Born: 26 August 1930, United States
Died: 11 October 2020
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from the National Park Service. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Bishop Barbara Lewis King, affectionately called Dr. Barbara, is the Founder/Minister of the Hillside Chapel and Truth Center, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia. She began this nondenominational, ecumenical ministry in 1971 with twelve members in her living room and now has a growing congregation numbering more than 10,000. Recently, consecrated Bishop and Prelate, Dr. Barbara is a native of Houston, Texas. Dr. Barbara’s ministry has extended throughout the world.
In 1963 she joined thousands at the March on Washington. Dr. King’s, “I Have a Dream” speech prompted her to commit fully to the cause of Civil Rights and the necessity to promote change in the lives of all Americans.
In 2001 Dr. Barbara received the highest honor bestowed upon a woman in Africa. Through elaborate ceremonies, rituals and prayers, she became the first female to be enstooled as a Chief at Assin Nsuta, Ghana, West Africa. Her stool name is Nana Yaa Twunmwaa I. Nana means Chief, Yaa means Thursday’s child, a child with special spiritual power, special energy and special courage. Twumwaa is related to the name of Yaa Asantawaa. Yaa Asantawaa is a spiritual sister of Nana Yaa Twumwaa I and a national hero to the Ashanti people of Ghana.