The Edenton District

Fondella A. Leigh, a native of Hertford, North Carolina, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from her beloved North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, in 1988 and her Master of Theology from Roanoke Theological Seminary, Elizabeth City, North Carolina in June 2007. She is currently pursuing her doctoral in ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, North Carolina.

Presiding Elder Fondella Leigh is the daughter of the late Rev. Walter L. Leigh, former Presiding Elder of the Edenton District & the late Mrs. Fannie Smith Leigh of Hertford, NC. Her only sibling, Sheila Leigh Hyman, resides in High Point, North Carolina, and is married to Tony D. Hyman. Presiding Elder Leigh attributes much of her success to this nuclear family unit and early church involvement. 

In August of 1993, guided by faith, she became a Youth and Family Counselor in Raleigh, North Carolina, at Wrenn House. That experience led to a Family Service Coordinator position with the Institute for Family-Centered Services, where the focus was on direct contact with the entire family unit. Her career path continued to broaden when the North Carolina Department of Public Safety: Division of Juvenile Justice hired her as the Human Services Coordinator of the Perquimans Juvenile Detention Center in Winfall, NC. This eventually led to her becoming the Director of that facility until there was a reduction in workforce by the state, resulting in its closing. Her primary responsibility was overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 24-bed secured juvenile facility. In addition, she has served as the Chair of the Perquimans County Department of Social Services Board and the Advisory Board for the Hertford Branch of State Employee’s Credit Union. In addition, she served on the Albemarle Commission Board, Perquimans County Recreational Advisory Board, Perquimans County Water Board, Economic Development Commission, and the Northeastern Workforce Development Consortium. On December 1, 2014, she was sworn in as a County Commissioner on the Perquimans County Board of Commission. She served as the Vice-Chair of the Board after being elected to a second term. She served on the Board of Commission for eight years. On July 26, 2022, she was sworn in as a Commissioner on the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. Most recently selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technology (NEAAAT), the Hertford Savings Bank, and Perquimans County Bd of DSS.

Under the leadership of her Pastor and Presiding Elder, she received her Exhorter’s license on January 13, 2002, and her local Preacher’s license on March 15, 2003. On June 26, 2004, she was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as a deacon. On January 13, 2007, she was ordained an Elder at the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District Convocation. She served as Pastor of the Stevens Chapel, Good Hope, and Pitts Chapel A.M.E. Zion Churches. She was also the Mission Education Coordinator for the Missionary Department of the Elizabeth City District. In addition, she served as the Elizabeth City District Treasurer and is the Treasurer of the Albemarle Conference. Currently, she serves on the Holy Orders Committee and Budget Committee and is a Conference Trustee.

Additionally, she served as Chair of the Credentials Committee and Chair of the Conference Finance Committee. Presiding Elder Leigh has been elected to three consecutive General Conferences as a clergy delegate and was the leader of the delegation twice. On March 2, 2013, she was appointed Prayer Coordinator for the Albemarle Annual Conference.

During the 106th Session of the Albemarle Annual Conference, on June 19, 2016, Rev. Fondella became the first female Presiding Elder of that Conference. She was appointed to serve as Presiding Elder of the Edenton District by Bishop Darryl Starnes and as Pastor of the Porter’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.  Presiding Elder Leigh served as the 2nd Vice-President of the International Presiding Elders’ Council from February 2021until February 2025.

Presiding Elder Leigh continues to serve her community through involvement in various organizations. She served as a volunteer in the Guardian ad Litem Program for the 1st and 10th judicial districts from 1990 until 1995. She also served as the Youth Advisor for the Perquimans County NAACP Youth Council. Under her tutelage, members of the council were recognized as State Youth of the Year in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, the group was recognized as Youth Council of the Year. In January 2001, the North Carolina NAACP recognized her as Youth Advisor of the Year 2000-2001, and that same month, she was the first recipient of the Perquimans County NAACP’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy award. In 2017 she was selected as a J. W. Hood Consistory Honoree. In addition, the Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce nominated her for a Women of Excellence Award in 2021.