Serving Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, India, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Penny Hartsfield White is currently serving as the Supervisor of the 4th Episcopal District. Bishop John Franklin White, the 130th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Supervisor Penny H. White were assigned to the Fourth Episcopal District at the 2016 General Conference held in Philadelphia, PA. The 4th Episcopal Districts’ six conferences includes:
Seven States: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and South Dakota.
Two Additional Countries: Canada and India
As well as serving as the Supervisor of Missions, Supervisor White is also serving as the President of the Supervisor’s Council of the A.M.E. Church.
Upon Bishop White being elected a Bishop in 2008, Bishop and Supervisor White’s first assignment was to serve as the Ecumenical & Urban Affairs Officer and Endorsing Agent for the A.M.E. Church. She traveled with Bishop White as he visited Chaplains and military families at various military bases and to the various Ecumenical conferences and events throughout the U.S. and the world.
In November 2011, Bishop and Supervisor White were assigned to the 18th District which includes Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Swaziland. They were reassigned to serve for four years at the 2012 General Conference. In November of 2013 Bishop and Supervisor White were also assigned to step in and serve in the 16th District after the passing of our beloved Bishop Sarah F. Davis. The 16th District which then includes Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Suriname, London, Holland, France, U.S. Virgin Islands, the Windward Islands (Barbados, Trinidad, Grenada and Tobago) and the first year of Brizal.
Penny is a native of Tallahassee, Florida; the middle child (fifth) of nine siblings; six girls and three boys. Her father, the late Richard Allen Hartsfield, Sr. was the Assistant County Agent and her mother, the late Mrs. Mamie S. Hartsfield, was an elementary educator and a staff member of Florida A&M University. Penny, along with her family, grew up in Fountain Chapel A.M.E. Church in Tallahassee where she participated in the Youth Choir and the YPD’ers.
Penny attended Florida A&M’s kindergarten, elementary, high school and University in Tallahassee, Florida. Penny received her Bachelors of Science Degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude, Majoring in Accounting, in 1979. She is a 1985 Leadership Miami Graduated. Penny passed the State of Florida Board of Accountancy and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987. In December 1999 she completed her Masters of Science Degree in Management with a Specialization in Public Management from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. Over the years, Penny has successfully completed Dale Carnegie Management Seminar and Training Course, various other courses.
Church Services/Activities
Penny has served in many capacities in the A.M.E. Church. She has worked with and chaired various WMS Quadrennial Committees; served as the Budget and Finance Chairperson and the Handy-Simmons Scholarship Chairperson for the Eleventh Episcopal District; headed the Prayers Warriors at Mt. Hermon AME Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL; and served as the YPD Director at Greater Bethel Miami, Florida.
Community Participation
Penny has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. With her various employees, she has volunteered as a Chair and Co-Chair of United Way Campaigns, served as a Co-Chair for the March of Dimes sub-committees; worked on the American Cancer Society Committees; served as a liaison to the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Trustee Council where she served in the capacity as Treasurer; she traveled with the Chamber to Brazil and South Africa where they fostered joint ventures/partnership working relationships between the different countries. As an officer of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Penny services and works on many of their outstanding programs.
Work Experience
In 2004, Penny worked for the City of Miami, Department of Community Development as their Fiscal Administrator. From 1985 to 1994 she was a co-owner/manager of a frozen yogurt franchise at Bayside Market Place in Miami, FL while at the same time working a full-time job with Miami’s Parking Authority where she served as their Accounting Manager during her 20 plus years with them.
Penny is motivated and renewed by her favorite scriptures: Psalms 1, Mark 11:24, and James 1:2,12. Penny and Bishop White are the proud parents of five lovely children: Tenner, John II, Alfred, Byron and Candace. They have three daughters-in-laws, one son-in-law and ten grandchildren: Erica, Dwayne, Alisha, Kya, John III, Byron Ealie, Ashton, Dorianna, Joseph and Charlie; and one great grandson: JJ