Florence M. McElory

The Christian Benevolent Funeral - MMS announces with the deepest sympathy the transition of  Presiding Elder Florence McElory

                                                          CELEBRATION OF LIFE SET FOR PRESIDING ELDER

                                                                 REV. FLORANCE “FLO” MCELROY

                                                                 TUESDAY, SEPT. 13, 2022, AT 11AM

                                                                  BETHEL AME CHURCH

                                                     714 SAVANNAH STREET, MOBILE, AL 36603

How do you embrace the end of your faith journey with the grace and peace that Reverend Florance “Flo” McElroy, Presiding Elder, showed us in recent days? How do you wake up each day, knowing a final and last breath is coming with urgency? One last conversation will be uttered. One last glance into the eyes of those who mean so much to you will be shared – and yet you pray and press ahead not knowing the day or the hour that will mark your eternal transition. “Rev. Flo” was a consummate servant leader, who faced life with faithfulness until her last breath. She made it clear to all in her presence that she knew who she was in Christ. She did not pretend. She did not add nor take away from how God knit her together in the womb of her mother. She honored the Divine anointing on her life.

Willing in worship. Willing in preaching. Willing in pastoral care and evangelistic outreach. In her unique “performing my faith” and trusting God,Rev. “Flo” honored the Divine calling to pastoral ministry, bridging the gap between God’s people and the commandments of God for more than 30 years of pastoral leadership. Born on April 24,1971, she was the daughter and the second child of Willie Grant McElroy, Sr. and Rosemary Powell McElroy.

Growing up in a seaside hometown, Rev. Flo experienced life like many disciples in Holy Scripture, walking along the shorelines reflecting on the greatness of God’s amazing grace. She was a 1989 graduate of John L. Leflore High School where she was a part of the mighty rattlers marching band. A graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, Rev. Flo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies. She earned the Master of Divinity degree at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Flo also completed the Executive Certification Program of the Summer Leadership Institute at Harvard University.

  Rev. Flo accepted her calling to pastoral ministry in February 1995. She promised God that she would go wherever God ordered her steps and would serve God’s people. In October 1998, Rev. Flo was ordained as a minister and she began a phenomenal ministerial career nationally and internationally. She served as the youth pastor of Allen Temple AME in Atlanta, GA and in a similar role at Ebenezer AME Church and St. Paul AME Church, both in Detroit, MI. Leadership doors of opportunity opened for her to serve as an administrative assistant for the 119th Elected Bishop Rev. Preston Warren Williams and the 135th Elected Bishop Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield. She also served on the administrative staff for the 123rd Elected Bishop Rev. James Levert Davis. In 2017, she accepted her first church appointment at Chapel of Christ Our Redeemer in Kingston, Jamaica. Five years later, on May 27, 2022, Rev. Flo accepted her appointment to the position of Presiding Elder of the Blue Mountain District of the Jamaica Annual Conference of the AME Church. In this role, she presided over 12 churches. Rev. Flo also served as Dean of the Board of Examiner, 16th District Treasurer, 16th District Representative of the GDC, General board member/leader, 16th District Administrator, Chair of the Finance committee, and Vice Chair of the 16th District Trustee Board. 

“Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.” Today, we celebrate the phenomenal ways that illustrate how Rev. Flo lived her pastoral life to show love for God and for God’s people wherever she served. From youth pastor in the historic Allen Temple AME Church in Atlanta, GA, to pastor of the Chapel of Christ Our Redeemer and serving as a Presiding Elder in Kingston, Jamaica, Rev. Flo. proved she was unwavering in her commitment to fulfill her pastoral duties. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

     “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In the midst of the early morning hours on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, our beloved Rev. Flo received an extraordinary Divine invitation, to enter into eternal rest. Armed with the blessing of peace that surpasses all understanding and the joy of knowing God the Maker of heaven and earth, we are fully persuaded that Rev. Flo now rests from all of her earthly labors. We entrust her to the boundless love and eternal care of our Loving God. 

Rev. Flo is preceded in death by her parents, Willie Grant McElroy Sr. and Rosemary Powell McElroy; her grandmother, Willie Mae Powell, and her brother Willie Grant McElroy Jr. She leaves to cherish wondrous memories: Godparents Mary and Council Powell; loving niece, Rosemary (Toforest) Westry; brother, Jason (Jatangula) McElroy; two nephews, Joshua Keaton and Grant McElroy; two great nephews, Za’Vian Moore and Nicholas Westry; great niece, McKinnley Westry; five incredibly special sister friends, The Bishop E. Anne Henning (Ansley) Byfield; Beverly (J. Gary) Cooper; Rosalyn Dean; Joycelyn (Michael) King; and Jacquitta (Arthur) Powell-Green. A host of other family members and friends live on to cherish her memories.