Contact City Council Members

Mayor Barbara Volk

Barbara has served on the City Council since 1989. She is originally from Chicago and moved to Hendersonville in 1975. She attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She also received a degree as a medical record administrator from the allied health school at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem. She is a professional registered parliamentarian and before retirement was self-employed providing computer services for small businesses and nonprofits. She and her late husband, Dr. James Volk, decided to relocate to Hendersonville after Dr. Volk received a job opportunity. They wanted to live in a town that is small and family friendly. She is the first female mayor serving the City and has served as Mayor since December 2009.

Mayor Pro Tempore Lyndsey Simpson

Lyndsey was born and raised in Titusville, Florida, near Kennedy Space Center, and moved to Hendersonville in the summer of 2016 with her husband of 10 years, Tony, and son, Cole.

Lyndsey earned her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida and now owns local graphic studio LS Creative, which specializes in branding and print design. Almost immediately after moving here, Lyndsey became involved with the community in a variety of ways. She is the former Board President for Hands On! Children's Museum, a member of the Kiwanis Service First Committee, a member of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a Henderson County Public Schools Volunteer and a graduate of both the Henderson County VISION Program and the United Way's Rising Leaders Program.

Lyndsey feels very fortunate to live in Hendersonville and is honored to be able to serve her community in the capacity of City Council after being elected in 2019. She was selected as Mayor Pro Tempore by her fellow Council members in December 2021.

Council Member Melinda Lowrance

Council Member Lowrance has strong ties to the community and extensive board experience in Hendersonville and Henderson County. She has faithfully served on the Hendersonville Board of Adjustment since 1998. She was one of the initial members appointed to the City’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Henderson County Social Services Board. Council Member Lowrance is the President of the Henderson County chapter of the NAACP. Under her leadership, the NAACP partnered with the Henderson County Education Foundation’s ‘Grow Our Own Educators’ scholarship program aimed at increasing opportunities for students of color to pursue teaching careers in their own community.

Melinda Lowrance has owned and operated Mop Head Cleaning Service for 35 years and is a Life Member of the Star Lite Chapter #510 Order of the Eastern Star. She is the Pastor Steward and Chairwoman of the Trustee Board for St. Paul Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church. On behalf of the church, she is the President of the Hendersonville District Lay Council and First Vice President of the Blue Ridge Conference Lay Council. She also serves as a member of the Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers and the League of Women Voters.

On May 2, 2024, Melinda Lowrance was appointed by City Council to fill the seat vacated by Council Member Debbie Roundtree. 

Council Member Jeff Miller

Jeff graduated from Hendersonville High School, is a member of Hendersonville High School Hall of Fame, and a graduate of Appalachian State University. He is married to Tamara Mathis Miller and they have one son, Beck. He owned Miller's Laundry and Cleaners, Inc. for many years, a family-owned laundry and dry cleaning business in operation since 1915.

Jeff is Past President of the Henderson County YMCA, Past President of Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County, Past President of Founding Board of Henderson County Heritage Museum, Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Margaret R. Pardee Hospital, Chairman of Small Grants Committee, Board of Directors Henderson County Community Foundation, Founder and President of HonorAir, Inc., and Co-Founder of the Honor Flight Network.

Jeff's awards include:

Caring Hall of Fame Award, 2014; Presidential Citizens Medal 2008, Presented by President Bush in the Oval Office; State of North Carolina, Order of The Long Leaf Pine; Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award; IFI Meritorious; Service Diamond Achievement Award; Carolina Freedom Foundation Award for Patriotism; National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Gold Citizenship Medal; National Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and Civitan Man of the Year Award

Jeff has served on the Hendersonville Planning and Zoning Board, the ABC Board, the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Henderson County Merchants Division Board Member, and First Citizens Bank, NC Board of Directors. He was elected to the City Council in November 2013.

On November 2, 2023, Jeff Miller was appointed by City Council to fill the seat vacated by Council Member Jerry Smith. He will serve until the election in 2024 at which point the remaining time in the term will be up for election.

City Council Contact Information:

 Written correspondence to the Mayor and Council Members may also be sent to: City Hall, 160 Sixth Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC 28792-4328.