Tuskegee District
Rev. Raymond B. Swafford
Presiding Elder
Presiding Elder Raymond B. Swafford is the son of the late Joseph and Lavinia Swafford. He was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, Illinois and a Master of Divinity Degree – Magna Cum Laude – from Payne Theological Seminary. Presiding Elder Swafford has served as a pastor of four churches in the Ninth Episcopal District. Hopewell AME Church (Florence), Oak Grove AME Church (Florence), Hopewell AME Church (Birmingham) and Gaines Chapel AME Church (Phenix City), where he served along with his wife, Rev. Alvelyn Sanders Swafford as Co-pastors.
In November 2024, Reverend Raymond Swafford was appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Tuskegee District of the Northeast Alabama Annual Conference by Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Jr., Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District. Reverend Alvelyn Sanders-Swafford serves as District Consultant. The Tuskegee District consists of 22 churches located in the Alabama counties of Bullock, Russell, and Lee.
| CHURCH NAME | 2025~ 2026 |
|---|---|
| Washington Chapel AME | Rev. Trevor E. Woolridge |
| Person Chapel AME | Rev. Nathaniel Copeland |
| St. Paul AME, Hurtsboro | Rev. Dr. Clementine Warren |
| St. Mark AME, Guerryton | Rev. Debbie Dowdell |
| Great Hope AME, Midway | Rev. Christine Thomas |
| Wayman Chapel AME, Union Springs | Rev. Ronald C. Smith |
| St. Luke AME, Enon | Rev. Cynthia Johnson |
| Hardaway AME | Rev. Tomeko Harris |
| St. Mark AME, Opelika | Rev. Jonathan (Joe) Benton |
| St. Luke AME, Opelika | Rev. Monique Summers |
| St. Paul AME, Opelika | Rev. Willie Lyles |
| St. Paul AME, Lanett | Rev. Evelyn Sanders-Swafford |
| Lee Chapel AME, Auburn | Rev. James Parker |
| Clayton Circuit-Marianna AME & Shiloh AME | Rev. Sarah Calhoun |
| Jones Chapel AME, Omega Banks | Rev. Tomeko Harris |
| St. John AME, Union Springs | Rev. Eric Graves |
| Allen Chapel AME, Fitzpatrick | Supply by Elder |
| St. John AME, Hurtsboro | Rev. Jonathan (Joe) Benton |
| New Bethel AME, Fitzpatrick | Supply by Elder |
| St. James AME, Tuskegee | Supply by Elder |
| Hurts Chapel AME | Supply by Elder |
| St. John AME, Tuskegee | Supply by Elder |