Rt. Rev. Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford Sr.
136th Elected and Consecrated Bishop
Presiding Prelate of the 19th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
A native of South Carolina, Bishop Ronnie Elijah Brailsford, Sr. was born and raised in Clarendon County. In 2016, he was elected and consecrated the 136th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during the 50th Quadrennial General Conference held in Philadelphia, PA. In 2021, he was assigned to serve as the Presiding Prelate of the 19th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church which is located in South Africa and is comprised of 246 churches and over 54,000 members.
Prior to the 19th Episcopal District, he served the 20th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church with 223 churches and over 23,000 members in the African countries of Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique. During a five year tenure, 28 churches and over 5,000 new members were added, culminating in an overall membership increase of 28% growth. Among many accomplishments, 9 churches were built, 12 new churches were planted and 16 churches joined the AMEC.
Rev. Carolyn Elizabeth Irvin Brailsford
Episcopal Supervisor of the19th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Episcopal Supervisor Rev. Carolyn Elizabeth Irvin Brailsford is a native of Valdosta, GA, and serves the 19th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Married to Bishop Dr. Ronnie Elijah Brailsford, Sr., she also served in the 20th Episcopal District. She was Minister of Music and Worship Arts at Bethel A.M.E Church in Columbia, SC as Bishop Brailsford pastored 24 years.
Previously, she served on the faculty of Spelman College (Atlanta, GA), and Allen University (Columbia, SC) as Choral Directress and Instructor of Music. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music; and an Honors graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington) where she earned a Master of Music Degree with Distinction in Vocal Performance. She did further studies in the area of Ethnomusicology at Indiana University. Affectionately called "Rev. Carolyn", Supervisor C, or Mother, she is an Ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
