Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Biography
Vashti Murphy McKenzie is a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. McKenzie is the first female elected as bishop in the denomination’s history. She is also the national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the granddaughter of Delta founder Vashti Turley Murphy.
McKenzie has been honored for her community service, outstanding achievement and being a religious role model by a number of diverse civic, educational, business and governmental leaders. She is also the National Chaplain for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. an international public service organization and a life member of the NAACP.
She has received honorary doctorates from Howard University, Wilberforce University, Morgan State University, and Goucher College.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Age
Mckenzie was born on May 28, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland. She is 72 years old.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Family
She is the daughter to Ida Murphy Smith Peters and Samuel Edward Smith. Her mother was in marketing and advertising.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Education
McKenzie attended Robert Brown Elliot School, School #18, and Garrison Junior High School. She was also one of the six black students who attended Eastern High School. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1965. After spending a summer at the Blair School of Journalism, McKenzie enrolled at Morgan State University where she majored in history.
She went on to attend the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, where she earned her B.A. degree. McKenzie went on to earn her MDiv degree in divinity from Howard University Divinity School in 1985.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Husband
Mckenzie is a married woman. She and her husband, Stan McKenzie, live in Dallas, Texas. They have three children: Jon-Mikael, Jasmine, and Jo-Marie. Her husband is a retired NBA player.
Bishop Vashti Murphy Mckenzie
After graduation, McKenzie began working for her family newspaper and wrote her own column, “The McKenzie Report.” McKenzie joined Bethel A.M.E. Church, her family’s original church, in 1976. In 1978, Cathy Hughes and Dewey Hughes contacted McKenzie about a position at WYCB Radio, and she began working there.
McKenzie hosted an afternoon drive Gospel show on WYBC Radio in 1981 and later rose to the position of the program director. McKenzie also worked for WJZ-TV doing a segment on a program called Evening Magazine. She rotated between working at WYCB, WEBB, and WAYE as an on-air personality, program director, general manager, and as Corporate Vice President of Programming of Mortenson Broadcasting Company.
Vashti was made an itinerant deacon in 1981 and commuted between Bethel A.M.E. in Cecil County and Ebenezer A.M.E. churches. McKenzie was ordained by the A.M.E. Church in 1984. In 1990, she joined Payne Memorial A.M.E. in Baltimore as pastor.
In 2000, while serving as chief pastor of the 18th Episcopal District in southeast Africa, McKenzie was elected and consecrated as the 117th bishop of the A.M.E. Church at their General Counsel. McKenzie and Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry were the first women to become A.M.E. bishops.
In 2005, McKenzie again made history as the first woman to become the titular head of the A.M.E. Church. She subsequently became presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District in Tennessee and Kentucky
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Books
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Net Worth
Mckenzie earns an average salary from her career. Although she has not disclosed the actual amount of her salary. Her estimated net worth is currently under review.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Delta Sigma Theta
Not only is Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., but is the granddaughter of one of the 22 founders – Vashti Turley Murphy.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Quotes
McKenzie keeps a verse framed on her desk at Payne Memorial AME Church. It reads in part, “A person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. . . . Only a person who risks is free.” As for Mckenzie quotes please click here.
Vashti Murphy Mckenzie Twitter
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