Moderator
Reverend Dr. Alvin B. Downing, Sr.
Rev. Dr. Downing is the son of Hattie Hathaway Downing and the late Deacon Charlie Lee Downing Sr. of Edenton, NC. His siblings are Charlotte D. Battle, both Charlie Jr. and Joann are deceased. Rev. Dr. Downing is married to the lovely Felicia Regina Smith Downing for over 31 marvelous years. They share two sons, Alvin Jr. and Martin, and 6 grandchildren. Rev. Dr. Downing and Sister Felicia have provided home and respite care for foster children in Wake and Durham counties for over 8 years.
Rev. Dr. Alvin B. Downing Sr. is a native of Edenton, NC, he began his Christian journey at Providence Baptist Missionary Baptist Church. He sang in the choir and served as a musician for several churches in the Edenton and Hertford area before leaving in 1986. He started his UPS career in 1973 as a part-timer, and graduated from Perquimans County High School in Hertford, NC in 1974. While still with UPS, he graduated from Martin Community College receiving an Applied Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration. He accepted a full-time package delivery driver position with UPS and after 4 years was promoted into management. He left the Edenton area following his career enjoying working varies positions across the state, managing operational facilities, strategic planning, and people for 30 years before retiring from UPS in January 2011.
Rev. Dr. Downing has served in the music ministry since age 16 and continued to serve at Elevation Baptist Church in Raleigh and minister of music at Saint Hope MBC in Spring Hope, NC. He answered the call of God to the preaching of the gospel while serving at Mount Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Raleigh. Rev. Dr. Downing has been in the ministry of preaching and teaching the gospel for 19 years. He preached his initial sermon at Mount Peace Missionary Baptist Church 2006; under the leadership of Pastor Rev. Dr. J. Vincent Terry Sr.
In 2008 Rev. Dr. Downing graduated from Shaw University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Minor in Religious Studies. He is a 2008 lifetime member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. He matriculated for his Masters of Divinity at Shaw University School of Divinity, graduating in 2013. Later, he would received his Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Studies from Apex School of Theology in Durham, NC in 2018. Rev. Dr. Downing completed 2 units of Clinical Pastoral Education through Duke University Hospital Systems, where he served as a Chaplain to the staff, patients and families at Duke-Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, NC.
Rev. Dr. Downing now is the pastor of the wonderful people and community of Pettiford Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Kittrell, NC since July 6, 2014. He loves leading God’s people and being a witness for Jesus Christ by allowing the love of Christ to reign over his life. While serving as pastor, the church collaborated with Gentiva Hospice working in the office and Rev. Dr. Downing served as chaplain covering Granville and Wake counties. He is also a Board Member on the Granville County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, serving as the Monitoring Chairperson. Rev, Dr. Downing serves on the Mary E. Phillips High School Business Alliance in Raleigh. Which is a partnership with Wake County Schools between businesses and educators preparing students for college, careers with real-world connections.
Rev. Dr. Downing has been actively supporting the East Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association since becoming pastor of Pettiford Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Dr. Downing been active on various committees and served as the 2nd and 1st Vice Moderator.
Rev. Dr. Downing’s life is characterized by his commitment to faith in Christ Jesus and serving, with the desire to be just another one of “God’s Ordinary People” that He will choose to use for His Glory; as he seeks to trust and delight in the ways of the Lord.