Cordle retires from financial role at The Alabama Baptist

Maxine Cordle grew up in a Baptist preacher’s home. When she wasn’t there, she was sitting at the piano or organ in a small Alabama Baptist church.

Every now and then, she’d move to a different one in a different part of the state, but the story was always the same.

“I loved it. And I got to know so many different people in different churches in different parts of the state,” she said.

So when Cordle came to work at The Alabama Baptist in 1999, it was like coming home to a place where everybody knows everybody.

“I felt like this is where I could serve the Lord and serve Baptists while using my gifts — that’s what made this place unique,” she said.

And after 11 years of serving as financial administrator for the state Baptist newspaper, Cordle decided it was time to retire, effective March 31.

“Maxine has managed the financial area of The Alabama Baptist with the utmost credibility and professional ethics,” said Bob Terry, president and publisher of The Alabama Baptist. “Under her leadership, our financial integrity at the paper has been flawless. We have had clean audits each year with no management letter, and for that, we are thankful for Maxine and her leadership in this area.”

Bob Forbus, chairman of the newspaper’s board of directors, agreed.

“She has my utmost respect for the way she has handled her work,” he said. “She is very professional in her dealings with the board — with anyone. And she is so knowledgeable about all facets of the operation that there is never any question about her advice.”

Cordle, a member of First Baptist Church, Jasper, and occasional organist for other churches in the Jasper area, said she plans to travel and do volunteer work now that she’s no longer at the paper.

“I plan to keep serving,” Cordle said.

Coming along behind her April 1 as the new financial administrator is Bethany Dunlap, who previously worked in payroll/human resources, accounting and project administration at Myrick, Gurosky & Associates Inc. in Hoover for 12 years.

Dunlap holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration/management from Samford University in Birmingham. She is a member of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover.