by: Kinsley Townsend of COLTG Tupelo, MS

I’m going to tell you about my great-grandmother, Elder Opal Irene Wofford. She was born June 25, 1918, in Calhoun City, Mississippi. She accepted Christ as her Lord and savior at an early age. She was a devoted wife, mother, and servant of God. She was married to Dec. John Ammer Wofford, and from their union came Ammer, Tamar, and James. She also was the mother of John Edward Russell. She was a housekeeper and a caretaker for children in the community. She enjoyed cooking and serving God. Her family enjoyed her famous pineapple pound cake, stewed potatoes, and many other dishes. In the 1970s, she was the joint presiding Elder with Elder Alberta Wortham. They traveled many miles alongside Bishop A.W Taylor. She was later appointed the pastor of Kilmichael, Houston, and Brown Chapel. For many years, she traveled to Kilmichael for Sunday school, Houston for the 3 o’clock service, and then to Brown Chapel for night services. She would teach and preach that God wants people that are real, willing, and, holy to work in the vineyard and not wind batters. She was a faithful servant until her death on April 29th, 1986.