History of the National United Church
Ushers Association of America, Inc.
Organized 1919



Filmore F. Gregory
National President


Charles J. Brown 
Eastern Regional Director

The Organization was founded by Bro. Elijah Alexander Hamilton.  He was a Christian man, small in stature, but large in heart, who came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Augustus, Georgia many years age.  After joining Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, he became a member of the Usher Board and was soon elected President.  He worked in the Ushers Brotherhood with a vision of broadening the field of Ushering.  In 1917 he began to travel to the nearby states soliciting their support in setting up a national organization.  He was well received.  Out of his pioneering emerged the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc.  The First Convention of this organization was held July 24 - 26, 1919 at the Varick A.M.E. Zion Church in Philadelphia.  The states that responded were New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, all of whom took a responsible part in the setting up of a national body.  Bro. Hamilton was elected the first President.  His mission was to broaden the field of Church ushering and break down the barrier of interdenominational, discrimination and prejudice.

Bro. Hamilton served with respect and dignity.  In 1920, during which time Bro.Hamilton's health had begun to fail, the Second National Convention was held at the Zion Baptist Church (F Street, S.W.) in Washington, D.C.  Bro William H. Davis of Washington, D.C. was elected President. Bro. Hamilton was made Honorary President and enjoyed the highest respect of all who knew him, as an usher and a Christian.  On December 8, 1924, Bro. Elijah A. Hamilton was called from labor to reward.  The Elijah Hamilton "Tag Day" is the fourth Sunday in March.

 PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENTS

Elijah A. Hamilton, Founder
First President
1919 - 1920

William H. Davis
1920 - 1940 

 Allan A. C. Griffith
1940 - 1951


Henry Ballard
1951 - 1959


R. E. Harshaw, Jr.
1959 - 1964


 Leroy Johnson
1964 - 1968


Raymond A. Smith
1968 - 1972


Harry Daniels
1972 - 1976


Robert Allen
1976 - 1980


James E. Anderson
1980 - 1984


Raymond Thomas
1984 - 1987


 Paul Finch
1987 - 1990


Robert B. Sherron
1990 - 1993


Willie J. Minnifield
1993 - 1996


James Jones
1996 -1997


Sylester Williams
1997 - 2000


Johnnie Knighton
2000 - 2003


 Pauline E. Young
2003 - 2006


Charles E. McCraney, Jr.
2006 - 2009

The Eastern Region
Conference Begins

In 1957, a young lady by the name of Alma Cooper Hawkins was the Regional Director of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.  At the same time, she was an active and outspoken voice in the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. (NUCUAA, Inc.). Sis. Hawkins believed that a regional director of all the eastern states of the NUCUAA, Inc. would allow the representatives to communicate and work together to build the organization, much in the same way as in her sorority.  She felt that this type of communication would facilitate the unification of the Eastern Region in meeting to discuss the business of the national body prior to the annual convention.  This idea, once presented, was well received by Bro. Raymond A. Smith, Fourth Vice President, of the NUCUAA, Inc.



 In May, 1957, Raymond Alexander Smith, National Fourth Vice President, NUCUAA, Inc.  met at the YMCA in Washington, D.C.  with representation of five States: 
Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania,  and the District of Columbia (96 persons were in attendance) and organized the Eastern Regional Conference.  Vice President Smith served as Easter Regional Director for 11 years.

In July, 1957, 4th Vice President, Bro. Smith presented the idea of establishing the Eastern Region to the NUCUAA, Inc.  Brother Henry Ballard, President of the NUCUAA, Inc. allowed the convention to hear the recommendation. The idea was accepted by the voting body of the NUCUAA, Inc. which organizationally established the Eastern Region and other regional delegations.

To day, the Eastern Region consists of ten states:  Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts,  New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.  The Regional Director is 4th Vice President, NUCUAA, Inc., Brother Charles J. Brown.