Form 5 - Carl S. Thigpen
FORM 5

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF
CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

    Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.
        See Instruction 1(b).

    Form 3 Holdings Reported

    Form 4 Transactions Reported

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
(Last)Thigpen
(First)Carl
(Middle)S.
(Street)2801 Highway 280 South
(City)Birmingham
(State)Alabama
(Zip)35223

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
(Issuer Name)Protective Life Corporation
(Ticker or Trading Symbol)PL

3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)
(I.D. Number) 

4. Statement for Month/Year
(Month)December 31
(Year)2002

5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
(Month/Day) 
(Year) 

6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
        X
 (Director)
X(Officer, give title below)
 Sr. Vice President, Real Estate and Mortgage Officer
 (10% Owner)
 (Other, specify below)
  





7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
        X
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
 Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date
(Month/Day/Year)
2A. Deemed
Execution Date,
if any
(Month/Day/Year)
3.
Transaction
Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A)
or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3,4, and 5)
5. Amount of
Securities
Beneficially
Owned at End
of Issuer's
Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Owner-
ship Form:
Direct (D)
or Indirect
(I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of
Indirect
Beneficial
Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock      5,961.9054I401(k) 1
1. Total shared held by      735D 
reporting person in PLC's         
401(k) and Stock Ownership        
Plan as of 12/31/2002.         
          
          
          

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see instruction 4(b)(v).





























Table II – Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of
Derivative
Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion
or Exercise
Price of
Derivative
Security
3. Transaction
Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3A. Deemed
Execution
Date, if any
(Month/Day/
Year
4. Transaction
Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative
Securities Acquired (A)
or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3,4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and
Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
(A) (D) Date
Exercisable
Expiration
Date
       03/04/0703/04/12
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

Table II Continued - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
7. Title and Amount of
Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of
Derivative
Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of
Derivative Securities
Beneficially Owned
at End of Year
Instr. 4)
10. Ownership
Form of Derivative
Security: Direct (D)
or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of
Indirect Beneficial
Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Title Amount or
Number of
Shares
   15,000***D 
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      

Explanation of Responses:
***  Grant to reporting person of Stock Appreciation Right (SAR) in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d). Base Price $32.00.


**Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute/s/          CARL S. THIGPEN               FEBRUARY 13, 2003     
Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).**Signature of Reporting PersonDate
 BY: HARRIETTE HYCHE 
 Attorney in Fact for Carl S. Thigpen 

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually
signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.