Eldress Michelle Gooding will be installed as pastor of the Herring Grove Free Will Baptist Church at 4 p.m. Sunday. The guest preacher for the occasion will be Antonio Blow, pastor, and the St. Mary Free Will Baptist Church of Jason. Bishop J.E. Reddick, General Bishop, will be conducting the installation ceremony. Herring Grove is at 46 U.S. Hwy 70 W., Kinston,
Gooding is a Kinston native, the daughter of the late Rev. William Griffin and Loretta Hardy. She is married to Vincent Gooding, and they have a daughter, Viya Elizabeth. She is a lifelong member of Herring Grove and administrative secretary to her bishop, Dr. Johnnie Ervin Reddick. Under his tutelage, Gooding began ministry while in college and was later ordained with full preaching credentials in November of 1994.
She attended Lenoir County Schools and graduated from Winston-Salem State University. Her studies extend toward a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Theology from Trinity Bible College and Seminary.
As a representative with Woodmen of the World Fraternal Insurance Society, Gooding offers life insurance and annuities to North Carolina families. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Lenoir County Rotary Club. She serves on the board of the N.C. Council for Women and Domestic Violence Commission.
She is the recipient of the Woman with Purpose Award by the state of North Carolina and many other national and state awards for her work with families and children. Her spiritual and vocational training combined have led her to reach families and impact their lives for God’s glory.
For more information about the celebration, call Blendia Joyner at 252-527-6801 or Gooding at 252-268-9640.