Rev. Cheryl C. Henderson
Executive Minister
Rev. Cheryl C. Henderson resided in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for over 30 years before she decided in July 2021 to relocate back to her hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
In July 2021, Rev. Henderson retired from the Federal Government with 37 years of service. During her career, she worked for the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of Defense OIG, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and Department of Commerce OIG.
For 29 years, under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Leonard N. Smith, Senior Minister, Mount Zion Baptist Church of Arlington, Virginia, Rev. Henderson was actively involved in the ministry of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. She served as a deaconess and the Chairperson of the Deaconess Ministry. Rev. Henderson also served in the Ministry of Christian Education as an Instructor and Ministry Leader while ministering to the children, youth, and adults within the congregation. For 12 years, she served as the Minister of Discipleship Ministries, the Dean of the Mount Zion Christian Life Academy, and the Lead instructor for the Thursday Night Teaching. Rev. Henderson accepted her call to ministry in 2005 and preached her initial sermon in December 2007. She was licensed to preach the Gospel in January 2009 and ordained in August 2012.
As of January 2022, she is currently serving as the Executive Minister under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood, Pastor, Dayspring Community Church of Lanham, Maryland. In addition, she serves as the Program Director for a National GriefShare Support Group sponsored by Dayspring Community Church.
Rev. Henderson has a deep passion for the ministry of Christian Education because she believes it is the heartbeat of the church. This passion has led her to respond to God’s call to teach and nurture His people so they “grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior”. She also strongly believes, as new disciples strive to grow, they can move from the position of a new creature in Christ to a maturing ministering believer who positively impacts the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Henderson’s hobbies consist of making body butters, cooking, traveling, reading, and tinkering with electronics. She is the proud grandmother of three precious granddaughters: Payton, Ryleigh and Addysin.
One of her comforting Scriptures is Psalm 139 because it reminds her that “God is always ever present and available; and He had already prepared all the days of her life before she had even started living just one”.
Rev. Cheryl C. Henderson resided in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for over 30 years before she decided in July 2021 to relocate back to her hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
In July 2021, Rev. Henderson retired from the Federal Government with 37 years of service. During her career, she worked for the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of Defense OIG, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and Department of Commerce OIG.
For 29 years, under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Leonard N. Smith, Senior Minister, Mount Zion Baptist Church of Arlington, Virginia, Rev. Henderson was actively involved in the ministry of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. She served as a deaconess and the Chairperson of the Deaconess Ministry. Rev. Henderson also served in the Ministry of Christian Education as an Instructor and Ministry Leader while ministering to the children, youth, and adults within the congregation. For 12 years, she served as the Minister of Discipleship Ministries, the Dean of the Mount Zion Christian Life Academy, and the Lead instructor for the Thursday Night Teaching. Rev. Henderson accepted her call to ministry in 2005 and preached her initial sermon in December 2007. She was licensed to preach the Gospel in January 2009 and ordained in August 2012.
As of January 2022, she is currently serving as the Executive Minister under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood, Pastor, Dayspring Community Church of Lanham, Maryland. In addition, she serves as the Program Director for a National GriefShare Support Group sponsored by Dayspring Community Church.
Rev. Henderson has a deep passion for the ministry of Christian Education because she believes it is the heartbeat of the church. This passion has led her to respond to God’s call to teach and nurture His people so they “grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior”. She also strongly believes, as new disciples strive to grow, they can move from the position of a new creature in Christ to a maturing ministering believer who positively impacts the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Henderson’s hobbies consist of making body butters, cooking, traveling, reading, and tinkering with electronics. She is the proud grandmother of three precious granddaughters: Payton, Ryleigh and Addysin.
One of her comforting Scriptures is Psalm 139 because it reminds her that “God is always ever present and available; and He had already prepared all the days of her life before she had even started living just one”.
Rev. Dr. Yalonda N. Smith
Minister
Reverend Yalonda N. Smith was born in Hampton, Virginia and spent most of her formative years traveling as a part of a military family. Reverend Smith accepted the saving grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in September 2001. After accepting Christ, she has run passionately the race marked out for her.
Reverend Smith received her Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. She was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in July 2010 and ordained in August 2012 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia under the leadership of her late husband, Dr. Leonard N. Smith. Reverend Smith holds a certificate in Youth & Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Chicago School for Professional Psychology and a Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg.
After 13 years in the Federal Government, Reverend Smith served full-time as the Minister of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for Mount Zion. Under her leadership, Mount Zion experienced consistent growth in the number of youth of all ages who attend services regularly. In addition, she provided a sacred space to nurture and guide the young people toward discovering and developing a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. In this environment, she ushered in a more engaging and captivating worship experience designed especially for children and youth. Reverend Smith is currently serving at Dayspring Community Church in Lanham, Maryland under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Turner-Wood.
Reverend Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and owner of Pivot for Life Counseling and Wellness, LLC. She is also a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. In addition, she serves with the Young People’s Ministry of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association where she educates church leaders, parents and youth on mental health challenges and resources.
Reverend Smith is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She lives and is encouraged by the Word of God. Specifically, Isaiah 40:31 “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” As evident in her diligent and fervent work in her church, Reverend Smith continues to be an asset to the Kingdom of God.
Reverend Yalonda N. Smith was born in Hampton, Virginia and spent most of her formative years traveling as a part of a military family. Reverend Smith accepted the saving grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in September 2001. After accepting Christ, she has run passionately the race marked out for her.
Reverend Smith received her Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. She was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in July 2010 and ordained in August 2012 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia under the leadership of her late husband, Dr. Leonard N. Smith. Reverend Smith holds a certificate in Youth & Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Chicago School for Professional Psychology and a Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg.
After 13 years in the Federal Government, Reverend Smith served full-time as the Minister of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for Mount Zion. Under her leadership, Mount Zion experienced consistent growth in the number of youth of all ages who attend services regularly. In addition, she provided a sacred space to nurture and guide the young people toward discovering and developing a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. In this environment, she ushered in a more engaging and captivating worship experience designed especially for children and youth. Reverend Smith is currently serving at Dayspring Community Church in Lanham, Maryland under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Turner-Wood.
Reverend Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and owner of Pivot for Life Counseling and Wellness, LLC. She is also a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. In addition, she serves with the Young People’s Ministry of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association where she educates church leaders, parents and youth on mental health challenges and resources.
Reverend Smith is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She lives and is encouraged by the Word of God. Specifically, Isaiah 40:31 “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” As evident in her diligent and fervent work in her church, Reverend Smith continues to be an asset to the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Danielle Kay Shavers-Honeywood
Minister
Rev. Danielle Kay Shavers-Honeywood was born in Warren, Ohio to the late Daniel and the late Katie M. Shavers. At a young age, while attending First Baptist Church – Braceville in Newton Falls, Ohio, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Rev. Shavers-Honeywood went on to graduate from LaBrae High School and Kent State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration as a Computer Science major. She relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1988. In 2001, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood united with Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia under the leadership of the late Dr. Leonard N. Smith.
In 2022, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood united with Dayspring Community Church, Lanham, Maryland under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood.
In 2004, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood graduated from Mount Calvary Bible Institute in Washington, DC with a diploma in Biblical Studies. In 2008, she graduated from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia with a Master of Divinity degree, and she publicly accepted her call into the preaching ministry. On August 12, 2012, she was ordained into the preaching ministry.
Rev. Shavers-Honeywood established Mount Zion’s Clergy Ministry and served as the Director and the Assistant Director. In 2019, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood graduated from Loyola University Maryland in Columbia, Maryland with a Master’s of Science in Pastoral and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is employed as a Management Consultant for Mayvin, Inc. and as a Resident in Counseling at Amanda Carrington Counseling. She currently resides in Woodbridge, Virginia and is a mother of two adult children, and one of her favorite Scripture is Romans 8:28.
Rev. Danielle Kay Shavers-Honeywood was born in Warren, Ohio to the late Daniel and the late Katie M. Shavers. At a young age, while attending First Baptist Church – Braceville in Newton Falls, Ohio, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Rev. Shavers-Honeywood went on to graduate from LaBrae High School and Kent State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration as a Computer Science major. She relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1988. In 2001, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood united with Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia under the leadership of the late Dr. Leonard N. Smith.
In 2022, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood united with Dayspring Community Church, Lanham, Maryland under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Turner Wood.
In 2004, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood graduated from Mount Calvary Bible Institute in Washington, DC with a diploma in Biblical Studies. In 2008, she graduated from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia with a Master of Divinity degree, and she publicly accepted her call into the preaching ministry. On August 12, 2012, she was ordained into the preaching ministry.
Rev. Shavers-Honeywood established Mount Zion’s Clergy Ministry and served as the Director and the Assistant Director. In 2019, Rev. Shavers-Honeywood graduated from Loyola University Maryland in Columbia, Maryland with a Master’s of Science in Pastoral and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is employed as a Management Consultant for Mayvin, Inc. and as a Resident in Counseling at Amanda Carrington Counseling. She currently resides in Woodbridge, Virginia and is a mother of two adult children, and one of her favorite Scripture is Romans 8:28.
Min. Ylvonne Thomas
Minister
Minister Ylvonne Thomas was born and raised in New York City, NY. She is the eldest of 6 children, reared by a strong single mother. Summers with her grandmother - a Pastor and community activist - ignited her love of God. Influenced by these 2 women, Minister Thomas developed a deep faith in God and love for people--all people. A faithful and dedicated disciple of Christ for over 25 years, she continues to build the Kingdom of God spiritually, physically, and geographically.
Minister Thomas has served Christ through college campus ministries, singles ministries, world missions, children’s ministry (especially Preteens and Teens), women’s ministry, street ministries, liturgical arts ministries, church plantings, and house churches. As a community activist Minister Thomas has served as President of a county-wide NAACP chapter, public school board Diversity Council member, grass roots voting rights organizer and anti-police profiling community educator. She has a background in Chemical Engineering and works for the federal government. She is currently seeking a Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Minister Thomas is excited to learn from and serve with the Dayspring Community Church. She looks forward to sharing her gifts, passion for life, God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s Love with the community at large and for us
to have fun doing it!
Minister Ylvonne Thomas was born and raised in New York City, NY. She is the eldest of 6 children, reared by a strong single mother. Summers with her grandmother - a Pastor and community activist - ignited her love of God. Influenced by these 2 women, Minister Thomas developed a deep faith in God and love for people--all people. A faithful and dedicated disciple of Christ for over 25 years, she continues to build the Kingdom of God spiritually, physically, and geographically.
Minister Thomas has served Christ through college campus ministries, singles ministries, world missions, children’s ministry (especially Preteens and Teens), women’s ministry, street ministries, liturgical arts ministries, church plantings, and house churches. As a community activist Minister Thomas has served as President of a county-wide NAACP chapter, public school board Diversity Council member, grass roots voting rights organizer and anti-police profiling community educator. She has a background in Chemical Engineering and works for the federal government. She is currently seeking a Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Minister Thomas is excited to learn from and serve with the Dayspring Community Church. She looks forward to sharing her gifts, passion for life, God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s Love with the community at large and for us
to have fun doing it!
Min. Greg Watkins
Minster of Music
Greg Watkins is a pianist, singer, actor, musical director, choral conductor, composer, and educator. A graduate of The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University (B.M. Music Education) and a former student of Catholic University where he pursued his Masters in Vocal Performance. He is the recipient of two awards in honor of Dr. Quincy Jones (ASCAP Foundation/Cherry Lane Foundation/Music Alive, 2008, and The Raney-Moss Group, 2019) for his outstanding work in production, composition, performance, and musical direction. He is also the recipient of the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts' Emerging Artist Award (2015) and a Helen Hayes Award Winner in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as Professor Callahan in Keegan Theatre's 2019 production of Legally Blonde. Greg has appeared in several operas and numerous theatrical productions here in the Washington Metropolitan area, including Tazewell Thompson’s Jubilee (Arena Stage), Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (Constellation Theatre Company), Rock of Ages (Workhouse Arts Center), Sister Act (Arts Centric) and The Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadows (Opera North). In the PBS Documentary: Beyond the Mask, chronicling the life of prolific literary artist Paul Laurence Dunbar, Greg is featured as a voice actor and singer reading and singing some of Dunbar’s most cherished poems and letters.
Greg Watkins has musically directed several productions, including The Poet Warriors (2010 Capital Fringe Best Musical Award), Stormy Weather (The In Series), The Dead (Scena Theatre), Crowns (Delaware Theatre Company and Creative Cauldron Theatre Company), Dreamgirls (The Duke Ellington Theatre) and the nationally acclaimed staged-reading of Christina Ham’s Four Little Girls (Project 1Voice/John F. Kennedy Center) where he worked alongside prolific composer Kathryn Bostic and Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. Greg Watkins is the composer and lyricist of a new and soon-to-be commissioned work, DIAGNOSED written by Helen Hayes Award winning actress Iyona Blake. His talents as a singer and pianist have taken him from the White House, John F. Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, Warner and Lincoln Theater to international soil: Germany, Russia, Italy, China, Antigua and Barbuda, and Colombia. He is the former Artistic Director of The MusicianShip Washington Youth Choir and former member of Stellar Award nominated gospel group Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music, where he earned a feature as lead soloist on the group's hit single, "Take It to the Lord In Prayer", from the album, MAJESTY: A LIVE Recording of Anthems, Hymns and Spirituals. For more, visit: www.greg watkins music.com,
Greg Watkins is a pianist, singer, actor, musical director, choral conductor, composer, and educator. A graduate of The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University (B.M. Music Education) and a former student of Catholic University where he pursued his Masters in Vocal Performance. He is the recipient of two awards in honor of Dr. Quincy Jones (ASCAP Foundation/Cherry Lane Foundation/Music Alive, 2008, and The Raney-Moss Group, 2019) for his outstanding work in production, composition, performance, and musical direction. He is also the recipient of the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts' Emerging Artist Award (2015) and a Helen Hayes Award Winner in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as Professor Callahan in Keegan Theatre's 2019 production of Legally Blonde. Greg has appeared in several operas and numerous theatrical productions here in the Washington Metropolitan area, including Tazewell Thompson’s Jubilee (Arena Stage), Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (Constellation Theatre Company), Rock of Ages (Workhouse Arts Center), Sister Act (Arts Centric) and The Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadows (Opera North). In the PBS Documentary: Beyond the Mask, chronicling the life of prolific literary artist Paul Laurence Dunbar, Greg is featured as a voice actor and singer reading and singing some of Dunbar’s most cherished poems and letters.
Greg Watkins has musically directed several productions, including The Poet Warriors (2010 Capital Fringe Best Musical Award), Stormy Weather (The In Series), The Dead (Scena Theatre), Crowns (Delaware Theatre Company and Creative Cauldron Theatre Company), Dreamgirls (The Duke Ellington Theatre) and the nationally acclaimed staged-reading of Christina Ham’s Four Little Girls (Project 1Voice/John F. Kennedy Center) where he worked alongside prolific composer Kathryn Bostic and Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. Greg Watkins is the composer and lyricist of a new and soon-to-be commissioned work, DIAGNOSED written by Helen Hayes Award winning actress Iyona Blake. His talents as a singer and pianist have taken him from the White House, John F. Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, Warner and Lincoln Theater to international soil: Germany, Russia, Italy, China, Antigua and Barbuda, and Colombia. He is the former Artistic Director of The MusicianShip Washington Youth Choir and former member of Stellar Award nominated gospel group Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music, where he earned a feature as lead soloist on the group's hit single, "Take It to the Lord In Prayer", from the album, MAJESTY: A LIVE Recording of Anthems, Hymns and Spirituals. For more, visit: www.greg watkins music.com,
