AME Connectional MSWAWO +PK's
The Team
Meet The Candidates
CONNECTIONAL M-SWAWO ELECTION REPORT
BISHOP ANNE HENNIING BYFIELD, CHAIRPERSON OF SOCIAL ACTION
OCTOBER 4,2021
PRESIDENT ANITA BRANNON (12TH )
1ST VICE PRESIDENT DR. CYNITHIA GRIFFIN (11TH )
2ND VICE PRESIDENT RHONDA J McCALL (1ST)
RECORDING SECRETARY LINDAJO WATSON (12th )
ASST. RECORDING SECRETARY JENNIFER GREEN (11TH)
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY JOHNNITA BRYANT (9TH)
FINANCIAL SECRETARY KINETTE CAGER (5TH)
TREASURER DEBRA J. SPEED (7TH )
PARLIAMENTARIUM JULIA WITHERSPOON (7TH )
HISTORIOGRAPHER GLORIA M. FRANKLIN (6TH)
WORSHIP DIRECTOR KAREN LUKE (6TH)
COORDINATOR OF PK LORI ROBERTSON (8TH )
Anita Brannon
Candidate for President
For the past eight years is has been my honor and humble privilege to serve with Mrs. Lula Shaw Cleckley as 1st Vice President of CONN-M-SWAWO+PKs. As a result, I have been blessed to witness firsthand, her love for God, true leadership and compassion for the clergy family.
As both of our terms in office approach an end, it is my desire to take up the mantel and to move our organization to a higher level. My desire is to serve as President of CONN-M-SWAWO+PKs.
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I too have a love for God, and God’s people…especially the Clergy Family. While I am a widow, I am also a PK, having had parents to serve as pastor and first lady to many churches in the 12th Episcopal District, as well as Presiding Elder and District Consultant.
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I am an active member of Union African Methodist Episcopal Church (Little Rock, AR), where I serve as Director of Christian Education and as leader of the Louise T. Clark Missionary Society Unit. I am currently Vice President and Program Chairman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, the Beta Pi Omega Chapter in Little Rock, AR.
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It is my sincere belief that my experiences with CONN-M-SWAWO+PKs, beginning as its Worship Leader, and now as 1st Vice President, along with my other organizational attributes, have prepared me to pick of the mantel and move CONN-M-SWAWO+PKs to the next level.
Dr. Cynthia Griffin
Candidate for 1st Vice President
Dr. Cynthia R. Griffin is a respected leader in the healthcare industry. She is currently the Vice President of Government Pharmacy Programs for Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida).
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Dr. Griffin holds a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of
Science degree in Pharmacy from Florida A & M University. She has been in pharmacy management for over 30 years. During this time, she has received numerous awards, recognitions and serves on several boards.
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In 2009, she received a gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Board of Pharmacy, serving as Vice Chair in 2011 and Chair in 2012. From 2008-2010, Dr. Griffin served as the Health Director for the Eleventh District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Dr. Griffin is the wife of Rev. Dr. Mark L. Griffin and the First Lady of Wayman Temple AME Church. She is the mother of two daughters, Whitney and Crystal, one son-in-law, Tony; and one grandson, Marcus and one granddaughter, Maya.
Dr. Griffin is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Bold City Links Incorporated. She is the President of the Clergy Families Organization of the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Dr. Griffin is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and a 2015 graduate of Leadership Florida. She currently serves on the board of Leadership Jacksonville.
Qualifications:
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Minister’s Spouse for over 33 years.
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Served in various roles on the Conference and Episcopal district level including Conference and Episcopal President.
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Under my leadership as Episcopal District President, and membership in the Connectional organization has increased from less than 100 to over 300 members.
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Served as a mentor to new spouses as they have navigated becoming a minister’s spouses.
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I have a passion for the clergy family and believe I have been called to support strengthening and sustaining the clergy family unit
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My professional training and leadership skills will be beneficial as we build upon the great work that has been done to move the Connectional Ministers Spouses, Widows, Widowers and PKs organization forward.
Rhonda J. McCall
Candadiate 2nd Vice President
Lindajo Watson
Candadiate for Recording Secretary
Mrs. Lyndajo Watson is a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a member of Union AME Church for 57 years. She is also the widow of the late Rev. Nolan Watson. Lyndajo graduated from Texas Women’s University with a degree in Psychology. She is the widow of Rev. Nolan Watson and has been a member of her local M-SWAWO organization since 1996 as well as a member of CONN-M-SWAWO.
Her accomplishments are many throughout the 12th Episcopal District. She has been 12th District PME Director, 12th District WMS Worship Leader, Arkansas Conference Membership & Recruitment Chairperson, 1st VP of the Oklahoma Conference WMS and many more. She is currently 1st VP of the 12th District WMS and she holds the position of Connectional Administrator for the Christian Debutante and Master Commission.
Lyndajo is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Beta Pi Omega Graduate Chapter.
Jennifer Cason Green
Candidate for Asst. Recording Secretary
Jennifer Regina Cason Green is a native of Live Oak, Florida. A graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida. I am married to the Rev. Henry E. Green Jr. We are the proud parents of 2 sons, Henry E. Green III and Philip M. Green, Grandmother to London and Henry Green IV. I serve as First Lady of Mt. Hermon A M E Church of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. I have served M-SWAWO as 1st Vice President of the East Florida Conference and 1st Vice President of the Eleventh Episcopal District. I have Chaired the Scholarship Committee 8 years and is now completing an 8 -year term as your Parliamentarian. I am seeking your support to be elected as your Assistant Recording Secretary of Conn M Swawo Plus PK’s. My commitment and dedication to this organization has always been a priority and I will continue to work diligently to the best of my ability. I will appreciate your vote and support.
Lady Johnnita Bryant
Candidate for Corresponding Secretary
Lady Johnnita Bryant is a member of the 9th Episcopal District (State of Alabama) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and has been all of her adult life. She is the first lady (District Consultant) of the Mobile District of the Southwest Alabama Conference and the wife of Presiding Elder Johnnie Bryant. They have been married for 55 years and are the parents of three daughters and five grandchildren.
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Johnnita, a breast cancer survivor and a retired school administrator, is a life member of the Women’s Missionary Society and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Her three daughter are all Zetas and members of the AME Church. Her grandchildren are sixth generational AMEs.
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A minister spouse for more than 40 years, Johnnita has served in various positions across the church. She is the immediate past president of the 9th District M-SWAWO+PKs and served under Presidents Freida Hanley-Johnson and Lula Shaw Cleckley. She was appointed by the Rt. Rev. James. L. Davis in 2011 and again in 2017 by the Rt. Rev. Harry L. Seawright.
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Seeking the position of corresponding secretary, it is her desire to support the organization in any manner she can and will do her best to fulfil the requirements while understanding the importance of handling communications in a timely manner. She believes she has the ability and skills to handle the tasks and will work well with all the officers and members.
Kinette Cager
Candidate for Financial Secretary
I offer myself for service as Conn-M-SWAWO Plus PK’s Financial Secretary so that we can maintain the continuity and sense of teamwork that was promoted under President Lula Shaw Cleckley. Our new leadership team deserves to have the benefit of institutional knowledge and cultural competence that comes from experienced team members.
Debra Speed
Candidate for Treasurer
Julia M. Witherspoon
Candidate for Parliamentarian
Gloria M. Franklin
Candidate for HISTORIOGRAPHER
Sis. Gloria Morley-Franklin, the thirteenth of fourteen children, was born to the late Theophilus Elijah Morley and the late Lucille McSmith Morley in Dania Beach, Florida
Sis Franklin graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in Hollywood, Florida. After high school, she attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. for a year. She transferred to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Tallahassee, Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Exceptional Education with a concentration in Specific Learning Disabilities from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. She worked for the Broward County Board of Education for twenty-four years as an elementary education teacher and a varying exceptionalities teacher before relocating to Atlanta in support of her husband, as he pursued a Master of Divinity at Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sis. Franklin later enrolled in the Doctoral program at Clark-Atlanta University to pursue a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree. This had to be placed on hold after she suffered a stroke, but she is making plans to continue her studies.
She was employed as an exceptional education teacher with the DeKalb County School System at Ronald E. McNair Middle School in Decatur, Georgia. She retired August 29, 2014, after ten years.
She was married to her college sweetheart and best friend, the late Rev. Benjamin Franklin, Jr., a pastor of several African Methodist Episcopal Churches. They were blessed with two children: a son, Benjamin, III and a daughter, Trakeisha Nykeba, and five grandsons: Terrance, Benjamin, IV, Daniel, Elijah, and Emmanuel.
Sis. Franklin is a member of the Stewardess Board, the Lay Organization, and the Women’s Missionary Society. She is the past President of the Atlanta North Georgia Ministers’ Spouses, Widows, and Widowers’ Organization Plus PK’s. She currently serves as the recording secretary of the MSWAWO+PKs. She was the Connectional M-SWAWO PLUS P.K.’S 2019 First Lady Contestant Winner representing the Sixth Episcopal District.
Her favorite scripture is Psalm 23:1
Karen Luke
Candidate for Worship Leader
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Lori Robertson
Candidate for PK Coordinator
My name is Lori Robertson. I am married to Rev. Roger Robertson, Sr. We have been married for 19 years. We have three children; Jayla, who is currently a senior at Southeastern Louisiana University; Roger Jr., a freshman at Louisiana State University; and Lariah, a freshman in high school. We serve as the pastoral family of Days Chapel AME Church in Clinton, LA, in the 8th Episcopal District under Bishop Stafford Wicker and Supervisor Constance Wicker. I received my Associate’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Health System Management. I serve as the Western New Orleans Baton Rouge District Area YPD Director (4 years) and the Presiding Elder’s administrative assistant. Also, I currently serve as the Conn-MSWAWO PK Advisor. I love the AME Church and the Conn-MSWAWO+ PK organization. I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling as often as possible.
