Information about Long’s Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and it's Leadership

Long’s Memorial was named for W. W. Long, who faithfully served as Presiding Elder of the Durham District for 30 years from 1926-1956. The church was in existence prior to the construction of the church building and services were held in a small basement, now buried on the property.

The Reverend Eric L. Woods was appointed “Pastor in Charge” of Long’s Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, by the Right Reverend Richard K. Thompson. The appointment was effective May 31, 2009. Prior to being appointed to Pastor Long’s Memorial, Rev. Woods was a Steward Board Member, Credit Union Board Member and then accepted the call to ministry and served as an Associate Minister, including Minister of Family Life (oversight of Marriage Ministry, Sports Ministry, etc.) under the Rev. Dr. W. Darin Moore, Pastor of Greater Centennial AME Zion Church in Mt. Vernon, New York Annual Conference. He then relocated North Carolina and transferred to the Central North Carolina Annual Conference. He served as Associate Minister and Executive Pastor under the Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell at Grace A.M.E. Zion Church in Raleigh, NC and as Associate Minister under the Rev. Lorinzer Johnson at Kyles Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, in Durham, NC. Additionally Rev. Woods created the initial websites for Greater Centennial, Grace, and the Raleigh District and records Voice Overs of the Young People Adult Quarterly under the direction of the A.M.E. Zion Publishing house with CDs distributed quarterly as a service to the hearing impaired.

Some of the other Pastors that have served at Long’s Memorial were, Rev. J. C. Gray, Rev. Perry, Rev. Mamie Thomas, Rev. Gloria Moore, Rev. Dexter Bledsoe, Rev. Donald Cozart, Rev. Brian Thompson, Rev. Ronal Lunsford, Rev. Canty, supplied by the Rev. Thomasenia Shaw and Rev. Sylvia Degraffereindt, Rev. Rev. Berma Jewel Spinks, Rev. Dietrich Danner, and the Rev. Willie Mc Crimmon.

Some of the Presiding Elders were Elder W. W. Long, Elder J.A. Brown, Elder Ward, Elder Alston, Elder S.J Farrar, and currently the Elder Lawrence Miller. Long’s Memorial has also been under the following Bishops, Bishop Hilliard, the late Bishop Wactor, Bishop George Miller, Bishop George Battle, and presently Bishop Richard K. Thompson.

This is first lady Narcisa Woods in an Univision piece on Domestic Violence as Legal Specialist for the Victims & Citizens Services Section of the North Carolina Attorney General's Office. Part of her career long dedication to Public Interest law which also includes being a staff attorney at the Yonker's office of My Sister's Place representing survivors of Domestic Violence and their children in court, and other like positions dealing with immigration, Social Security and other issues.