Elder Anita Richardson

Elder Anita Richardson is an anointed woman of God. She was born in Hamilton, Bermuda to Ceylon Dexter Wise, Jr, and Julia Virginia Wise and was raised primarily in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born into a strong legacy of singers, musicians, preachers and educators. As a member of the Wise Family Singers, comprised of her mother and five siblings, she traveled the east coast singing gospel music and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life and has been involved in ministry ever since. After receiving her call to preach in 1984, she was ordained in 1992 at Light of the World Christian Tabernacle International under the leadership of Archbishop Jimmie L. Smith. She provided leadership in a variety of ministry roles over the years: Worship and Praise Leader, Director of Christian Education, Director of Children's Ministry, Women's Ministry Leader, and founder of Warriors International Intercessory Prayer Ministry. In 2002, she and her husband of 42 years, Bishop Dr. Terry G. Richardson, co-founded Christian Growth Ministries, Inc. in Ellenwood, Georgia where she serves as Elder. The Lord is continuing to work through Christian Growth Ministries to mature and equip the saints to meet the needs of the community. She is blessed to have three adult children, son-in-love and two daughters-in-love, Tiffany and Brandon Davis, Terry II and Chelsea, and Sean and Sykari. She is "Nana" to four beautiful grandchildren: Isaiah, Monae, Carter, and Slade.

She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Hampton University, a Master of Education Degree from Georgia State University, and an Education Specialist Degree from Piedmont College. She began her professional career as a Registered Nurse in 1977 and was called to be an educator in 1988. Since that time, the Lord has promoted her to serve in numerous roles in the educational arena. For twenty-four years she served Henry County Public Schools in McDonough, Georgia as a classroom teacher, Assistant Principal at the middle and high school levels, Professional Learning Director, and Director of Learning and Leadership Services. Her passion for equity and valuing diversity resulted in her pioneering a system-wide approach to cultural proficiency through the REACH (Respecting Equally All Cultures in Henry County) initiative while in Henry County Schools. The influential work impacted not only the school system, but the entire community and was awarded the Human Relations Award by the Georgia Association of Educators, the Unsung Heroes Award by the Anti-Defamation League, and resulted in her becoming a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar to South Africa in 2006. She ended her educational career serving Atlanta Public Schools as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. With all the accolades and accomplishments, she is most proud of her BA-"Born Again" status.