Bertha Young Fordham Receives Citation from Former President Carter

By Chelsye J. Williams Burrows , 6th Episcopal District

Ever wonder what retired public school and religious educator Mother Bertha Lee O’Bryant Young Fordham of Turner Chapel AME Church and ex-President Jimmy Carter have in common? These two golden-agers share a devotion to teaching the Gospel as Sunday or Church School teachers.  

To that end, President Jimmy Carter (age 95) and his wife, Rosalynn, bestowed beloved Mother Fordham (age 91) with a commendation for her “fine service as one of Turner Chapel’s most dedicated Sunday School teachers.” The certificate was presented by Turner Chapel AME Church’s Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Tar-U-Way R. A. Bright, during Sunday morning service. The Rev. Bright contacted the former president and informed him about Mother Fordham’s faithful service.  

Upon receiving the award, the demure and spirited Mother Fordham said, “Thank you, I love you all. To God be the glory.” Mother Fordham is the proud mother of Turner Chapel’s Co-Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Young Marcus, the wife of the late Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Marcus, and Adrienne Fordham-Young. She is the sister of the late Callie O’Bryant Harper who was an AME Church jewel.

The church has been a major part of Mother Fordham’s journey. She is the youngest of seven children. Her parents stressed the importance of family, education, and service at an early age. “The church has always been in my life. Mother had us in church and I always wanted to go,” she says.

Mother Fordham received her spiritual foundation at Cherry Street AME Church in Dothan, Alabama. At an early age, she taught Sunday School, organized youth groups, and led prayer meetings. During her teenage years, she embraced her love of working with young people.  

Her service in the church continued in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where she attended St. James AME Church. She taught Sunday School; church history classes; led Bible Study; and served as local, area, and conference branch director of the YPD. She later moved to Georgia to join the Rev. Cassandra. At Turner Chapel, she introduced and led the Disciple Class, which included 34 weeks of Bible study from Genesis to Revelation. 

Mother Fordham was active in the WMS and served as the former editor of the WMS Missionary Magazine. Also, she was appointed as the first Connectional president of the YPD and WMS in the AME Church. She was later was elected and served in the role for 14 years.  

She is a graduate of Morris Brown College with a degree in English. During her 40-year career as an educator, she taught English and Journalism to elementary, junior, and high school students in Alabama and New Jersey.  

Mother Fordham continues to teach Church School. Her knowledge of the Bible is great and her lessons are filled with inspiration and love. With a warm smile and bright twinkle in her eye, she says, “I believe I was chosen by God to be a teacher of his word and I enjoy every opportunity I have to serve.”

“From the moment I was blessed to meet Mother Bertha Fordham over 15 years ago, I have been inspired by her unwavering dedication and love for sharing God’s word through teaching, said Rev. Bright. “Now as her senior pastor, I could not be more proud and honored to have her to continue to serve in this capacity as a leader of Turner.  We salute Mother Fordham and celebrate this awesome acknowledgement and recognition from former President Jimmy Carter.”

Mother Fordham is the proud mother of Turner Chapel Co-Pastor the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Young Marcus, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Marcus, and Adrienne Fordham-Campbell.  She is the sister of the late Callie O’Bryant Harper who was an AME jewel. Mother Fordham has one granddaughter Tiara Brooklynn Campbell.