Larry grew up in a Christian home in Decatur, Alabama. He moved from Decatur to Memphis in 1979 to attend Mid South Bible College. There he met his wife-to-be in June of 1981 and dropped out of college to marry Beth in July of 1982. Larry worked for Shering-Plough from 1981 to 1986 before returning to MSBC to complete his degree. He completed his B.S. degree in psychology from Crichton College (formerly MSBC) in 1989. Then he completed a Masters degree in counseling in 1991 from The University of Memphis.
While in college and graduate school Larry worked as the youth director for West Frayzer Baptist Church from 1988 to 1990 and then the Covenant Presbyterian Church from 1990 to 1993.

The Covenant Church sponsored Larry to become a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA. He entered Union Theological Seminary in 1993 and graduated in 1996. His first pastorate was the First Presbyterian Church in Alexander City, Alabama. Larry pastored that church for 7 years until 2003 when He was called to Oakmont Presbyterian Church in Hoover, Alabama. Larry pastored Oakmont until Grace called in February of 2008.

Larry is married to Beth, who is the Administrative Director for the Baptist Women’s Health Center. They have been married for 27 years and have two sons, Chris 25 who married Shelley in July of 2009 and Justin 22, single.