By Barry Wise Smith Photos by Jordan Wald
When Winslow Armstead graduated from Hoover High School in 1997, he had two goals: to play football at the University of Alabama and to stay close to his then girlfriend, now wife, JeNorri, who also went to Alabama.
Armstead accomplished both goals, playing for Coach Mike Dubose as an outside linebacker before a series of injuries and surgeries cut his playing career short and eventually marrying JeNorri. “Football didn’t end the way I planned,” Armstead says, “but I continued working in the Athletic Department, earned four letters and learned lessons in leadership, hard work and perseverance that have stayed with me ever since.” Armstead graduated and started his career in the Management Associate Program at First Commercial Bank. For the past 19 years, Armstead has worked at Altec, Inc., currently leading the company’s marketing and communications efforts.
In 2016, the Armsteads—now with their three kids Canon, Calista and Caeten—moved to Homewood. Armstead immediately got involved in the community, eventually being appointed to the Homewood Planning Commission, where he served as Vice Chair, and then joining the Board of Zoning Adjustments in 2024. “Five years on Planning and two on the BZA gave me a clear-eyed view of how the city works,” Armstead says. In 2025, when Homewood changed its form of government, Armstead felt the call to serve. “It got real in a hurry, and raising my hand to serve again felt like the natural next step,” he recalls. “The driving force behind running is the same as the driving force behind how we try to live: Lead by example. Be involved. Serve your neighbors. Set the bar for our kids and for others by showing up. That’s the through-line in everything.”
Armstead campaigned during the summer of 2025 on three pillars: maintaining Homewood’s quality of life and protecting neighborhood character, supporting schools and public safety and investing in parks, trails and walkability; listening first and advocating with purpose with regular listening sessions, ward walks, virtual meetings for busy families and a real feedback loop with residents and planning for strategic growth and development with thoughtful redevelopment of places like Brookwood Village, smart infill and traffic planning that anticipate growth rather than reacting to it. In August 2025, Armstead was elected as the Ward 4 representative.
Armstead currently serves as the council liaison to the Board of Education and the Parks and Recreation Board and also works closely with the Environmental Commission. “I’ve learned that almost nothing in a city operates in its own lane—a drainage question at the BZA is also a parks question and sometimes a school question,” Armstead says. “Sitting at the liaison table forces you to think across all of it, and I’ve come to appreciate how much careful work our boards and city staff do.”
While focusing on issues facing Ward 4—the Brookwood Village redevelopment, traffic and stormwater pressure that comes with growth, school planning and ensuring resident input helps to shape decisions—Armstead is also passionate about completing the city-wide strategic plan; getting the Brookwood Village redevelopment right; tackling stormwater and aging infrastructure issues; strengthening communication with residents through newsletters, virtual ward calls and issue-focused ward committees and supporting schools.
Armstead lives in the Hollywood neighborhood with JeNorri, who works for Samford, and their three kids plus their goldendoodle, Ted. “Family is the easy answer to almost every question about why I do what I do,” Armstead concludes.
Paul Simmons II
Born and raised in Birmingham, Paul Simmons II has spent much of his life serving others through healthcare, faith and community involvement. After attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Faulkner University, Simmons took his skills to the healthcare sphere, where he now serves as a sales representative with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “My career has given me the opportunity to help individuals, families and businesses navigate important healthcare decisions, and it has reinforced the importance of listening, problem-solving and servant leadership,” Simmons says.
A little more than 12 years ago, Simmons moved his family to Homewood. “We moved to Homewood because we were drawn to its strong sense of community, outstanding schools, walkable neighborhoods and the pride residents take in their city,” Simmons says. “Like many families, we wanted to be part of a place where neighbors know one another and where people are invested in making their community better.”
Simmons also saw running for city council as a chance to serve the city he has grown to love. “My decision to run wasn’t driven by a single issue as much as it was a desire to serve,” Simmons says. “As I became more involved in the community, I saw opportunities to help bring people together, improve communication between residents and city government and ensure that growth occurs thoughtfully and responsibly. Ultimately, I ran because I believed public service was a way to give back to a community that has given so much to its citizens.” Simmons ran to represent Ward 2 (the West Homewood community) and won.
Simmons’ campaign centered around putting people first and ensuring every resident felt represented and based on improving communication and transparency with residents; supporting infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks, roads and drainage; managing growth responsibly while protecting neighborhood character; supporting schools and community organizations and enhancing quality of life through public safety, parks and community engagement. “Campaigning was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Simmons says. “I spent countless hours walking in West Homewood, knocking on doors, attending community events and listening to residents. I learned that people want to be heard. Residents may not always agree on every issue, but they appreciate leaders who listen and engage respectfully.”
Since taking his place on the council, Simmons serves as the City Council liaison to Samford and the Homewood Public Library. “Serving in these roles has given me a greater appreciation for the partnerships that help make Homewood such a vibrant community,” Simmons says. “Many of our institutions are doing incredible work behind the scenes, and that collaboration is essential to solving challenges and creating opportunities.” With his eye to the future, Simmons is focused on managing growth, maintaining aging infrastructure, addressing traffic and connectivity concerns and ensuring that redevelopment projects align with the community’s vision for the future in West Homewood. “I want to help create solutions that balance progress with preservation and position our community for long-term success,” he says.
And like Armstead, family is at the heart of everything Simmons does—his wife, Apryl, and their daughters, Ava and Ashlyn, color almost every decision he makes. “They are my greatest motivation and constantly remind me why building strong communities matters,” Simmons says. “Homewood has been a tremendous place for our family, and serving on the City Council is one way I can give back and help ensure future generations enjoy the same opportunities and sense of community that we have experienced. At the end of the day, I view public service as an extension of the values my family and faith have instilled in me: service, stewardship, integrity, and a commitment to helping others.”
