Administrative Assistant/Superintendent
Elder Willie E. Sheard
The district was originally named District 11 when Elder Willie Edward Sheard was appointed the Superintendent in 2013 when he celebrated 40 years of ministry, there were six churches in the district. Four of the churches were pastored by his sons in the gospel*. Besides his church, Mt. Olive COGIC, the remaining churches in District #11 were Grace Fellowship (Pastor Willie Powell*), Abundant Harvest (Pastor Willie Foster*), New Bethel (Pastor David Foster*), Open Door (Pastor Horace Johnson*) and An Everlasting Light (Pastor Otha Harris).
From modest beginnings, God has exalted Elder Sheard, starting with his first lowly position in the church as janitor (at the age of about 14), to deacon, to Sunday School Superintendent and to President of the Young People’s Willing Worker (YPWW). In 1955, Deacon Willie Sheard acknowledged a call to preach. He was licensed as a minister and later made official helper to Bishop John S. Bailey. In 1963, Minister Sheard was ordained an elder. Two years later, God enlarged his territory and Pastor Sheard founded Zion Church of God in Christ in 1965 and officially became the Pastor in 1967 by Bishop Bailey. He performed dual pastoral duties at Mitchell Street and Mt. Olive from 1973-1982. After serving as the interim, on January 24, 1976, by commission of the Holy Spirit and by appointment by Bishop Bailey, Pastor Willie E. Sheard became the sixth appointed pastor of Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ and the successor to Superintendent Charles Henry Barksdale. In 1982, Pastor Sheard relinquished pastoral obligations at Mitchell Street and recommended his brother, now Bishop John H. Sheard, as pastor.
In 1986, Bishop Willie L. Harris elevated Pastor Sheard to the office of First Administrative Assistant, Michigan Southwest One, after the demise of Bishop Bailey. From 1992, he served as Administrative Assistant under the Bishopric of his brother, Prelate John H. Sheard.
Pastor W.E. Sheard was a consistent and avid supporter of the ministry on local, district state and national levels. Superintendent Sheard continued to serve Mt. Olive and District #11 until his demise in 2014.
Administrative Assistant/Superintendent
Elder Willie J Powell Sr.
Born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He served as District Chairman of District #11 for 23 years under the direct tutelage of the late Superintendent Willie E. Sheard. On April 19, 2014, the Jurisdictional Prelate of the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Michigan Southwest, the late Bishop John Henry Sheard, appointed Elder Powell as the Superintendent of District #11, since renamed the Willie E. Sheard Memorial District. As Superintendent, Elder Powell’s vision is to equip and send the church to carry on the signs and wonders that followed Jesus. In 2021 when Bishop John Henry Sheard went to be with the Lord, in coming Bishop, Marcus R. Ways Sr., appointed Superintendent Powell to also service as an Administrative Assistant responsible for Financial and Fiscal Affairs for the Jurisdiction.
See Bio for Willie J. Powell
Superintendent Willie J. Powell leads the Willie E. Sheard Memorial District (WESMD) and manages the many ministries in action and a full calendar of district meetings scheduled annually. Our District Missionary. Evangelist Betty McMullan is dedicated to the district, faithfully representing us at many districts, jurisdictional, state and national events. We are grateful for our District First Lady, Geraldine Powell and District Chair, Pastor Willie S (Sheryl) Foster III.
See our current list of Churches in the District and District Ministries.
