Pastor Wooley – born Alma Maria, is the youngest child of Nathaniel (deceased) and Beatrice Wooley formerly of Bishop, WV.   She grew up in a small coal mining community where her father worked in the coal mine for over 33 years and her mother worked in “Head Start” for 50 years.  She is proud to be the product of two hardworking parents who hardly ever missed a day of work and provided for their children.  

When she was ten years old her mother accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Her and her siblings were present to see the transformation of their Mom from an old way of life to new in Christ Jesus.  Because of the hunger and thirst her mother had for the Lord, that same hunger and thirst excited her.  At the age of ten, she experienced the presence of the Lord for the first time and was hooked.  At the age of fifteen she made it personal.  She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior on April 15, 1976 and has been running for the Lord every since.  

She is a graduate of Marshall University, Huntington, WV with a B.A. in Education, graduate of Georgetown College, Georgetown KY with her Masters and Rank 1 in Education and a graduate of Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA with her Masters of Arts in Market Place Chaplaincy.  

Pastor Wooley has over thirty years of teaching experience in the public school system.  She retired from Jefferson County Public Schools, on September 1, 2014. She is also a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, where she served for 28 years.  She had the honor of being mobilized twice:   Operation  Iraqi Freedom  and Operation Enduring Freedom.  She retired from the Army Reserve in May 2011 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC).     

She is the mother of three wonderful children, NaTessa, Emmalee, and Llord Christian and the grandmother of eight grandchildren.  She is proud to say that her grandchildren are being taught God’s Word and to freely give praises unto the Lord.  Pastor Wooley enjoys teaching her children what her parents taught her:  everything goes better with Jesus.

In September of 2004, she was thrust into pastorship of Christ Cathedral of Praise. Even though the call to pastor was unexpected, she declares it is one of  the best things that has ever happened in her life. Her goals are to continue to lead, serve, teach, preach, witness, counsel, testify, baptize, worship, sing, shout, praise and pray.  In other words, to occupy until Jesus comes.  

If you don’t remember anything else, just know, she is a sinner, saved by Grace.