enjoy a thriving culinary scene, to serve my community, and to develop friendships that will last a lifetime.”
