Rev. Dr. Ruby Reese Moone

Reverend Dr. Ruby Reese Moone — civil rights foot soldier, educator, pastor, and community architect — peacefully transitioned on February 7, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, leaving behind a legacy woven into the fabric of communities she uplifted and generations she inspired. Born in Sparta, Georgia, in 1938, during a time of deep racial division in the American South, she was the sixth of ten children in a sharecropping family to the late Alexander Reese, Sr. and Annie Gay Bundridge Reese. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State College, later known as Fort Valley State University; her Master’s degree from Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University; and her Doctorate from Trinity International University. Her political advocacy emerged at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Alongside her husband, she worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She participated in demonstrations across the South, including the Selma to Montgomery March, crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in what became known as Bloody Sunday — a pivotal moment that helped inspire passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She and her husband also organized efforts to register participants for the historic March on Washington. Dr. Moone and her late husband were instrumental in establishing the Montgomery County chapter and the Maryland State Unit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She served as Maryland State President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was the first female Chair of the Montgomery County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee. She later served for twenty years as Chaplain of Black Ministries at the University of Maryland in College Park and was Pastor of The Sweet Hour of Prayer Ministry in Rockville, Maryland. She was also a proud member of the Asher Tribal Family of The People’s Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her many honors included induction into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 2021, recognition as a Montgomery County Living Legend, induction into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame, designation as a Woman of Distinction, and recognition as one of five National Women of the Dream. She was a special invitee to the White House under President Bill Clinton and an official guest at the White House when President George H. W. Bush signed the No Fear Act. She was the devoted wife of the late Reverend Dr. James C. Moone and is survived by her devoted daughters, Ruby Reese Moone Domingue and Jamesa Moone Hunter and her husband, Erik; six grandsons; five loving siblings; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family. Her life was guided by her most passionate declaration, drawn from her favorite scripture, Matthew 28:19–20, the Great Commission: “We are commissioned to elevate all the people.”

Rev. Sylvia E. Randolph

Rev. Sylvia E. Randolph was Pastor of Christ Center Ministries Baptist Church of Gaithersburg Maryland and an active member of the Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County in the mid-2010s during the presidency of Rev. Dr. LaVern Wilson. Rev. Randolph was the widow of Deacon Walter E. Randolph and proud mother of three daughters, a granddaughter, seven stepchildren and one great grandchild. She was a retiree of the Prince George’s County Public Schools system where she worked as a Specialist Educator. With deep family and ministerial ties to New York City, she often traveled to Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church NY, NY to visit friends. Pastor Randolph was a fiery preacher that refused to compromise on the matters of the Lord. She was known for calling out sin no matter the station of the person. In her later years, her joy was seeing her family reunited and serving in the ministry of Christ Centered Ministries Baptist Church as Deacons and lay leaders. Rev. Sylvia E. Randolph will be a minister on the wall whose clarion call to salvation will be missed.

Rev. Leon Grant

Rev. Leon Grant volunteered his time and talent to serve the Black Minister’s Conference as one of its presidents. Rev. Grant played an intricate role in the establishment of the Black Minsters Conference of Montgomery County. With a captivating smile and a warm hand shake, he often opened the doors of Mount Calvary Baptist Church to the conference for meetings and the annual recognition of the Paul Lawrence Vance Scholarship Award.

Rev. Louise Malbon-Reddix

Rev. Malbon-Reddix was dedicated to the Conference. She served three terms as Conference Secretary, and many years as our Conference Retreat Planner and as the Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee. The Black Ministers Conference cherishes the memory of her life and leadership. Louise expressed an extreme level of care for ensuring that Conference members understood the value of taking care of our health. She would provide information monthly, whether in attendance or absent. We truly appreciate the work she did to help make the BMCMC an organization that represents well the Kingdom of God and the African American Clergy of Montgomery County.
Rev. Dr. Haywood Robinson, III, President

Rev. Paulette Stevens

We, the members of the Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County Maryland wish to publicly give honor and express our appreciation for the service rendered to us by the Late Rev. Dr. Paulette Stevens who graciously served as President of the Black Ministers Conference 2005 -2007, where she led us through the celebration of the 25 Anniversary of the Black Ministers Conference.
Rev. Dr. Elwood Gray, President

Rev. James A. Harris

We, the members of the Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County Maryland wish to publicly give honor and express our appreciation for the service rendered to us by the Late Rev. James A. Harris who served as a Past President of the Black Ministers Conference.
Rev. Dr. Elwood Gray, President

Dr. Paul L. Vance

The members of the Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County Maryland wish to publicly give honor and express our appreciation for the service rendered to us by the Late Paul L. Vance who encouraged many students through the Paul L. Vance Education Scholarship.