Margaret Brown Payton is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.  She received her early training in the Cleveland Public Schools.  Reared in a Christian home she was a member of St. John AME Church and as an accomplished pianist, she grew up playing for several of the church choirs.  Upon graduation from high school, she continued her studies at Howard University, Washington, DC and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.  She has a graduate degree in School Administration from Trinity College and other graduate studies at George Mason University, George Washington University and the University of the District of Columbia.  She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia University of Lynchburg. 

 

Dr Payton is the widow of Reverend Dr. Leroy Oscar Payton, who served the Chantilly Baptist Church, Chantilly, VA for 31 years as pastor.  She was honored to be named “First Lady Emeritus” in recognition of her exemplary service as pastor’s wife, deaconess, advisor to the Missionary Ministry and Board of Christian Education.  A scholarship fund was also established in her name.  She is the mother of one adult daughter, Dana M. Payton, a special education coordinator in the Arlington County Public Schools.

 

For 39 years, she was a teacher, coordinator, administrator in the D.C. Public Schools where she retired as a Facilitator for Education Reform.  Upon retirement, she launched a second career as Church Administrator at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Washington, DC.  Professionally, she holds membership in the National Association of Black School Educators, the Network of Black Church Administrators, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  She has served on the Board of Trustees, Virginia University of Lynchburg.

 

Dr. Payton has been a noted speaker and presenter for numerous seminars, retreats, workshops, and worship services across the east coast.  She has also served as an instructor for Virginia Union University, School of Theology, in the Evans-Smith Leadership Institute.

 

Dr. Payton has been involved and has served Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows organizations in leadership positions at all levels—international, state, and local.  In June 2018, Dr. Margaret Brown Payton was elected as the 9th International President of IAMWMW, Inc.  Ministry to ministers’ wives is her passion and she truly believes she has been called to serve this present age equipping ministers’ wives and ministers’ widows for service.  As International President, her theme is, “A Beloved Sisterhood:  Lifting Others As We Rise in Faith, Love, and Prayer.”  The Word of God emphasizes in Philippians 3:13-14 that we must continually press forward to meet the challenges of today’s world as we grow in faith and love for each other.  And this can only be accomplished through much prayer.