May 2026 Congratulatory Announcements
*Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell Appointed to Black Girl Vitamins Advisory Council, Championing the Intersection of Legacy Wealth and Whole-Woman Wellness During Mental Health Awareness & Physical Fitness Month
Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, Esq., CPA, Estate Planning Attorney, and Legacy Wealth Strategist, has been selected to serve on the Advisory Council for Black Girl Vitamins, a leading wellness brand dedicated to supporting the health and vitality of Black women.
Her appointment comes at a powerful time, aligning with Mental Health Awareness Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month—national observances recognizing the importance of holistic well-being. Lynita’s work uniquely bridges the gap between financial empowerment and personal wellness, emphasizing that true legacy extends beyond wealth to include how we care for our minds, bodies, and lives today.
“As women, we are often taught to build, achieve, and give—but not always to sustain ourselves in the process,” said Mitchell-Blackwell. “This role allows me to contribute to a larger conversation: that our well-being is not separate from our success. It is the foundation of it.”
As the creator of Light Legacy Stewardship™, Lynita has guided countless individuals, families, and entrepreneurs in designing comprehensive estate plans that protect assets while honoring values and long-term vision. Her approach integrates legal strategy with intentional living, encouraging high-achieving women to pursue success without burnout.
In her role on the Advisory Council, Lynita will lend her expertise to support Black Girl Vitamins’ mission by contributing insight, feedback, and perspective to help shape products and initiatives that center the real needs and lived experiences of the women they serve.
“Legacy is not just what we leave behind,” she added. “It is how we live, how we love, and how well we sustain ourselves along the way.”
This appointment further solidifies Lynita’s growing influence at the intersection of wealth, wellness, and leadership, positioning her as a thought leader in redefining success for modern women.
*Dr. Charity Battle Rier, D.D.S. earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from Meharry Medical College
With great pride and joy, we celebrate the extraordinary achievement of Dr. Charity Battle Rier, D.D.S. Dr. Rier earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College in 2026, continuing a remarkable journey of academic excellence and servant leadership.
Her impressive educational accomplishments include:
• Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene — University of North Carolina (2014)
• Master of Arts in Medical Clinical Sciences — Boston University (2012)
• Bachelor of Science — North Carolina Central University (2006)
Dr. Charity Battle Rier is the beloved daughter of Reverend Milton O. Battle and Lady Doris T. Battle, and the cherished sister of AME Judicial Council member, Starr L. Battle, Renisha L. Battle, and Dr. Lisa Battle Gwatney.
Today, we honor not only her academic achievements, but also her commitment to healing, compassion, scholarship, and community uplift. Her journey reflects perseverance, grace, and the enduring strength of family, faith, and purpose.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Charity Battle Rier on this phenomenal accomplishment and wishing her continued success as she begins this next chapter in dentistry and healthcare leadership at cmbattle84@gmail.com.
*Sharon Deanna Tyler daughter of Mrs. Leslie Tyler and Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler Historiographer of the AME Church, graduates from Allen University May 9th
Congratulations to Sharon Deanna Tyler, daughter of Mrs. Leslie Tyler and Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, Historiographer of the AME Church. Sharon will graduate from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the John Hurst Adams Gymnasium. She will earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with an emphasis on pre-law and a concentration in journalism. A distinguished Dean’s Scholar, Sharon is a member of the Pi Gamma Mu National Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Mu Chapter. She also launched the school's Podcasting Club, is active in the Criminal Justice Club, and has proudly represented Allen University at the national Honda Campus All-Star Challenge trivia competition. Congratulatory notes for Sharon Tyler can be sent to Rev. Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler, 900 13th Avenue South, Suite 340, Nashville, TN, 37212.
*Flyer of Dr. Kamasi Hill movie Born in the Struggle to be presented at Cannes film festival. He is the Son of Dr. Kenneth Hill, Retired General Officer
In the 1960’s and 1970’s there was a resurgence of pride, identity, and a reclamation of power and self-determination. This film explores the lives of people - who were the sons of and daughters of 1960’s & 70’s radicals.
- Dr. Kamasi Hill is an accomplished academic and educator specializing in sociology and social justice.
- He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
- Hill's research focuses on race, inequality, and community empowerment.
- He has published numerous articles and papers in reputable journals.
- Dr. Hill is also known for his work in community organizing and activism.
- He serves as a mentor to students and young professionals in his field.
Dr. Kamasi Hill served as a member of the College Board AP African American Studies Development Committee and contributed to the national design of the course framework.
*Congratulations To Presiding Elder Rev Anthony Jacobus Jacobs Sr. 75th Birthday and Retirement Celebration
It is with great joy and deep appreciation that we invite you to celebrate Presiding Elder Rev. Anthony Jacobus Jacobs, Sr. Retirement Banquet on Saturday, May 16, 2026. After 45 years of faithful and transformative ministry, as itinerant minister and presiding elder. Presiding elder Jacobs is entering a new season of life, and we have the privilege of honoring his unwavering dedication to God’s people.
Rev. Jacobs has been a shepherd, a mentor, and a dynamic preacher, builder of churches and various structures, administrator and family man whose ministry has impacted countless lives. His commitment to A.M.E. Church and the broader faith community is a testament to his love for God and His people. We invite you to join us for this grand occasion as we celebrate his legacy and the incredible work he has done over the years. Tickets are distributed by the Worcester district Retirement committee (+27 61 825 6604 Rev Quinton Liebenberg chairperson)
The banquette will be held at the Worcester Townhall and guest are expected to arrive at 5pm. Special wishes can be shared via email, WhatsApp, SMS or call +2782 895 8703.
*The Rev. Dr. Cheryl L. Green a former Executive Administrative Assistant in the Department of Church Growth and Development of the AME Church received her PhD on Friday from Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL
After a ten-year journey filled with numerous dangers, toils, and snares, The Rev. Dr. Cheryl L. Green received her PhD on Friday, April 24, 2026, from Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. Dr. Green’s groundbreaking dissertation, The Mutilated Christ: Liberative Dimensions in the Christological Engagement of Afro-Latinas in Chocó, Colombia, was passed with distinction by her PhD committee, which included Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell, Kenneth B. Smith, Sr., Professor of Public Ministry and Associate Professor of Theology, Ethics, and the Arts, Chicago Theological Seminary, who served as her advisor and committee chair; The Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr., President and CEO of Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO; Dr. Néstor Medina, Associate Professor of Religious Ethics and Culture at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto; and The Rev. Dr. José Francisco Morales Torres, Associate Professor of Comparative Theology and Philosophy at Chicago Theological Seminary.
Her dissertation examines the May 2002 massacre in Bellavista-Bojayá-Chocó, Colombia, and considers possible liberative aspects of Christology from the perspective of the Afro-descendant women massacre survivors, which are directly connected to the recovered crucifix they call the “Mutilated Christ.” Placed within the broader histories of Latin America, Colombia, U.S. imperialism and intervention, and the 50-year Colombian civil war, the “Mutilated Christ” becomes a symbol through which women aim to express their own and their community’s wounded, impoverished, marginalized bodies and oppressed lives.
Dr. Green serves on the ministerial staff at Cathedral of Grace in Aurora, IL, in various roles at Cathedral of Grace | St. John Church, under the pastoral leadership of The Rev. Jesse Hawkins. She is the former Executive Administrative Assistant in the Department of Church Growth and Development of the AME Church, under the direction of retired General Officer The Rev. Dr. James C. Wade.
The Clergy Family Information Center extends congratulations as you praise God for the Joy of these significant milestones.
God Bless!
Ora L. Easley
