Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction Department of Women

Our Leadership

Department of Women · SWFLJ C.O.G.I.C.

Supervisor Rosemary S. Gadsden

Jurisdictional Supervisor

Department of Women

Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction

Church of God in Christ

Supervisor Rosemary S. Gadsden is a dedicated servant leader and woman of God. She serves as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of the Department of Women for the Jurisdiction of Southwestern Florida, Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Anthony W. Gilyard.

A woman of faith, vision, and purpose, Supervisor Gadsden leads with grace and excellence, inspiring women across the jurisdiction to walk boldly in their God-given calling.

Mother Rosemary Stancil Gadsden is a devoted servant of the Lord and a lifelong native of Tampa, Florida. She has been a faithful member of Brown Memorial Church of God in Christ since 1985, where she currently serves under the leadership of Bishop Anthony W. Gilyard.

Within her local church, Mother Gadsden holds multiple roles of spiritual leadership and mentorship. She serves as Missionary Board President, Sunday School Teacher, and is a member of the Mother’s Board. She served as the Youth Director for over 30 years.

Her service extends beyond the local church. From 1999 to 2020, she served faithfully as Assistant District Missionary in the Greater Suncoast District. On the Jurisdictional level, she has worked as a Secretary in the Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction, Department of Women since 1992, serving under the leadership of the late Mother Bernice R. Donnell and Mother Alberta M. Baker. She also served as Coordinator of the Women’s Biblical Training Institute from 1999 to 2010 and continues today as both a Facilitator and member of the Missionary Examining Board.

In July 2020, the late Bishop Matthew John Williams recommended Mother Gadsden to the International Department of Women (IDOW) as Assistant Supervisor Designate. She was officially appointed as Assistant Supervisor on November 12, 2021, under the leadership of Bishop Anthony W. Gilyard. In August 2025, she was appointed as Supervisor Designate and was capped in November 2025 as Jurisdictional Supervisor by our General Supervisor, Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis.

On the national level, she has served as a member of the Special Task Force for the IDOW Annual Board Meeting and currently serves as Recording Secretary of the IDOW Executive Staff. Most recently, in May 2025, she was appointed by the General Supervisor as Secretary of the Special Convention Assistance Committee.

In addition to her remarkable ministry service, Mother Gadsden had a distinguished 41-year career in the federal government. She retired in 2014 after 35 years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she served as Acting Tampa Field Office Director and Chief of Production Branch for Mortgage Loans. Prior to HUD, she served for 6 years with the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA).

Her educational background includes studies at the University of South Florida, as well as advanced coursework at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs.

Mother Gadsden is a humble and committed vessel of God, known for her integrity, compassion, and tireless service to the Church and community. She continues to uplift and inspire women across all generations through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering faith.

Assistant Jurisdiction Supervisor

LaVern Dunbar

LaVern Dunbar

Assistant Jurisdiction Supervisor

Greater Palmetto District

Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction
District Missionaries

Ashley Myrick

Ashley Myrick

Bountifully Blessed District

Joyce Whitehurst

Joyce Whitehurst

Ebenezer District

Barbara Dixon

Barbara Dixon

Ecclesiastical Seven District

Dr. Julia Haley

Dr. Julia Haley

Emerald Coast District

Genetta Jones

Genetta Jones

Kingdom Fellowship District

Brenda Speed

Brenda Speed

Greater Lakeland District

Botavia Jackson

Botavia Jackson

Greater Orlando District

LaVern Scavella

LaVern Scavella

Greater Sarasota District

Maureen K. Hayes

Maureen K. Hayes

Greater Suncoast District

Linda Y. Williams

Linda Y. Williams

Greater Tampa District

Luzina Perdue

Luzina Perdue

Rhema Evangelical District

Pastor Linda Mitchell

Pastor Linda Mitchell

West Coast District

Claudia McIntosh

Claudia McIntosh

Without Charge

Beverly Taylor

Beverly Taylor

Without Charge

Leadership Legacy

Honoring Those Who Paved the Way

Mother Willie B. Lewis

Former Jurisdictional Supervisor

Mother Bernice R. Donnell

Former Jurisdictional Supervisor

Mother Alberta M. Baker

Former Jurisdictional Supervisor

Mother Evelyn S. Cooper

Former Jurisdictional Supervisor