Reverend Irene (Deacon Willie) Abney
NEW LIFE COMMITTED TO CHRIST
Reverend Irene Abney is a praiser and worshipper of Almighty God because she believes that He is the one and only true living God, and therefore, her love for him makes her not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For she knows that it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. She was baptized as a member of the Lockhart Baptist Church at age 12 but did not become a true believer until age 36. She received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior during Revival, on the third Sunday in August in 1989 under the powerful preaching of Rev. Alvin Deal. She was later baptized again by her then pastor, Rev. Harry Legons. She was licensed to preach the gospel of Christ on April 28, 2008 by the Lockhart Baptist Church under the care and tutorage of her pastor, Reverend Herman N. Jenkins. She was ordained as a preacher of the gospel in February 2013 by the Simmon Ridge Samaritan Baptist Association. Reverend Abney professes that “One of the greatest miracles God taught me was how to love others and how to praise him. I was “home schooled” on loving and praising. I was taught by God (in my living room and at my kitchen table) how He wanted me to praise Him, and then He taught me how to love. I was over 50 years old when I discovered (it was there all alone) what true love is and how to give it and receive it.” AMEN and bless the name of Jesus.
EARTHLY BLESSINGS
Family
She is the daughter of the late Mrs. Georgia Bell Mobley and the late Mr. Johnny Lee Clarke. She has two sisters that were reared in the home with her. Carolyn Clarke Peterson and Brenda Clark Abney. She is also the daughter of the late Mr. Henry Bell (Ella Ruth) Gray. She has three paternal siblings, two brothers and a sister, Tyrone Strughill, Tracy Gray and the late Zandra Gale.
She was once married to Mr. Jerome Jones and they have three children between them. Her son Terrances and he is the parent of two daughters, Bailey and Tyra Jones. Her only daughter is Carolyn Yolanda (Dana Tyrone) Tillman and she is the mother of a daughter, Crissy, and a son Jamil. Her youngest child is Brandon Lee Jones (Baby boy). Somebody else’s man, Always my boy. She also is great grandmother to the one and only Jaycee Carter.
She and her husband Deacon Willie Abney have been united in holy matrimony for 28 years now. Deacon Willie is the father of the late Audrey Abney-Bass, Karen, Tosha (Jamal) Hilton, and William LaTroy (Corinthia) and Sukaundra Abney. Audrey was the mother of Monique, twin girls Erin and Erica (Coy) Brooks, and Tevin, her only son. Karen is the mother of one daughter Whitney and 2 sons, Eric and the late Calvin (CJ) James. Tosha’s children are Breon, Chastity, Hassanah and Elijah. She has two grandchildren. Troy is married to Corinthia Hill Abney and they have four children between them; his daughter Tecora (TT) , and their son Koran and daughters, Amiya and Trinity. And Mr. Willie’s Baby Girl is Sukaundra better known as Toot and she is the mother of one daughter Arionna.
Education
Reverend Abney attended Riverside School for 11 years. In 1970-71, integration of public schools was mandatory and, therefore, she graduate from Saluda High School in 1971. She attended South Carolina State College in Orangeburg from 1971-1973 and received her Bachelors Degree in Business Education in 1982 from Lander University, Greenwood, SC.
Work Experience
Reverend Abney’s first job was while she was in high school when she worked as a waiter for Dot’s Lunch in downtown Saluda. She also worked at Saluda Mill for nine years as a textile operator and as a mini shift supervisor. In May 1982, she began working at the Department of Energy-Savannah River Site (SRS). She held various positions while employed by the federal government. She served as a Clerk Typist, Branch Secretary, QA Specialist, Supervisory QA Specialist, Administrative Program Analyst and as the Black Employment Program Manager. She left SRS to pursuit her calling into children’s ministry. She owned and operated her own Childcare Center, Abney Education Center, for nine years. She presently works part time for her home church (Lockhart) as an Administrative Secretary and for the Saluda Schools District as an occasional sub.
Hobbies
Reverend Abney is a child at heart. She loves to color and draw. Her hobbies include all forms of dancing (worshipping God thru dance, enjoying her grandchildren thru dance, line dancing and swing dancing with her husband for pleasure.). Her favorite color is white and purple (Especially white). She loves to plant and root flowers and watch them grow. It reminds her of the tender care of the Father in heaven. It excites her to see how nature praises God. The flowers as they open up each day to the sun, the trees as they praise God with their limbs as they move when the wind (the spirit of the Lord) blows upon them. One of her favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 150.
Vision
I look forward to the day that the church becomes as a sports fan. Supporting the Savior with visible signs of unity, i.e., with the fruit of its lips, with the movement of its body, with colors of unity.
