Elder Rev. Lorenzo Laws and Consultant G. Lutricia Laws

Lorenzo Laws was born in Tampa, Florida at MacDill Air Force Base to the late James and Rutha Mae Laws. Growing up in Daytona Beach, he attended and graduated from Mainland High School in 1972 and Bethune-Cookman University in December of 1976, with a B.A. degree majoring in Sociology. Lorenzo continued his education earning another B.A. in Biblical Studies from Logos Christian College, Jacksonville FL. and a Master of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore KY, and Orlando FL. Campus. Lorenzo has been the President /CEO of Laws & Associates Inc., a successful Insurance & Financial Planning firm for over 25 years and has over 40 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry. He is a graduate of the National Association of Financial Advisors, Washington DC, receiving a professional designation (LUTCF), after completing three years of intense study of the financial services industry in 1980. Prior to his appointment to Presiding Elder, he served as Senior Pastor of Greater Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Melbourne, Florida. Presiding Elder Laws has also served as Senior Pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E., Hastings FL, and Allen Chapel A.M.E. New Smyrna Beach, FL where he was known to take each congregation to higher heights, and always left them better than he found them. He is known to have a Servant’s Heart, and is reflected by being congregation minded, civic minded and community minded. Through the vision of The Reverend Laws, on May 28th 2016, Greater Allen Chapel had their 1st Annual Crane Creek Founders Heritage Festival, later named Melbourne Founders Festival. The Wright Brothers, Peter Wright and Balaam Allen were founders of Crane Creek, which later became Melbourne, Florida. Two of those individuals, Wright Brothers and Balaam Allen along with Robert and Carrie Lipscomb were also the founders of Greater Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, the first house of worship in the city of Melbourne. Given the history, Greater Allen Chapel is hosting this annual event to increase awareness of the African American culture, history and role it played in the development of the city of Melbourne. Living in Saint Augustine, Florida for the past thirty-seven years he has been very involved in many boards and organizations throughout the years. More specifically as founder of the Fort Mose Historical Society; FORT MOSE, was the FIRST FREE BLACK COMMUNITY in what is now the United States of America. Established by Spanish King in 1738 as “Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose’ it was a haven for Africans escaping slavery to Spanish St. Augustine in which they gained their freedom. As a result of Rev. Laws’ effort, the Florida Park Service and the Fort Mose Historical Society he was instrumental in securing funding to preserve Fort Mose from developers. They have improved access and expanded facilities for the public, and now have a museum on site for tourist and visitors, so they may experience the fort while protecting the archaeological remains and the environment of this FIRST FREE BLACK COMMUNITY in the USA. The Reverend Laws has been married to Gertie L. Laws since 1978. She is also a 1975 graduate of Bethune Cookman University, and a retired educator serving thirty-five years in the public-school system. They have one daughter, Brittney, a graduate of Florida A&M University, and is the Operations Specialist over Governance for the College Board National Office in New York, NY. The Reverend Laws is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the NAACP, Life Member of the Fort Mose Historical Society, and has served among many other boards and organizations throughout the State of Florida, but the most important service is that of his LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.