Executive Council Candidate - Valerie Bride

Valerie and her husband, James, have been members of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church for 35 years.  Valerie has served in multiple areas of ministry to support the Church’s core values, mission, and vision.  She was elected by the Congregation to serve as a member of the Pastoral Search Committee that was responsible for recommending a prospective Pastor, and ultimately recommended Pastor Leonard O. Leach as the Senior Pastor of Mt. Hebron, 28 years ago. 

At Mt. Hebron, Valerie served as Church Clerk for 14 years and was responsible for recording, processing, and maintaining accurate records for all church business meetings and transactions; presented the minutes of the prior meetings for official church approval; preserved records for present and future use; collaborated with the Church Moderator in preparation of the agenda before meetings; collaborated with the Church Secretary to ensure support documents were prepared for distribution to members prior to upcoming business meetings; provided statistical information regarding the church membership, as requested, for annual association letters; collaborated with the Trustees in preparation of Church legal documents; authored, maintained, and presented Church resolutions on behalf of the congregation during funerals; Sunday Morning Service Announcement Clerk; led the volunteer Church Membership and Clerical staffs; led and coordinated Church events, such as Church Banquets, Pastor Anniversary and Appreciation events, Church Stewardship Campaigns, Over-the-Top First Fruit Sundays; Church picnics; coordinated the Education Wing Dedication service and activities for the 901 Dairy Road location; and trained, mentored, and coached future Church Clerks.

Additional ministry opportunities at Mt. Hebron include:  Leading the Parent Support Group, along with her husband (7 years); Deaconess (10 years); Beaux and Debutantes for Christ Coordinator (1 year); Beaux and Debutantes for Christ Finance Committee and Lead (4 years); Vacation Bible School Administration (5 years); Choir Member (alto section) (4 years); assisted with God’s Closet food distribution (3 years); and most recently, a co-facilitator of the prayer and encouragement ministry.

Valerie is a Systems Training Manager and has been employed with EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses, for 15 years.  She is responsible for maintaining and managing Learning Management Systems that contain eLearning courses and modules, and provides system administration support for over 1,100 users.  In a previous role at EssilorLuxottica, she was the Sr. Sales Systems Support Analyst and Coordinator, responsible for training Sales and other cross-functional teams to manage their customers and increase sales via Customer Relationship Management systems.  Prior to EssilorLuxottica, Valerie held positions including: Contract Administrator, Business Operations Analyst, Sr. Sales Support Specialist, and Tactical Business Analyst.

Valerie has a M.S. Degree in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University and a B.S. Degree in Office Administration/Secretarial Science from Alcorn State University.

Valerie and James are from Vicksburg, Mississippi and have been married for 40 years.  They have practically known each other all of their lives.  They grew up in the same neighborhoods, attended the same schools, were in the same high school graduating class, and know most of the same people, which makes attending high school class reunions fun, enjoyable, and not awkward.  In their spare time, they love to travel, entertain family and friends (they can throw a great party), and love going to the movies.  They are the proud parents of daughters Tiffiny Bride Harvey and Janae Bride; a son-in-law, Bryant Harvey; three grandchildren, Titus, Tamaya, and Bryant II, and a granddog, Polo, who thinks he is a human and can rule the world.

Valerie’s motto is:  “Serve God by serving others” and one of her favorite scriptures is:  1 Peter 4:9-11 - “Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.  To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen.”  HCSB