Sixth Episcopal District Lay Organization

Sketch of History

The Sixth Episcopal District Lay was started in 1953.  Mrs. Dollie J Alexander served as the district’s first president.  Mrs Alexander and the Rev W. R. Wilkie Sr had been among the prime movers of the lay legislation that passed at the 1948 general conference.
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W. A. Edge, Johnny Banks, Willie Bailey, Walker Stringer and Dr Robert J Williams followed. They laid a foundation on which a strong, viable Episcopal District Lay organization would be built and respected at the local and conference level and be influential in the Connectional lay organization.

Presidents of the Organization	​Conference	​Term of Office
​1. Michael Brown	​Augusta	​9/2013 – Current
​2. Gloria Byrd	Atlanta North	​9/2005 – 9/2013
​3. Morris Hannah	Augusta	9/1997 – 9/2005
​4. Robert Williams	Macon	9/1989 – 9/1997
5. Walter Stringer	George	9/1981 – 9/1989
6. Johnnie Banks	Atlanta North	​1980 –
7. W A Edge		Value
​8. Willie Bailey
9. Dollie Alexander

2017 Executive Board members

President	Michael Brown
First Vice President	Alfreda Brooks
​Second Vice President	Dr. Verma Curtis
Third Vice President	Carlos Ford
Recording Secretary	Vicki Carr
​Asst Recording Secretary	Samuel Humphrey
Corresponding Secretary	Monique Green
Treasurer	Waynefield Leonard
Financial Secretary	Annabella Wright
Chaplain	Charles Murphy
Historiographer	Sherald Thomas
Parliamentarian	David Anderson
DOLA	Janice Stewart
Director Public Relations	Phyllis Boyd
YAR	Martinique Mix
​President Emeritus	​Gloria Byrd Morris Hannah

Episcopal District Lay organization meets quarterly on the 3rd Saturday of the month.
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The Episcopal District lay organization also meets during the Sixth Episcopal District post planning meeting, midyear meeting and Founder’s day.  The Episcopal District lay participants in the Annual Founder’s day parade each year.

Historical Highlights of the District

• 1ST Officers training Retreat at High Falls State Park, Jackson Georgia on March 3, 2018, SED Lay President Michael Brown
• Hosted the Connectional Lay organization executive board meeting in Atlanta, June 2018
• Created District Lay website in 2017 under President Brown
  http://sixthdistrictlay.com
• Created District Lay Facebook page in 2017 under President Brown https://m.facebook.com/6th-Episcopal-District-Lay-1850478671659237/?ref=bookmarks
• Publishes Lay Notebook containing District and conference information.
• Sponsors book scholarships for Turner ITC
• Lay training workshop July 2017 held at St Paul AME church, Macon Ga under President Brown
• Other scholarships the District Lay sponsors is the Millennium and Vera Benton.
• Sponsored “First-ever Soiree, Founders’ Day Gala”, “BLACK LOVE MATTERS” on Friday evening on February 12, 2016 at 8:00 pm; Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center at Augusta, Georgia. SED Lay President Michael Brown
• Hosted the 33rd Biennial of the Connectional Lay Organization, Atlanta Georgia July 27 – August 1, 2013 SED Lay President, Gloria Byrd.
• The first overnight retreat was held in 2006 with Bishop William P. Deveaux and family in attendance and continued under President Gloria Byrd eight year term.
• The tradition of SED auction for scholarships being held at the site of our conventions was initiated under President Byrd.
• Inclusion of General Officers as part of training at SED conventions was initiated under President Byrd
• Turner Book scholarship ($1000) was initiated under Sister Byrd during her term.
• Furniture for Turner Seminary was purchased during sister Byrd’s term in office. With plaque being given to the organization from the student body.
• Painting of Turner Seminary lobby was  initiated under President Brown with the corporation of the Sons of Allen
• The first Biennial held by Sixth Episcopal District was under the presidency of Robert Williams;  it was held in Atlanta Georgia
• Catherine K Brown, the first female President of Connectional Lay Organization, was from the Atlanta North Georgia Conference.  She was elected at the 19th Biennial Session in 1985 which was held in Nashville, Tennessee.  She held the office of President from 1985-1993.