Brother Willie L. Foxworth, Sr.

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A Past President of the Northeast Conference Lay Organization
​In 1949, a group of highly motivated Lay delegates who had attended the First Biennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Laymen’s League Convention in Chicago, Illinois seized a challenging opportunity to extend the work of the church laity into the Northeast Conference in South Carolina. The Presiding Prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District, Bishop Frank M. Reid, Sr., encouraged and supported the organization. 
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He appointed Mr. Willie L. Foxworth, Sr., of Ebenezer AME Church, Mullins, SC, as the First Northeast Conference Laymen League Chairman (President). We thank God for his wisdom, fortitude, leadership commitment, and Godly vision.

Bro. Foxworth was a mortician by trade. He was born in Marion County, South Carolina on February 7, 1892 to the Rev. M.S. and Lottie Davis Foxworth. He attended Mullins grade school. Bro. Foxworth served in every office that was open to laymen on the local level of the church. He also served as Church Secretary, Steward, Trustee, Quarterly Conference Secretary and other positions in the local church.  Bro. Foxworth served as a trustee of Palmetto High School in Mullins, SC from 1920-1939. He also served as a trustee at Allen University for some time beginning in 1936.

Under the leadership of Bro. Willie L. Foxworth, Sr., and the direction of Bishop Frank M. Reid Sr., the following districts of the Annual conference were organized – Sumter, Marion, Florence and Dillon. Several decades ago, the make-up of this conference changed. There are now three districts Sumter, Marion and Florence/Dillon.
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Sister Nell Foxworthy submitted this article regarding this great Lay leader.  Ms. Foxworth is a granddaughter of Brother Willie L. Foxworth Sr. She is currently an active layperson, as was her grandfather, and is currently serving as a Historiographer on the Northeast Conference Lay Organization level.
 
Brother Cleveland Frasier SEDLO, Historiographer
Brother Keith Britton SEDLO, President ​