Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville

About Rev. Ruth Vann Lillian:

I was born in Birmingham, Alabama in the late sixties to politically active Southern white liberals.  My mother Lillian Foscue Vann was a journalist with the Birmingham Post-Herald and my father David J. Vann was a mediating attorney during the Civil Rights Movement, and was later elected mayor of Birmingham.  My religious upbringing included input from United Methodist, Unitarian Universalist, Episcopalian, Christian Scientist, Jewish, and Roman Catholic sources.

At sixteen I felt a call which led me first to Birmingham-Southern College and a B.A. in English Literature, followed with an MAEd in marriage and family counseling at U.A.B., and then to seminary and ordination in the United Methodist Church.  I served eleven years in parish ministry before going on leave to care full-time for my children who have special needs. In 2005 we began attending the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham.

During my fourteen years at the U.U.C.B. I served in many leadership roles including Board President, and I volunteered my services to assist each of our ministers.  In 2017 I was asked to step in as Interim Director of Religious Education for two years.

When my husband Bill Malone retired from his job in internet technology, I began to pursue ministerial credentialing with the Unitarian Universalist Association. In November of 2022, I received Full Fellowship from the UUA.

Bill and I have been married 26 years, and our most important collaboration is the ongoing joy and work of parenthood to two beautiful young adults, Liam (24) and Angus, (22).  Liam lives with the challenges of neurodiversity, and Angus has severe Cerebral Palsy.

My personal pursuits include reading, walking, swimming, low-carb cooking, communing with our cat, watching British TV, sewing, and singing with the Ala Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

I have served with joy as contract minister at several U.U. congregations in the deep south, and I look forward to continuing to fulfill my call serving as Sabbatical Minister at UUCH!.