St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will celebrate its 156th anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The church invites the community to attend. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Sherita Moon Seawright, the Episcopal supervisor for the 13th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and wife of Bishop Harry Seawright, according to a news release.
The theme is: “Trailblazers of Tomorrow: Honoring Visionary Leadership and Transformative Progress in Education” (Phil. 4:13.).
The program will recognize the outstanding contributions of leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing education and inspiring future generations.
The honorees include Superintendent Keith McGee of Watson Chapel School District; President Jeffery Norfleet of Shorter College; Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree of Pine Bluff School District; President Maurice D. Gipson of Philander Smith University; Chancellor Anthony Graham of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Superintendent Gary Williams of White Hall School District; President Tyrone Jackson of Southeast Arkansas College; President Clarence Guy of Jackson Theological Seminary; and superintendent Phong Tran of Friendship Aspire Academy.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In 2014, St. John introduced the “Pioneer Wall” in the Fellowship hall. This installation included photographs and biographical profiles of those who have played integral roles in building and sustaining St. John during its formative years. The 2025 Pioneers are Maxine Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cone, Opal Jean Ferguson Richmond, and sisters Vhaness Williams and Juanita D. Edwards.
Seawright was born in Clinton, S.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, graduating summa cum laude from Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. She holds a Master of Arts degree in political science from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and a Master of Divinity degree (with honors) from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C.
She completed a chaplain internship and residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
While growing up, Seawright attended Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Clinton, S.C., where she served as Sunday school teacher and musician. In 1982, she became a member of Prodigal AME Church in Swansea, S.C.
As an itinerant elder at Union Bethel, Seawright was the assistant pastor and minister to women. She also served as executive director for Bethel House, Inc., a Union Bethel non-profit agency. She worked as a chaplain for Capital Caring Hospice in Prince George’s County, Md.
In August 2024, she began her ministry as Episcopal Supervisor of the 13th Episcopal District.
The pastor of St. John is the Rev. Charlene N. Boone. Sharon Fletcher serves as the chairperson of the anniversary program.