Rev. Stephanie M. Atkins, AMEWIM Connectional Herstoriographer
During this sacred season of Mother’s Day, Connectional Women in Ministry celebrates the women who mother and mentor others in ministry. After serving for over 40 years or more, it becomes second nature for a woman in ministry to take others under her wing. Through your experiences, your trials, and your victories, you have laid stepping stones for the generations that follow.
Today, we pause to say: “Thank you. We appreciate you. We honor you. We see you.”
It is customary that when a service member or veteran is acknowledged, the response is, “Thank you for your service.” Today, we echo those words–but this time, we look to you, our beloved colleagues, our sisters, our seasoned sisters in ministry.
Thank you for your service to the Kingdom.
Thank you for standing in the gap and showing up for others and the cause of Christ.
Thank you for building bricks without straw and still saying “yes” to God’s call.
Thank you for mothering and mentoring, for caring and sharing.
For carrying and birthing vision.
For singing and praying, preaching, and teaching.
For cleaning what has been broken and clinging to hope when others let go.
The Connectional Women in Ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church acknowledges the oldest living women in ministry in each of our Episcopal Districts. We praise God that you are still leading the way.
You are legacy in motion.
You are the foundation.
And through you—legacy lives on.
1st Episcopal District
The Reverend Zora Hall, 104, faithfully serves at St. James AME Church in Newark, New Jersey. She is a powerful witness to a century of ministry and is the eldest Woman in Ministry in the district.
2nd Episcopal District
The Reverend Martha S. Knight, 94, is a devoted minister of the Virginia Annual Conference. Her legacy of service continues to inspire.
3rd Episcopal District
The Reverend Delores Rose, 92, is a Retired Itinerant Elder who remains actively involved in ministry. Her dedication exemplifies lifelong commitment.
4th Episcopal District
The Reverend Anne Barton, 104, is in the Chicago Conference. Ordained in 1948, she pastored five churches and continues to be present and accounted for at Annual Conference roll calls—currently a member of St. James AME Church, Chicago, Illinois.
5th Episcopal District
The Reverend Luella Strong, 93, is a revered servant in the California Conference, worshipping at Bethel AME Church, Chico, California.
6th Episcopal District
The Reverend Annie Brooks, 93, serves in the Southwest Georgia Annual Conference.
The Reverend Martha Lambert, 94, of the South Georgia Conference, is a trailblazer. She was the first woman ordained in Albany, Georgia, and the first to be appointed pastor. With over 50 years of ministry, she remains an active member of Bailey Chapel, Doerun, Georgia.
7th Episcopal District
The Reverend Gertrude Haynes Tresscott, 96, has an extensive and impactful legacy in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was the first President of the 7th Episcopal District WIM, and a recipient of the Jarena Lee Pioneer Award from Connectional WIM in 2011.
The Reverend Eartha K. Guess, 96, ordained Elder in the Central South Carolina Annual Conference, is a devoted member of Greater Friendship AME Church, Santee, South Carolina.
The Reverend Dr. Eliza Rebecca Eaddy Black, 95, is a member of the Sumter District in the Northeast Conference and worships at St. Luke AME Church.
8th Episcopal District
The Reverend Thelma Thomas, 91 years old, Leonard Chapel AME Church, Amite, Louisiana
9th Episcopal District
The Reverend Nettie Henry, 99, has served faithfully for over 40 years as a local minister at Bethel AME Church–Ensley.
10th Episcopal District
The Reverend Grace Hall Johnson, 102, is a retired itinerant elder who pastored several congregations. Full of fire and the Holy Ghost, she is known for her spirited worship and powerful presence.
11th Episcopal District
The Reverend Audrey Powell, 98, serves faithfully at St. Peter AME Church, Midway, Florida.
12th Episcopal District
The Reverend Mary Lyles, 92, is a living testament of faith, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to ministry.
13th Episcopal District
The Reverend Herlea Reynolds, 92, is an active minister at Embry Chapel AME, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in the Kentucky Conference.
14th Episcopal District (Not reported)
15th Episcopal District
The Reverend Maria Mokoroane, 70, is an active Woman in Ministry in the Kalahari Conference, pastoring Ebenezer AME Church in the Kimberley District.
16th Episcopal District
The Reverend Victoria Smalling, 84, Retired Local Elder. The United Kingdom District of the United Kingdom/Europe Conference.
17th Episcopal District
The Reverend Lilian Chola, 90, served as an Itinerant Elder for 50 years in the Lusaka East District, Zambia. Her steadfast attendance and valor remain a model of dedication.
18th Episcopal District
The Reverend Norah Mabela Qhobela Tchiwa, 86, formerly served in the Zambia Conference and now resides in Lesotho, under the 18th Episcopal District.
19th Episcopal District
The Reverend Joyce Sophie Tembu serves as Presiding Elder of the Kroonstad District, Orangia Conference. Her ministry at Mt. Nebo–Thaba Nchu continues to shape the spiritual lives in the 19th Episcopal District.
20th Episcopal District (Not reported)
This submission honors Rev. Dr. Cecilia Williams-Bryant, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, and Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry. (Retired and departed, mothers and mentors)
This article was necessary. Thanks for acknowledging these women together. This is now an important document in telling our own history. In a time when history is being scrubbed — This article today is more important than ever. Again, thank you.