Rev. Dr. Willa Estell
Executive Secretary
Maryville District
Rev. Dr. Willa Estell is the proud
mother of three beautiful children and
grandmother of two.
She is a graduate of Martin University
in Indianapolis receiving a Bachelor of
Arts with a major in Religious Studies
and minor in African American Studies.
She graduated from Christian
Theological Seminary in May 2001
receiving a Masters of Divinity.
In May 2013, she received the
Doctor of Ministry Degree from Hood
Theological Seminary.
She is an ordained Elder in
the African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church, serving as the Pastor of St.
Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Maryville
since 2001. She is
the first female to serve as Pastor to
St. Paul. In
2010 she was appointed the Presiding
Elder of the Maryville District
overseeing seven other churches.
Additionally,
she serves as the Coordinator of Women’s
Ministry for the Midwest District of the
A.M.E Zion Church which includes
Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky,
Michigan and Trinidad-Tobago
Conferences. As the
coordinator, some of her
responsibilities are to empower,
strengthen and encourage women to reach
their full God-given potential.
In 2016, she led the process of
rechartering the Alcoa-Blount County
NAACP. After coordinating efforts
to gain 100 initial members, the Alcoa
Blount County NAACP was rechartered in
February 2017. She was elected
President and continues to serve as
President.
She is the founder of Blount County
United: We are Stronger together.
Blount County United has its beginning
in “A Clarion Call to Prayer” held on
December 17, 2014 under the leadership
of Rev. Dr. Willa Estell. After
the deaths of Michael Brown, Trayvon
Martin, Eric Garner and other black men
and youth who were killed by police
officers, we felt it necessary as a
community of faith to seek the face of
God. In the midst of national racial,
social and political unrest, our goal
and desire was to bring awareness,
healing, unity and understanding to the
community of Blount County. In
January of 2015 “We Are Stronger
Together: Blount County United”
was born. Our purpose and mission
is to “promote an appreciation for
diversity and advocate for justice
throughout Blount County. In 2017 we
were established as a 501(c)3 non-profit
corporation.
She is also the co-founder the Beloved
Community Outreach Foundation. A 501(c)3
organization established in
2013, with a mission to help those
living with chronic illness with
medicine, rent, utilities, food and gas.
She has served on various boards in the
community, including Haven House,
American Red Cross, Good Neighbors,
Family Promise and Blount County
Ecumenical Action Council. She has
also served as a Hospice Chaplain and
Chaplain to women incarcerated in the
Blount County Jail.
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