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01/24/2023 09:39 AMOn May 23, 1923, a handful of founding members organized Branford’s first African American church, St. Stephen’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, at the Gibbs homestead at 9 Bryan Road.
In celebrating St. Stephen’s 100th anniversary in 2023, its religious community leaders hope to inspire the greater community to join in. Associate minister and elder Rev. Alberta Woody is helping St. Stephen’s Pastor in Charge, Rev. Dr. Leroy O. Perry, organize the effort.
To celebrate St. Stephen’s 75th anniversary, members marched from the church’s first home on Bryan Road to St. Stephen’s brick church building at 31 Rogers Street. Among many ideas in the works, Alberta would love to see that exciting march take place again during the 100th anniversary year.
She also shares St. Stephen’s plans to host a centennial sermon in May. The featured keynote speaker will be the president of Livingstone College (NC). The private, historically Black Christian college is among those supported by St. Stephen’s. It’s also the alma mater of several of its leaders, including Rev. Dr. Perry. Other Livingstone graduates include Alberta’s brother, former St. Stephen’s Pastor in Charge Rev. Charles Woody, and her late sister, former St. Stephen’s associate minister Rev. Melinda Woody.
More 100th-anniversary celebration ideas in discussion range from holding a gospel fest to offering a community breakfast at Branford Community House, says Alberta. As always, all are welcome to attend services at St. Stephen’s, which holds its main worship service at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
“We’ve just grown in this community, and I’m praying that the community will embrace our 100-year anniversary,” says Alberta.
An Important Part of Branford
While St. Stephen’s has shared many good works as a member of Branford’s faith-based community, none is likely better known than its establishment of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Breakfast at the church 38 years ago.
Today, the breakfast is organized by the nonprofit Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Foundation of Greater Branford, which grew out of the church’s original MLK Breakfast Committee. Alberta is the Foundation’s chaplain and a member of its MLK Breakfast Committee.
On Jan. 16, the Foundation’s annual MLK breakfast returned as a virtual event. It featured a talk by U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, the first Black American woman to serve as a Connecticut district U.S. Attorney (read the story here).
“The breakfast started here, and it’s grown. The Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Foundation has grown, too,” says Alberta. “We’re trying to get more people involved. We want it to be a very diverse committee. We want all the communities to be involved — not just African Americans. We want Muslims; we want Hindus; we want everyone to be a part of it. Because that’s what Martin Luther King was all about: sharing, getting to know one another. If we don’t work together, we’ll never know one another.”
A Church Family
St. Stephen’s has shepherded and supported generations of Branford families as members of the church, including those from its founding families.
For her part, Alberta’s family name is one that’s more recently become very familiar not only to church members but to the broader community. She says that’s largely due to her brother, Rev. Charles Woody, who completed his service as church pastor in 2014. He’s currently serving as pastor at a North Carolina church.
“He was here in this church almost 20 years,” Alberta notes, adding his late wife, Maxine, was also an ordained minister who served the congregation.
In fact, Alberta is the fourth with the Woody name to serve at St. Stephen’s. Her late sister, Rev. Melinda Woody, who passed away in 2020, also preached at the church.
“She was an awesome preacher,” says Alberta, adding her younger sister was a tough act to follow.
“They teased us! They called her the preacher, and I’m the ‘preachette.’ I’m the oldest, and she was younger, and they kind of switched it around.”
The five Woody siblings, three boys and two girls, grew up in Mt. Vernon, New York. Among them, four are ordained ministers. Alberta says all were inspired by Charles, who has been in ministry since about the age of 18.
Alberta started her ministry role in 1999, giving her initial sermon at a Baptist church. She joined St. Stephen’s during her brother’s tenure, traveling back and forth to church from her home in New York. At St. Stephen’s, she went through schooling with seminary teachers, first becoming an ordained elder with the church.
Alberta moved to Branford 13 years ago to care for her sister during a lengthy, debilitating illness that eventually caused Melinda’s passing. In earlier years, Alberta and Melinda often visited CT Hospice to minister to church members, together with their brother, who served as Hospice chaplain.
“We visited the sick and those elderly folks regularly. That was what we did,” says Alberta. “He kind of instilled that in me — to take care of them, go visit them, make sure they have what they need, and keep them involved, so they don’t feel alone.”
Alberta loves her Branford home among the townhouses neighboring the church. She also serves on the church’s housing committee for the townhouses. For many years, Alberta was also the church’s secretary.
“I’ve been here 13 years. I love this community. I enjoy being here.”
Alberta also enjoys giving back by participating in community events, such as the annual the Blessing of the Animals on the Branford green.
From Branford, Alberta commutes, by train and bus, to her day job as a program liaison for New York Presbyterian Hospital (White Plains, New York). Now in her 36th year with its clinic serving psychiatric clients, Alberta’s main focus is coordinating with clients to ensure their medical and medication needs are met.
“I love my job. I love the patients,” she says.
Caring for the Church Community
At St. Stephen’s, Alberta’s role often includes assisting members of the church in prayer, programs, and even their daily lives.
“We try to take care of each other. That’s what we do here.”
Many members are older seniors with a deep connection to their church.
“Our church right now is more elderly. They’ve literally grown up in this church. They’re senior citizens now, but they still love this church. They support it, and they won’t leave it.”
They’re also resilient. Alberta’s monthly prayer group, mostly senior citizens, loves the group so much she’s increased its meetings to twice monthly. While they used to meet at church, virtual conferences that started during the pandemic have continued.
Alberta attributes her savvy seniors’ online know-how to the efforts of Rev. Dr. Perry, who led the church through the pandemic in many meaningful ways.
“We went from being in church to being virtual, and he made it possible for these seniors,” says Alberta. “He got them tablets and was able to make sure they knew how to get online to do different things. It was awesome. They loved it. He really tries to help them to stay up-to-date and be involved in whatever we’re doing.”
At St. Stephen’s, Rev. Dr. Perry is also Cultural Ambassador to the Yale Clinical Research program.
“He tries to keep us involved in getting the best health care we can get. So he’s a big advocate of that, and Yale is working with us in trying to help us,” says Alberta.
When COVID vaccinations first became available, “...he got vaccinations set up here. We had a vaccine clinic. So these were some of the first ones to get the vaccine. They were excited about it.”
Welcome Back to St. Stephen’s
In its 100th year, in addition to welcoming new members, St. Stephen’s is hoping to call more of its younger members back to church services rather than viewing online at the church’s Facebook page.
There’s nothing quite like the community feel created by gathering together for worship, Alberta says. Visiting speakers, and holiday services with events in mind for families and children (such as St. Stephen’s Easter celebration), are among just some of the welcoming aspects of the church.
“We’re trying to encourage more young people to come,” says Alberta. “Since the pandemic, most of our young people watch online. It’s not the same as being here. So that’s why I’m hoping that, during this 100th year, we get the word out into the community to remind them we are still here; we have not left. We’re just trying to encourage more and more people. It’s time to start coming back to church.”
For more information on St. Stephens AME Zion Church services and programs, visit ststephensamezion.org. To contribute items to the church’s 100th Anniversary publication, or to advertise in it, email ststephensamez123@gmail.com