The Rev. Ranesa Mayo, Pastor

Rev. Ranesa Mayo, born August 3, 1979, is the middle child of Joyce Bell and the late Raymond G. Bell.  She is a native Washingtonian who was educated in DC Public Schools and received a B.A. in English Writing from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA.  In March 2004, she married her high school sweetheart, Jibri Rashad Mayo and from their union came three rambunctious boys: Josiah, Joshua and Jonathan.

Rev. Mayo grew up in the AME Zion Church and was nurtured in the Word of God from birth.  She knew as a young child that God had called her to be a light in this dark world. Under the guidance of her then Pastor, the late Rev. Dr. Lewis M. Anthony, she gained knowledge and insight into the things of God and more specifically, the Word of God. With time, study and much prayer, she accepted her call to preach and gave her initial sermon under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Heath Cheek in August of 2000.

In October of 2014, Rev. Mayo was ordained an Elder in the AME Zion Church. In May 2019 she was appointed as the Pastor of S.G. Spottswood AME Zion Church in Landover, MD. In May 2023, she was appointed at the Pastor of Beth Shalom AME Zion Church in Clinton, MD.

With hopes of furthering her education and growing even stronger in her teaching and preaching, Rev. Mayo contributes great spiritual leaders and former pastors, especially the Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins, for helping her be who she is today.

Rev. Mayo loves God and serving His people. She enjoys hearing the Word of God preached and taught by anointed men and women of God. She is constantly learning and growing and is grateful to share this spiritual journey with her husband by her side.  It is her desire to be a great witness of God—making every effort to live a life pleasing to Him and letting others know just how good He truly is.