Past Supervisors

Part of our Washington State Jurisdiction history that many do not know is that our Department of Women is blessed to claim Mother Dr. Mattie Mae Carter McGlothen, who was appointed Interim State Mother of the States of Washington and California by Mother Lizzie Roberson (first General Supervisor) on December 13, 1939. Dr. McGlothen served as the Interim State Mother of Washington State until 1942 when Mother Rita Douglas was appointed by Overseer Goodlow.

Mother McGlothen transitioned in 1964, after serving as General Supervisor for the International Women's Department and 3rd President of the Women's International Convention of the Church of God in Christ for eighteen years.

Mother Rita Douglas was our pioneer of the church; she set the foundation we are building on today. She was an organizer who had the ability to make things happen and the adept ability to motivate and instruct the women of God.

She was a leader who propelled women to action, teaching and training them to be auxiliary leaders, prayer warriors, good homemakers, lovers of their own husbands, ministers' wives, and mighty women of Zion. By the inspiration and leading of the Holy Spirit, Mother Douglas demonstrated unique leadership, dedication, and courage.

She was officially appointed as State Mother (State Supervisor) in 1942 by Overseer Van Goodlow. At the time she was also State Supervisor of Oregon. When she came to Washington there were two auxiliaries at Madison Street (First COGIC in Washington State), the Bible Band and the Home & Foreign Mission. She organized a Prayer & Bible Band in almost every church along with a State Usher Board, Courtesy Board (now Hospitality Board), and Helping Hand.

In 1950, Mother Douglas held the first Women's Convention in the State of Washington at Tolliver Temple, Church of God in Christ, appointing Mother Willa Reese to serve as the Women's Convention Chairperson. She took Mother Gertrude Young and Mother Reese by the hand and put them together to assist her in the work of the Department of Women in Washington State.

Mother Douglas was called from labor to reward in February 1964. Due to her untimely death, Bishop Goodlow appointed Mother Gertrude Young and Mother Lula Powell to serve in an interim capacity, then appointed Mother Young in November of 1964 as State Supervisor.

Born on a plantation in the suburbs of Louisiana on February 17, 1910, Gertrude was the firstborn of eight to Edward and Mary Miles. She married the late Superintendent James Morris Young on July 4, 1929, and they were blessed with nine children. Relocating to Washington in 1943, she lived in the basement of Victory Church of God in Christ with her family. They later moved to Seattle where her husband founded Lighthouse Temple Church of God in Christ.

Working faithfully under Mother Rita Douglas, Mother Young's stamina, wisdom and strong conviction were noted, and in 1964 after Mother Douglas' passing she was appointed State Supervisor of the Washington State Jurisdiction by Bishop Van Goodlow. She served for more than half a century as Supervisor of Women.

In 1971, Mother Young presented a proposal to Bishop R.E. Altheimer, formally requesting permission to implement an Annual State Women's Convention. With his approval, the Washington State Department of Women continues to enjoy that annual gathering — the first state women's convention in COGIC. Under her leadership the Women's Department grew from less than 10 to more than 150 Licensed Missionaries.

Mother Young chaired the highest board of the International Department of Women — The International Executive Board. In 2007 during the 100th Anniversary of COGIC, she was honored with the Centennial Distinguished Honor Award. After over 50 years of Supervisor leadership and over 104 years of earthly life, Mother Gertrude Young transitioned.

At the transition of Mother Gertrude Young and the separation of our Jurisdiction into 2 Jurisdictions, Mother Mary Jean McGraw (11/2014 – present) was selected to lead the Department of Women in the Washington Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and Mother Curlie Davis was selected as 3rd in Succession to lead the Department of Women in our Washington State Jurisdiction.

Mother Davis grew up in Tennessee where she was saved and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her teen years. She and her husband (the late Superintendent Sherman Davis) founded a church in Memphis, Tennessee. Her efforts were turned toward the youth in the community — she realized that if you teach the Gospel of Jesus to the children, it won't be long before the parents come to see what's going on.

In 1974 they moved to the Pacific Northwest. In 1981 her husband was appointed Pastor of Altheimer Memorial COGIC. She began organizing an Outreach Program that reached all ages — small children, middle and high school students, college and university students, couples, singles, and senior citizens in private homes and nursing homes.

Community Volunteer:

• Founder and Director of GMAC (Give Me A Chance), assisting students through the summer months
• Advisory Board Member for Early Childhood Education, Bates Vocational Institute
• Volunteer Worker for the Center for Child Abuse Prevention Services
• Board Member, Another Door to Learning

Local Church:

• Teacher of Middle Adult Sunday School Class
• President of Local Women's Conference
• Organizer of the Toddler Nursery

Jurisdictional Department of Women:

• Chair of the District Superintendents Wives Circle
• Chair of the Missionary Examining Committee
• Chair of the Advisory Board
• National Advisory Board member

In April of 2021, Mother Curlie Davis, as President of our 50th Women's Jurisdictional Convention, led what was our first Jurisdictional Virtual Convention. Mother Davis relinquished her position in May of 2021, after a service period of 6 years. She transitioned in October of 2024.