Pastor Lawrance Delano Mayes, Sr. was born in Charlotte, NC and is married to first lady Betty Mayes. Pastor and Mrs. Mayes are blessed parents of three children; Sonya, Tracy, and Lawrance Jr. and four grandchildren; Justin Mayes-Dickerson, Naomi Oliver, Kennedy Oliver and Denim Mayes.

 

Pastor Mayes received his formative education in the public schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC. He has served as a student in the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, CO. He continued his studies at Johnson C. Smith University, where he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education, Masters of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia, a Masters Certification in Education and Administration, University of North Carolina of Charlotte, NC. 

 

Pastor Mayes Presently serves as the Senior Minister of Grace Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He served faithfully for nineteen years as Senior Minister at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Gastonia, NC; as a pulpit Supply for Ben Salem United Presbyterian Church, USA, Charlotte, NC; Minister of Community Relations at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church and as Associate Minister of Saint John Baptist Church in Newell, NC. 

 

Pastor Mayes has been featured in magazines and newspaper articles for his leadership skills and commitment to human welfare. He has received the Unsung Hero Award from the Focus on Leadership Organization , has served as President of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Principal's Association , a member of the Tarheel Principal's Association, has been a member of the Principal Leadership Advisory Team, served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Technology Advisory Team and as a member of the Lane Creek Association. He retired from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System after thirty-seven years of service.

 

Pastor Mayes is a committed and dedicated servant of God who views his role in the gospel ministry as that of a servant of God. He believes that he has been ordained of God to Preach the Gospel message of Salvation to all of God's children. He declares that the works he is about is not of his own doing, but rather that of God. His prayer is always that God will use him to his glory. He believes that everyone born of God should desire that individuals look beyond the nature of man, but rather look at the man in the man.