Rev. Dr. Lesly Devereaux

Rev. Dr. Lesly R. Devereaux, Esq., is a dynamic pastor, attorney, author, and community leader with a passion for ministry, leadership, and empowerment. She currently serves as Pastor of Heard AME Church in Roselle, New Jersey, and is the immediate former Pastor of Trinity AME Church in Long Branch, New Jersey. Her previous pastoral appointments include Bethel AME Church in Glassboro and Mt. Zion AME Church in Princeton. Dr. Devereaux earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business and African American Studies from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. She practiced law for over 15 years and continues her legal work as the Owner and Managing Attorney of the Law Offices of Lesly R. Devereaux, a New York–based firm specializing in estate and legacy planning. She is also a licensed New Jersey real estate agent. Answering her call to ministry, Dr. Devereaux earned a Master of Divinity, summa cum laude, from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where she made history as the first African American and first woman to serve as class president. She was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and later earned her Doctor of Ministry degree. Her doctoral thesis, Leading with Ministry in Mind, focuses on empowering church leaders through spiritual discernment.

A gifted author and speaker, Dr. Devereaux has written several inspirational works, including the devotional On This Day Remember What God Does Not Want You to Forget and the self-help book Breaking Codependency. Her work has received international recognition, with media appearances on ABC, Fox 5, Dr. Oz, and Huffington Post Live. Dr. Devereaux is deeply committed to community engagement and outreach. She has launched numerous initiatives including prayer ministries, community clothing drives, health awareness workshops, and intergenerational programs. She is the visionary behind the Long Branch Community Think Tank and has built strong partnerships with local organizations and first responders. Her influence extends beyond the church walls, as evidenced by her invitation to deliver the invocation at Monmouth University’s commencement ceremony.

She is the Founder and CEO of Remarkable Women and Girls, a leadership and personal development platform dedicated to empowering women. Through workshops, conferences, and the annual Remarkable Women’s Brunch, she continues to inspire and uplift women to lead impactful lives. A devoted wife and mother, Dr. Devereaux is married to her husband and partner in ministry, Leslie L. Devereaux. Together, they have raised three sons—Shawn, Jaison, and Isaiah—and remain committed to faith, family, and service. Rev. Dr. Devereaux is dedicated to preaching, teaching, and serving Christ, striving daily to fulfill God’s purpose for her life. Favorite Scripture: Psalm 27:4 — “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”