Civilized men have always made a pathway that led to a place of worship. Yes, long ago our forefathers realized that the church was indispensable to every community and to all groups of people. They learned early that the church is one of the greatest social organizations in existence. In pioneer days as well as in our present day, whenever the message was to be conveyed to the masses, the pulpit was the media by and through which it was done; whether the message was religious, political, business, or social.

It was in the year of our Lord 1877 A.D. that our church had its humble beginning. A group of loyal and devoted Christian men and women conceived the idea of organizing a church. They gave their time and money to this cause. Through their pioneering efforts, located in Southwest Mecklenburg County, in a grove underneath a number of weeping willow trees, they gave birth to the WEEPING WILLOW AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH. Among those pioneers, we find such warriors as Newell Potts, Hampton Colby, Jane Dinkins, Fannie Grier, Rufus Springs, Wallace Grier, Lee Hendingan, Sandy Brown, Ardeline Brown, and many others whose names are not listed. We were under the Episcopal administration of the late Bishop J.J. Clinton. Our first pastor was the late Rev. Ephraim Torrence, who rendered courageous leadership and devotion in getting the church on its upward path.

In the year of 1915, under the pastoral leadership of the late R.B. Bruce, we were guided into a building program and entered a new edifice where we worshipped for almost 50 years. In the year of 1961, the church was in the state of being condemned and was torn down. During the leadership of Dr. J.S. Nathaniel Tross, in 1966, we entered our new location at 306 Billingsley Road. The loyal Trustees and Stewards were John Vaughns, Pearl Dinkins, Robert Ellis, Alfonso Clawson, Robert Miller, Johnny Watts, Fron Belk, Lonnie Berry, J.B. Boulware, Mayme D. King, Lathan Phillips, Tommy White, Robert Kirkpatrick, Jr. and Jethro Phillips. Following the demise of Dr. Tross in the year of 1971, the Rev. Wardell Henderson, Jr. was appointed to the pastoral leadership of Weeping Willow AMEZ Church. We worshipped at the Billingsley Road site for 23 years.

In the spring of 1986, the church received an offer from The Charlotte Eye Associates Clinic to purchase our property at Billingsley Road. Under the leadership of Rev. Henderson we began the process of seeking out a suitable site for the relocation of the church building that was acceptable to the congregation. Rev. Henderson found a three-acre tract on Milton Road, in the Northeast section of Charlotte in a growing community. The congregation was very excited and on January 24, 1988, they voted 100% to purchase the property at 2220 Milton Road for a new church edifice.

We commenced with construction on the new building on March 15, 1990. We were able to worship at 306 Billingsley Road until May of 1990. Our final service was held on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1990.  We were able to secure the use of the Salvation Army’s Boy’s Club for our worship services during the following months. The new edifice at 2220 Milton Road was completed in early December of 1990.

On December 9, 1990 at 8:30 a.m., the congregation assembled at 306 Billingsley Road for the procession to our new location. Pastor Henderson and his wife, Myrtle Henderson, led a procession of 35 cars to our first worship service in our new Sanctuary at 2220 Milton Road. Under the continued leadership of Pastor Henderson, the membership has steadily increased. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

A host of loyal members have departed form our midst since our humble start, leaving footsteps in the sands of time. We are more than grateful to our Christian pioneers and members, who because of their loyalty to Almighty God and their will to do good, have allowed us to inherit a rich blessing. We fervently pray that we continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.