Gwendolyn Mason-Tynes (pictured above)
Minister, Baychester
How’d you find out about the event?
I ran into the lead singer, and she gave me a flyer. I love gospel singing. I go to a lot of concerts like this.
How was the food?
Great. I had fish, potato salad, and mac ’n’ cheese. The pastor on the left of me had some apple pie and a beautiful red-velvet cake. But I’m trying to watch my weight. I went to the doctor yesterday, and I didn’t know he was going to do a cholesterol test, but he did. I know he’s gonna fuss when the results come back.
What’s the best part of being a minister?
Watching people change for real. Like my sister. At one point, she went astray; she had a substance-abuse problem. But I knew she was going to be okay, and I stuck with her. She’s been clean over ten years. She’s gone vegan. I don’t really want her to stay vegan — we like ham; we like bacon — but I want her to stay on her track.
Monique Berry
Nursing assistant, Harlem
Harold Bowles
Mortician, Harlem
Sharon Ackerman
Artist, Throggs Neck
How’d you choose your outfit?
The way I dress, everything matches head to toe, so I always prepare a day or two before — just in case anything happens, my outfits are ready. But picking them is easy; I go by feeling. It’s a gift from the Creator to me.
Kwame and Michael Grayson
Artists, Westchester Square
Are you two religious?
Kwame Grayson: We’re not, but we believe in God. The way we look — we’re so tall and so identical — we know that didn’t happen for any old reason.
Artrese Reid
Assistant property manager, Mott Haven
Maimuna Desvignes
Retired administrative assistant, South Bronx
Brenda Cullerton
Comedian, East Village
Curtis Crawford
Bishop, Fordham
When did you know you’d be a preacher?
At a young age. When I was 7 or 8, I used to line up my G.I. Joe action figures like they were part of the church. And when any of them fell, I’d run around the house and say, “Grandma, my G.I. Joe got the Holy Ghost! My G.I. Joe got the Holy Ghost!”
Inez McCaskill
Nurse, Teaneck, New Jersey
Demetria R. Cherry
School supervisor, Northeast Bronx
Troy Murray
Maintenance worker, Mott Haven
Sharlyn Beard
Pastor, Harlem
When did you find religion?
I got really serious in 2006, but I couldn’t read. Only three-letter words. Nobody knew — not my children, not my husband, nobody at my job. I enrolled in a literacy class and became a preacher in 2009. Sometimes I still stumble. But I’ve found that even the best readers sometimes stumble.
Melvie Banks
Nurse, Teaneck, New Jersey
Denise Leverette
Suicide-prevention aide, Claremont Village
Tina F. Belton-Pittman
Minister, Co-op City
Erica White
Assistant director, Tremont
Nicole Ellis
Analyst, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Are you a Baptist?
Through and through, and I grew up with gospel music. To this day, my children hear me playing certain songs and they know: Oh, Mommy’s going through it.
Allen White
EMT, West Harlem
Monique Berry
Nursing assistant, Harlem
Harold Bowles
Mortician, Harlem
Sharon Ackerman
Artist, Throggs Neck
How’d you choose your outfit?
The way I dress, everything matches head to toe, so I always prepare a day or two before — just in case anything happens, my outfits are ready. But picking them is easy; I go by feeling. It’s a gift from the Creator to me.
Kwame and Michael Grayson
Artists, Westchester Square
Are you two religious?
Kwame Grayson: We’re not, but we believe in God. The way we look — we’re so tall and so identical — we know that didn’t happen for any old reason.
Artrese Reid
Assistant property manager, Mott Haven
Maimuna Desvignes
Retired administrative assistant, South Bronx
Brenda Cullerton
Comedian, East Village
Curtis Crawford
Bishop, Fordham
When did you know you’d be a preacher?
At a young age. When I was 7 or 8, I used to line up my G.I. Joe action figures like they were part of the church. And when any of them fell, I’d run around the house and say, “Grandma, my G.I. Joe got the Holy Ghost! My G.I. Joe got the Holy Ghost!”
Inez McCaskill
Nurse, Teaneck, New Jersey
Demetria R. Cherry
School supervisor, Northeast Bronx
Troy Murray
Maintenance worker, Mott Haven
Sharlyn Beard
Pastor, Harlem
When did you find religion?
I got really serious in 2006, but I couldn’t read. Only three-letter words. Nobody knew — not my children, not my husband, nobody at my job. I enrolled in a literacy class and became a preacher in 2009. Sometimes I still stumble. But I’ve found that even the best readers sometimes stumble.
Melvie Banks
Nurse, Teaneck, New Jersey
Denise Leverette
Suicide-prevention aide, Claremont Village
Tina F. Belton-Pittman
Minister, Co-op City
Erica White
Assistant director, Tremont
Nicole Ellis
Analyst, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Are you a Baptist?
Through and through, and I grew up with gospel music. To this day, my children hear me playing certain songs and they know: Oh, Mommy’s going through it.
Allen White
EMT, West Harlem
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