|
|
 |
Reverend Dr.
Classy Preston has served as Senior Pastor of Pleasant Grove
Church in Cary, North Carolina since May, 1998. Pastor
Classy has led the church through a spiritual transformation
resulting in tremendous church growth and relocation.
She answered her call to ministry in 1988 while a
member of Third Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio. She was
ordained in February 1992 by the American Baptist Churches,
USA. In 1996 she had a sermon published in Volume three of
"Those Preaching Women,” Rev. Dr. Ella Pearson Mitchell,
editor. Reverend Preston has served as assistant to the
pastor of Third Baptist church, Toledo, OH; Minister of
Youth and Young Adults at the Calvary Baptist Church,
Norwalk, CT and Minister of Family Ministry at Christian
Faith Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC. Dr. Preston has traveled
to South Africa with Bishop Cynthia L. Hale to serve in two
missionary endeavors.
She hails from Mobile, AL, was reared in a Christian
home and is the oldest of eight children. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Ottawa
University, Ottawa, KS; a Master of Divinity degree from the
New York Theological Seminary, NY,NY, and a Doctor of
Ministry Degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the
Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, IN. Dr.
Preston’s corporate career includes eighteen years with
Bristol Myers Squibb, New York City where she was awarded
the top leadership award The Lee H. Bristol Award, in 1987. |
She spent six
years with Progress Energy Company, Raleigh, NC and made
tremendous contributions in the corporate supplier diversity
initiative. She also served as President/CEO of Communities
in Schools of Wake County for four years where she expanded
community based learning centers for children and families
in public housing.
| |
|
Dr.
Preston has served on the Boards of Triangle Family
Services, North Carolina Business and Industry and
Tourism Committee, the Raleigh Housing Authority
Self Sufficiency Board, the Capital Area Soccer
League, The InterFaith Food Shuttle, The Family
Place, a Junior Achievement Consultant for inner
city youth, an adjunct professor in the Philosophy
Department of St. Augustine College, Raleigh and a
participant in the Urban League Black Executive
Exchange Program for college students. Currently she
serves on the Board of Triangle American Red Cross
and a Champion for WakeMed Foundation. Dr. Preston
is active with the NAACP, faith based initiatives
and other community projects that attempt to improve
the quality of life for all citizens. She has been
honored as “Tarheel of the Week” by The News and
Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Preston is an
active member of the Minister’s Mentor group of Elah
Pastoral Ministries, Inc. convened by Bishop Cynthia
L. Hale, Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church,
Decatur, GA.
|
|
|
Dr.
Preston has been married to Deacon Jay Preston for
33 years. They strive to build up the Body of Christ
by modeling Christian character and showing genuine
love for God’s people. |
|
|
|
