About the Founder . . .
Rev. Debra L. Gray
Rev. Gray is a resident of Southern Pines. With 10 years experience as a middle and high school teacher, she has always maintained a passion for young people. Her teaching experience has included both rural and urban communities. Her educational career began in her home state of New York. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education at Long Island University in New York in 1985. She earned her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2016. Presently, she is in pursuit of her Master of Divinity degree from Duke University.
Rev. Gray sits on the Bold Initiative Committee of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Moore Montessori Community School Board, and the United Way of Moore County. She was one of the 4 clergy persons who organized the Faith and Race trip to Washington, DC. More recently, she has been one of the clergy of the Beloved Community, which has hosted 2 community book reads. She proudly serves the Blacknall Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church of Lee County as pastor.
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About the co-Founder . . .
Rev. Dr. Paul G. Murphy
Rev. Dr. Paul Greene Murphy is a well-known resident of Southern Pines. He is an accomplished musician and a respected teacher of preachers in the A.M.E. Zion Church He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition at UNC Chapel Hill in 1991. In 2000, he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University. His Doctorate of Ministry was earned at Hood Theological Seminary in 2011.
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Dr. Murphy has been an administrator and teacher in Moore County. He sits on several boards within our community. He presently serves as our mayor pro tem in Southern Pines