First Episcopal District Lay
Officers
President Cheryl Hammond Hopewell
Cheryl Hammond Hopewell is from the Philadelphia Conference and has come up through the ranks in the Lay Organization. In her local lay organization, she has served as Director of Lay Activities, 1st VP, then served as President for 11 years. For the Philadelphia Conference, she has served as Budget and Finance Chairperson, Historiographer, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, 3rd VP, 1st VP, then President for 8 years. For the First Episcopal District Lay, she has served as Finance Chairperson, 3rd VP, 1st VP, Financial Secretary and then Treasure of the FCC Scholarship and now serves as First District President. She has also served on the Connectional Lay Organization Public Relations Staff, on the Budget Committee, on the 2012 General Conference Lay Breakfast Committee and co-chaired the 2016 General Conference Lay Breakfast. Cheryl loves the work of the church and the lay organization and puts God first in all her endeavors.
1st Vice President
Donna Lee
Chandler-Smith
2nd Vice President
Wanda Duckett
3rd Vice President
Robin Batson
Recording Secretary
Sharon Drew
Asst Recording Secretary
Dorothy A. Chandler
A member of the New Jersey Conference, Dorothy
retired from AT&T as a Human Resource Manager and is presently serving as a long-term substitute teacher.
Her favorite scripture is: "I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me."
Corresponding Secretary
Lanan Bascome
Cheryl L. Ford is married to James O. Ford, the mother of five, grandmother of twelve, and great grandmother of nine. Her siblings include two brothers and three sisters.
She is a member of Hickman Temple AME Church located in Philadelphia, PA pastored by Rev. Ronald L. Green.
She has a penchant for desktop publishing and has made it her second career. When she is not publishing journals or attending religious activities Cheryl is volunteering with Soroptimist International of Five Points Magneta. This organization is her passion because they work improving the lives of women and girls throughout the world. Her favorite scripture is Luke 12:48.
Sis. Sandra Mosby is from the New England Annual Conference and is a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, CT where the pastor is Rev. Daylan Greer, Sr. Sis. Sandra serves as the Director of Lay Activities for the Priscilla Green Lay Organization, Treasurer for the New England Conference Lay Organization, a member of the Doxology Dance Ministry (Treasurer), Gospel Chorus, Acapella Choir, Prison Ministry, New Members Class Instructor, and the Prayer Line Ministry (contributor).
Financial Secretary
Sandra Mosby
Treasurer
Cheryl L. Ford
Terri Lynn Fisher was born and raised in Laurel, DE by her loving parents the late Marjorie D. Fisher and the late Mayor Roger C. Fisher.
She completed her primary education through the Laurel School system. She matriculated at Delaware State University in Dover, DE. There she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry, respectively.
Terri was employed by Playtex
Family Products in Dover, DE as a Microbiologist.
Terri acknowledges her acceptance of Christ as her greatest lifetime achievement, which she did at the tender age of twelve.
She was born into African Methodism and attends Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Laurel, DE. Terri loves the A.M.E. Church, but more importantly she loves God.
Ms. Fisher is a cheerful servant of the Lord and is very active in her local church. Since her youth, she has served as a youth usher, and choir member to a Sunday School teacher.
As an adult she has served on the Stewardess Board, Trustee Board, Finance Commission, Jennie Greene Missionary Society (great grandmother), YAN, Young Adult Choir, Sister and Brothers in Service Choir and the President of the Lay Organization.
In December of 2019, Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church honored Ms. Fisher and renamed their Lay Organization after this woman of God. The newly named Terri Fisher Lay Organization flourishes at her local church.
Terri is the Director of Lay Activities for the DE Conference Lay Organization. She humbly serves as the Chaplain for the First Episcopal District Lay Organization.
Ms. Fisher holds the Lay Organization close to her heart.
Shawn James Lee was born and raised in Norristown, PA. Shawn is currently the Director of Orchestras at Phoenixville Area Middle School and Phoenixville Area High School, in Phoenixville, PA, and teaches the Phoenixville Phantom Band, as well as Adjunct Professor of Strings at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, PA, where he is the Director of String Ensemble and Instructor of Violin and Viola.
Shawn is a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Bryn Mawr, PA where he is proud to be the Local Lay President. He also currently serves as Second Vice President of the Philadelphia Conference Lay Organization. Shawn is privileged to hold both of these offices as the successor of his mentor and role model, Bro. Hosea Jackson. Shawn is beyond thrilled to now be serving as the Historiographer for the First Episcopal District Lay Organization, under the leadership of Sis. Cheryl Hammond Hopewell. Shawn recently had the honor of being chosen to be the Speaker for Lay Night for the oldest Conference in the African Methodism, the Philadelphia Annual Conference. He was also elected as a Delegate to the General Conference in Orlando, Florida in 2020 (now 2021). In addition to his responsibilities with the Lay, Shawn’s other organizational involvement at Bethel Bryn Mawr includes the Steward Board, Male Chorus, Student Aid Committee, and Finance Commission. Shawn often describes himself as “Blessed” and his favorite passage of scripture is the 100th Psalm. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing...For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Shawn holds a Bachelor’s Degree Magna Cum Laude in Music Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where he was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success, and won the society’s “Excellence Award,” and was named a “Student of Academic Distinction,” and a Master’s Degree in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.
Chaplain
Terri Lynn Fisher
Historiographer
Shawn J. Lee
Director of Lay Activities
Thomas Davis
Brother Davis resides in the Western New York Conference and has been active in the Lay Organization for over thirty years. He is the inaugural President of the WNY Conference Lay Organization and is the immediate past Conference Director of Lay Activities. His home church is Baber AME Church in Rochester NY, where the Pastor is the Reverend James C. Simmons.
Brother Davis has been Baber's longest tenured Local Lay President in total years elected. At Baber, Brother Davis also serves as Technical Director of the Communications Ministry which provides audio, video, and photography support for Baber in-house productions and Baber programming in the community.
Brother Davis is married with children and is employed as a Senior Systems Engineer. He has a passion for technology and knowledge. His favorite scripture is Romans 8:38-39 (nothing can separate us from the love of God).
Director of
Public Relations
Sharon Carmichael
Sis. Sharon Carmichael has been a member of the North Stelton AME Church in Piscataway, New Jersey for 29 years. She has served as the local Christian Education Director for 20 years, Public Relations Coordinator and editor-in-chief of the NSAME Family Times Newsletter. She currently serves as a Steward. Sis. Sharon loves attending AME Church conferences and working with the Lay Organization.
She is the New Brunswick District Director of Christian Education, and served 8 years as the New Brunswick District Lay Director of Public Relations.
As the daughter of a preacher, the late Elder Wilma C. Berry, Sis. Sharon attributes her church upbringing, and mother's teaching of excellence to the values she holds today.
Sis. Sharon holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management and a BA in Mathematics & Computer Science. She is a Senior Technical Project Manager at AT&T; a licensed insurance and finance planner; and an avid cake baker.
She is the proud mother of three extraordinary children (Raqiyah: author/activist; Dr. Marc: PhD Biomedical Engineering; and Jasmine: Actress & Adjunct Professor); and has 3 beautiful grandchildren.
Sis. Sharon gives all praises to God for His blessings, and lives her life by Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (KJV)
Parliamentarian
TBA
Young Adult Representative
Jyzelle Steplight
