About the Pastor
Rev. Thelma L. Yarbrough Gattis is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey. She was born on September 9th to Claude and Harriet Yarbrough (both deceased). She has a sister, Ms. Daisy Yarbrough, (Sister Joyce Price is deceased), two sons Troy and Terrance and seven grandchildren, Terrell, Tianna, Troy, Tyquan, Nandi, Tanei and Timberly. Especially dear to Rev. Gattis is her dog, a toy poodle, named 'Theo.'

Rev. Gattis was educated in the Jersey City school system. She was an honor student in grammar school and high school. She received an Associates Degree from Essex County College (summa cum laude) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nyack College (summa cum laude).
Professionally, Rev. Gattis worked for the New York Telephone Company for 26 years. She started as a Directory Assistant Operator, but soon was promoted into a management position. After several years she began to work with computers and was selected as a candidate for the Entry Level Computer Programmer training. She was a programmer, computer instructor, course developer and curriculum manager before she retired in 1990. After retirement, she started her own consulting business and worked as a consultant until 2001, when she closed her business and went to Hood Theological Seminary, in North Carolina. On May 8, 2004 she received her Masters of Divinity from Hood (cum laude) and at the honors convocation, the Religious Education Award, Faculty Award and Presidents Award.

Rev. Gattis was a member of the Metropolitan AM.E. Zion Church for 37 years.
She served as a choir member, Missionary Secretary of the Y's, Director of Christian Education, Secretary of the Quarterly Conference, Stewardess, Steward, Preachers Steward, Leader of Class Leaders, Superintendent Of Sunday School, Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair for Women's Day and organizer and minister of the Youth Church. In the New Jersey Annual Conference she was appointed Jersey District Home Missions President. She served for five years.