Born in Hampton, Virginia, but raised primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, Darryl Brewster Starnes was greatly impacted by the Christian nurture of his grandfather, the late Dr. J. A. Babington-Johnson. He was converted at the age of 15 and entered the ministry two years later. He received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Livingstone College and the Master of Divinity Degree from Hood Theological Seminary, both located in Salisbury, North Carolina. He later received the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He was ordained a deacon in the A.M.E. Zion Church in 1977 and an elder in 1979. His ministry experiences have been concentrated in four main areas: pastorates, evangelism, teaching, and community outreach. PASTORATES: His pastorates have included the following: MT Moriah/MT Ararat Circuit, Richburg/Bascomville, SC; Greater Warner Tabernacle, Knoxville, TN; Thompkin's Chapel Metropolitan, Chattanooga, TN; Spottswood, New Britain, CT; Metropolitan, Birmingham, AL; Evans Metropolitan, Bennettsville, SC. In October of 2005, he became the organizing pastor of the Wesley A. M. E. Zion Church, a new church near Harrisburg, North Carolina. EVANGELISM: He has served as the Director of Evangelism for the Knoxville District, the Tennessee Conference, and the Alabama/Florida Episcopal District. Since 1996, he has served as the Director of Evangelism for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He has served as the Vice-President of the Evangelism Program Ministries Unit of the National Council of Churches of Christ. He serves as a member of the Wesleyan Commission on Evangelism. He is also the Secretary of Evangelism for the North American Section of the World Methodist Council. TEACHING: He has lectured at workshops, institutes, conventions, and retreats throughout the country and overseas. He has served as an instructor at the Unity Theological Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee; as the Dean of the Hartford District School in New Britain, Connecticut; as an instructor at the Alabama-Florida Episcopal District Courses of Study; and as an Adjunct Professor at the Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He presently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Hood Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: He has served on the Board of Directors of the Eastside YMCA, Knoxville, TN; as vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Urban Services YMCA, Chattanooga, TN; as Interim-Director of Inner City Ministries of Chattanooga, TN; as vice-president of the Board of Directors of OIC of New Britain, CT; on the Board of Directors of the Friendship Homeless Shelter of New Britain, CT; as an Incorporator of Wheeler Clinic of Plainville, CT; as a member of the Christian Coalition of Connecticut; as a chaplain in the Connecticut Department of Corrections; as a consultant in the Black Family Ministries Project; and as a trustee at the Lomax-Hannon Junior College in Greenville, AL. FAMILY: He is married to the former Miss Camille Cullom, who has been his partner in life and ministry for more than a quarter of a century. A local preacher in the AME Zion Church, she serves in the Department of Church School Literature of the AME Zion Church. They are the proud parents of three beautiful children: Alicia Courtney (Rodney), Millicent, and Darryl Jr. and four adorable grandchildren: Mya, Kaiyon, Benjamin, and Caleb.
Born and raised in Hamlet, North Carolina, she is the third of ten children born to Alvin and Frances Dumas. Reared in a Christian family and nurtured in the Waymon Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Hamlet, her spiritual roots run deep. She gave her life to Christ at the age of eleven and learned early the difference that a personal relationship with Christ could make. She was educated in the public school system of Richmond County North Carolina. Upon her graduation from high school, she worked as an Inspector for Mac Panel Corporation in High Point, North Carolina and as a Computer Operator for High Point Memorial Hospital. After moving to Dallas, Texas, she worked as a Data Entry Clerk at Wadley Institute, a Cancer and Research Hospital and at Lomas and Nettleton Mortgage Company. She was hired as the Supervisor of Food Services for Tri City Centre Hospital, where she later became Food Service Manager after completing her training and certification in Food Service Management at Eastfield College and being registered with the Dallas Health Department. When Ms. Dumas moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1994, she was hired by Dr. Norman H. Hicklin as the Administrative Assistant for the Bureau of Evangelism and brought a wealth of experience and expertise to that office. She proved to be so valuable to the Department that she was retained as the Administrative Assistant when Dr. Darryl B. Starnes, Sr. became the new Director in 1996. In October of 1996, she rededicated her life to Christ and became a member of the Weeping Willow A. M. E. Zion Church. At Weeping Willow, she serves faithfully as the chairperson of the Hostess Ministry, as a member of the Parent Body Missionary Society, and as a member of the Prayer Ministry. During more than eleven years of service, she has helped to give stability and continuity to the Department of Evangelism. Because of the travel responsibilities of the Director of Evangelism, her skills and attention to detail enable the office to run smoothly and efficiently. Her work ethic, pleasant personality, administrative skills, and dedication to Christ make her an invaluable part of the leadership team. She finds joy in helping to plan and to coordinate the evangelistic events sponsored by the Bureau of Evangelism, such as convocations, congresses, solemn assemblies, and outreach activities at connectional meetings and General Conferences. She says, "I have had various jobs in the past years, but I never had a job, that has given me the inspiration I have received since I have been employed with the Bureau of Evangelism. I pray that God will continue to bless me as I continue to work for Him."
