Church Pioneer
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2007 Department of Missions Pioneer Award
Mother Irma Goldsberry
Jurisdiction Supervisor of Women
In the month and year of April 1928 2 PM in Greenville North Carolina a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. David Wilkes weighting 6 lbs. 5 oz. she was the fifth child of this lovely couple They decided to name her Irma Lee. She attended the public schools in Greenville, N.C. and had many friends there. In 1944, She moved to Delaware. While growing up, a few of her friends were Constance Wright , (known to us and Constance Jones), Johnetta Clay and Blanche Goodwin. In 1947, She met a young man by the name of Norven Goldsberry. They were married on August 28, 1947 in the city of Wilmington, Delaware. The minister was Pastor Mills G. Skinner of Grace A.M.E. Zion church. Through this marriage, they had three children, Norven Leory, Joyce Diane and Jane. In the year of 1951 , Mr,& Mrs. Norven Goldsberry and their son , Norven Jr., become a member of Mt. Calvary Temple C.O.G.I.C. under the leadership of Elder L.T. Blackshear, and she recieved the baptism of the Holy Ghost. As they began to grow in the will of the lord, the late Elder Norven Goldsberry was sent by Elder Blackshear to Beltown Delaware. As he continued to lead and guide them, Elder Goldsberry was then led by the Spirit to Millsboro Delaware. There they began their work for the Lord under a tree, alone with three women in five children. The congregation began to grow, but the weather started getting cold. They were blessed to move their services into the home of Mother Watson. The congregation then had grown to large for Mother Watsons home, so they moved to an available empty house. The Lord spoke to Elder Goldsberry to build a church. Elder Goldsberry gave Sis. Irma Goldsberry permission to name the church. During that time, Elder Blackshear and the late Elder Randall were teaching about "The Trinity" , so Sister Goldsberry then decided to name the church New Holy Trinity C.O.G.I.C. The groundbreaking ceremony was conducted by the late W.M. Wilson of Connecticut and Elder Blackshear and other clergy. The church was dedicated in the year of 1957. Sister Irma Goldsberry (at that time) was the first superintendent of her local church Sunday School, the first church mother , a teacher, treasure and conducted many revivals.
She has traveled up and down the highway with her family, four hours round trip for one or several days a week. She has traveled through winter storms, all kinds of bad weather. the windshield wipers would stop working, there would be no heat in the car , no defroster , the car sometimes broke down on the highway,there were flat tires on top of St. George's bridge. Many times she had to stop along the highway to feed her family and help her husband to drive. At times when they arrived at Millisboro, especially during winter months with large amounts of snow, the church doors would be locked, and the church was cold. She and Elder Goldsberry would unlock the church, turn on the heat and wait for the saints to come out. At times no one would show up, so she just gathered her family back in the car and head back home. But through it all, she continued on by faith. Growing in grace, she attended the C.H. Mason Bible School, O.T. Jones School of Christian Education Extension Course," and upon completion, she received a certificate. The positions that she has held in the State of Delaware are as follows: A former member of the State Choir. A former member of the Y.W.C.C. An evangelist missionary in 1979, she received a reward of Minister and Deacon wives C.O.G.I.C. Most industrious women. Later, she was appointed by the late Supervisor Mother Burton to be the Assistant Supervisor, which she received at that time a certificate of appointment by the late Mother Mattie McGlothen, in Memphis Tenn. Mother McGlothen was the general supervisor at that time. In 1995, she became the supervisor of the State of Delaware. She received a certificate of appointment for the State Supervisor for the State of Delaware at the 88th Holy Convocation, November 9, 1995 in Memphis Tenn. by the late international supervisor, the late Emma F. Crouch. This great lady. whom I'm speaking about has been through all types of hard trials, mistreatments, talked about and criticized. She's has had cancer and burns that had required skin grafts. Usually between the hours of 1:00-2:00 a.m. is her prayer and bible times. ( I guess that's why she was born around 2:00 am) Two of her favorite songs are "How Great Thy Art" and "Blessed Assurance". She has been a member of Mt. Calvary Temple, New Holy Trinity, Love Temple and now she is back home at Mt. Calvary Temple C.O.G.I.C. She is a mother not only to her children , but to others, a grandmother and great grandmother. She is a counselor, a listener and a prayer warrior and a patient child of GOD.
Mother Irma Goldsberry we salute you!
A tribute to a department of mission pioneer in the Delaware Jurisdiction