ABOUT US

Our Co-Founder Mrs. Mayfred J. Nall

Mayfred Jolinda Hughes Nall was born Monday, June 9, 1947, in Fayette County, Alabama to the late William and Ruby Corina Hughes. She received her early education at Canaan Junior High School and graduated from West Highland High School, 1965 ranked fourth in her class. She was active in a variety of high school activities and served three years as Secretary of her homeroom class. Perhaps what she was most noted for was her accurate memorization of the Scriptures. Once when asked why she had such a knowledge of the Scriptures, she responded, “As a child growing up without school textbooks, I studied the only book I have available: The Bible.”

Mayfred graduated from Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL in 1970 with a degree in Business Education. She launched her career as a typing teacher in the Colbert County School System, Tuscumbia, Alabama.

In October 1986 Roe moved the Nall family to Atlanta, Georgia so that Roe could begin his studies to earn his degree in divinity. On November 2, 1986, Roe and Mayfred were given a paper appointment by Bishop Arthur Marshall, Jr. to the pastorate of Decatur Mission A. M. E. Zion Church. Mayfred worked side by side her husband to build the ministry. During her period of service to this ministry, she served as cook for the Sunday School breakfast program, initiated a nursery program for Sunday morning and Tuesday night Bible Study, served as Sunday School teacher, and was Coordinator of the Young Adult Missionary Society and Life Members Council for many of the initial startup years, she faithfully typed the six-page worship bulletin every Saturday night. Mayfred carefully tended to the smallest detail and was continuingly going above and beyond what was required and expected. She was asked once why she as a ‘first lady’ worked in such a dedicated manner with an unbreakable spirit and was so involved and committed to so many different responsibilities. She responded, “I try to work in areas where there is a need in the church. I am committed to serve until God sends someone who will willing step in and take over the responsibilities.”

Mayfred’s passion as a Sunday School teacher was never more exemplified than on Sunday, May 31, 2015, when she taught her last lesson from First Corinthians 13. She began teaching Sunday School with one pupil, her husband, with such passion as though there were fifty to sixty persons in the class. A little later another student arrived and finally two more students arrive. Mayfred continued teaching the lesson that she prepared over the previous week with the final touches added Saturday night. At the conclusion of the lesson she stated, “It is all about loving God and one another and making it to Heaven. You can have an elegant prophetic tongue; you can understand all mysteries; you can give your body to be burned; you can have all education and knowledge; but if you do not love, you are nothing.” This was Mrs. Nall last statement to her Sunday School Class.

Having traveled extensively throughout the world, Mayfred’s other passion was to make it possible to connect members of the Holy Catholic Church through sharing their theological thoughts and experiences as a part of their faith journey. Thus, The Lenten Dove was born. It was very important to Mayfred that every soul be exposed to the care and goodness of God.

Mayfred had a very dedicated prayer life. She prayed daily over every matter and concern until God gave her the answer. She managed not only the affairs of her life, but those of the family, household, and all matters through prayer. Her days began with a cup of green tea, Bible Study, and an extended time of prayer. Her family knew not to bother her except for extreme emergencies during her prayer time. In the end, she knew that one day her life would be over, and she alone would stand before the throne of God and give an account of how she lived.

She supported her prayer efforts with Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) “ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Mayfred had a very private and caring ministry where she would minister to others in caring ways. She was a very unselfish, giving person that had a concern for others and their well-being. She has become known for sending cards that contained a delicate paper image of an angel and a financial gift just to say to someone, “You are loved and appreciated, and I care for your wellbeing.” She was an inspiration to many. She was certainly a role model in the way she cared and gave to others. Mayfred was there with a willing hand for individuals when they needed her most. It did not matter their faith or religious affiliation. She listened for and observed for needs and quietly met them. Long before God inspired the founding of Reaching and Meeting Needs Worldwide Ministry, Inc., Mayfred sought out the homeless, hungry, and naked and quietly reached to meet their needs from private resources. On Friday, November 29, 2013, inspired by God and using the first initials of their first and last name, Mayfred and her husband Roe officially began Reaching and Meeting Needs Worldwide Ministry, Inc.

As a mother of two daughters, aunt to over 50 nieces and nephews and a Christian mentor who worked for over thirty years with children and youth of all ages in the church, Mayfred had a deep and stirring concern for the well-being and destiny of youth. After many months of laying this concern before God, He gave Mayfred the vision to start Teen Reach, Inc.(TRI) a not-for-profit organization. The TRI mission is to set forth an ongoing, FREE, structured program where teens are provided with supplemental opportunities to interact in a fun and engaging way with other teens in a Christian atmosphere. The curriculum is designed to develop teen skills in a variety of life-changing areas-spiritual, social, cultural, personal professional, health and community service. Mayfred earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Alabama A. and M. University, Huntsville, Alabama, and master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Mayfred devoted 25 years to Emory University as an associate in the Development Office of Woodruff Library. Her hobbies included collecting thimbles and elephants, tending to her massive garden, preserving old bird nests, and canning fruits and vegetables.

Mayfred was a gift of God that none of us would have given up by choice. She lived every day with the desire to: “do all the good she could, by all the means she could, in all the ways she could, in all the places she could, at all the times she could, to all the people she could, as long as ever she could.”