St. Paul CME Church Docena - Updated History (2025)

Welcome, brothers and sisters, to the rich and inspiring history of St. Paul C.M.E Church Docena. Our story begins over a century ago, in the year 1916, when the seeds of our beloved church were first planted in the soil of faith and community.

It was the Reverend W.E. Perkins who first organized our congregation. In those early days, we gathered in a humble place called a "beanery," owned by the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. But our spirits were anything but humble – they were filled with the glory of God and the promise of what was to come.

Just a year later, in 1917, we took our first step towards growth. We moved into a building that was once a theater, sharing it with our sisters and brothers from St. Matthews Baptist Church. We worshipped on alternating Sundays, with St. Paul holding services on the first and third Sundays, and St. Matthews on the second and fourth—a testament to the spirit of cooperation that has always been a hallmark of our community.

As the years passed, a succession of devoted pastors led our flock. After Reverend Perkins' tenure ended in 1921, we were blessed with the leadership of Reverends Wheeler, Bollas, Love, Carter, and Crompton, each leaving their unique imprint on our growing church family.

The middle of the century brought new challenges and opportunities. Under the guidance of pastors like Reverend O.J. Ford, who served two terms, and Reverend L.C. Bester, we continued to flourish. It was during Reverend Bester's leadership, from 1965 to 1974, that we witnessed one of the most significant milestones in our church's history – the construction of our new church building.

Despite being ill during the construction, Reverend Bester's faith never wavered. He rallied his strength to preach the opening ceremony in our new home, challenging us to carry love into the new church and keep it always. His words continue to echo in our hearts to this day.

As we moved into the modern era, our church continued to evolve and adapt. We've been blessed with many remarkable leaders, each bringing their unique gifts to our congregation. In the early 1990s, under the leadership of Reverend Michael Payne, Sr., we celebrated a momentous achievement – the liquidation of our church mortgage.

The years that followed saw us grow not just in numbers, but in our commitment to our community and our faith. Reverend Eddie Richardson's impactful tenure from 1994 to 2002 strengthened our congregation's foundation. In 2002, we made history with the appointment of Reverend Sucena Clark, who served until 2005 as the first female pastor of St. Paul CME Church, breaking new ground and expanding our understanding of God's calling.

Another notable chapter came during Reverend Alvin Crenshaw's ministry (2012-2017), when our church's artistic expression reached new heights through an award-winning praise dance team. Under his leadership, we also celebrated the production and distribution of the St. Paul CME Docena Church Choir CD, sharing our ministry through music beyond our sanctuary walls. Reverend Johnny R. Allen later served with his inspiring motto "Help is on the way," continuing our tradition of innovative spiritual leadership.

Today, under the guidance of our current pastor, Reverend Elder Desi Echoles, we continue to build on the strong foundation laid by those who came before us. Appointed in July 2022 by Bishop Dr. Clarence K. Heath, Reverend Echoles brings soul-stirring spiritual enrichment to our congregation, reminding us that we are the light of the world in our community. He serves not only as our pastor but also as Presiding Elder of the Birmingham District, demonstrating servant leadership both within our walls and throughout the broader CME connection.

Under Pastor Echoles' leadership, we have witnessed continued growth and transformation. In 2024-2025, we celebrated the completion of a new parking lot, expanding our facilities to better serve our growing congregation and welcome visitors with greater ease. This improvement represents our commitment to accessibility and hospitality—core values that have defined St. Paul since our days of sharing space with our sister church over a century ago.

Our youth ministry has flourished, with young people actively engaged in worship leadership, praise dance, and community service. We've strengthened our partnerships with sister CME congregations, including our close relationship with Southside CME Church in Birmingham. Our Sunday School program continues to nurture faith formation across all age groups, and our commitment to community outreach in Docena remains steadfast.

As we celebrate our 110th anniversary in 2025, we stand as a testament to God's faithfulness across three centuries of American history. From our humble beginnings in a shared space to the vibrant, active church we are today—complete with modern facilities, thriving ministries, and a vision for the future—St. Paul CME Church has been a beacon of faith, hope, and love in Docena, Alabama.

Our history is a testament to the power of faith and community. We've weathered storms, celebrated triumphs, broken barriers, and never stopped growing in God's grace. As we look to the future, we do so with the same spirit of devotion, innovation, and service that has guided us for over a century, knowing that the same God who sustained us for 110 years will carry us forward into the next chapter of our journey.

This is the story of St. Paul CME Church – a story of faith, perseverance, cooperation, innovation, and God's enduring love. And with His grace, our story is far from over. It continues with each of us, as we write the next chapter together, building on a legacy of 110 years while embracing the future God has prepared for us.

From 1916 to 2025 and beyond – to God be the glory for all He has done and all He will do through St. Paul CME Church Docena!

St. Paul CME Church Pastors (1916-Present)

Founding Era

Rev. W.E. Perkins | 1916-1921 | Founder & Organizing Pastor

Early Growth Period

Rev. Wheeler** | 1921-[Year]

Rev. Bollas** | [Years] -

Rev. Love** | [Years] -

Rev. Carter** | [Years] -

Rev. Crompton** | [Years]

Mid-Century Leadership

Rev. O.J. Ford** | [Years] | *Served two terms* -

Rev. L.C. Bester** | 1965-1974 | *Built current church sanctuary

Modern Era Development

Rev. Michael Payne, Sr.** | Early 1990s | Liquidated church mortgage

Rev. Eddie Richardson** | 1994-2002 | Strengthened congregation foundation

Rev. Sucena Clark** | 2002-2005 | First female pastor

Rev. Alvin Crenshaw** | 2012-2017 | Award-winning praise dance team; Choir CD production

Rev. Johnny R. Allen** | [Years] | "Help is on the way" ministry motto

Current Leadership

Rev. Elder Desi Echoles** | July 2022-Present | *Current Pastor & Presiding Elder of Birmingham District

- *Appointed by Bishop Dr. Clarence K. Heath*

- *Serving alongside Youth Pastor Rev. LaVeatrice (Vee) Crockrom

**Notable Milestones in Pastoral Leadership** **1916** - Church founded by Rev. W.E. Perkins in TCI "beanery"

**1917** - Moved to shared theater building with St. Matthews Baptist Church

**1974** - Current sanctuary completed under Rev. L.C. Bester's leadership

**Early 1990s** - Church mortgage liquidated under Rev. Michael Payne, Sr.

**2002** - Rev. Sucena Clark appointed as first female pastor

**2012-2017** - Award-winning ministries under Rev. Alvin Crenshaw

**2022** - Rev. Elder Desi Echoles appointed by Bishop Dr. Clarence K. Heath

**2024-2025** - New parking lot completed; 110th Anniversary celebration --- ##

**Leadership Under Bishop Dr. Clarence K. Heath**

**Presiding Prelate:** Bishop Dr. Clarence K. Heath

**Current Pastor:** Rev. Elder Desi Echoles - *Also serves as Presiding Elder of the Birmingham District**

*Youth Pastor:** Rev. LaVeatrice (Vee) Crockrom ---

**Note:Some pastoral dates and tenures are being researched for complete historical accuracy. If you have information about our pastoral history, please contact the church office at 205-675-0040 or general@stpaulcmechurchdocena.org

From our humble beginning in 1916 to our thriving ministry today, God has blessed St. Paul CME Church with faithful pastoral leadership that has guided us through every season. We honor their service and celebrate the foundation they built for future generations."*