JURISDICTIONAL
WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT

History of Southern Georgia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

In March 1970, the honorable Bishop Cephus J. Hicks was appointed Bishop over the Southern Georgia Jurisdiction upon the death of Bishop E.W. Strickland. Bishop Hicks pastored for 60 years and was Bishop for 31 years. Mother Amanda Johnson served as the Supervisor of Women. He was married to Missionary Dorothy Williams Hicks, who preceded him in death. He later married Missionary Ernestine Hawkins Hicks. He passed away on June 26, 2003. He was the last Bishop to serve before Southern Georgia was divided into two jurisdictions.

The honorable Bishop Jack Stephens was the first Bishop of Southern Georgia’s Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He was consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop and installed as the Jurisdictional Bishop by the late presiding Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson on July 29, 2002, and officially acquired Southern Georgia’s Second Ecclesiastical jurisdictional headquarters in 2004. He was married to Mother Pansy Coleman Stephens for 45 years. Mother Amy Engram was appointed the first Supervisor of Southern Georgia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, in the year of 2002. Bishop Jack Stephens passed in 2009.

The honorable Bishop John Wayne Leggett became the second Bishop in Southern Georgia’s Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He was consecrated to the sacred office by presiding Bishop Emeritus Charles H. Blake in 2010.  He was married to Alfreda Humphries Leggett. Mother Amy Engram continued to serve as the Supervisor of Women. Bishop Leggett passed away on April 2, 2020.  

The honorable Bishop Dr. Ronald Engram is our third and current Bishop. In 2018, he was appointed by Bishop John Wayne Leggett as a Superintendent. In June 2020, he was appointed Bishop-Designate of Southern Georgia’s Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and was later ratified by the General Assembly in March of 2021. On June 23, 2021, Bishop Designate Engram was consecrated and installed as Prelate of Southern Georgia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.  He is married to First Lady Emy Engram. Bishop appointed Mother Dr. Barbara A. Smith as the second Supervisor of Women in 2021. Mother is married to Superintendent Robert L. Smith, the jurisdictional president of Men Perfecting Men.

Daily Bible Verse 11/19/2024

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT