MEET PASTOR & LADY BLUE
Reverend Dr. Derrill Antonio Blue is a native of Broadway, NC. He is the son of Jerry and Gail Quick. He graduated from Lee Senior High School in 2001. He received his undergraduate education in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Organization Leadership from the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. He obtained his Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Oklahoma City, OK. In 2024, he earned his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Transformational Leadership from Boston University in Boston, MA.
REVEREND DR. DERRILL A. BLUE
MEMORIAL A.M.E. ZION CHURCH | ROCHESTER, NY | SENIOR PASTOR
ROCHESTER-SYRACUSE DISTRICT | PRESIDING ELDER
Reverend Dr. Derrill A. Blue preached his trial sermon on June 9, 2002, and began his pastoral vocation at the age of 23. He has served the following A.M.E. Zion congregations: Erwin Memorial in Erwin, North Carolina, Coleman Chapel in Batesville, Mississippi, New Beginnings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sharon Chapel in Sharon, Mississippi, Mt. Olive in Waterbury, CT. On December 17, 2017, Reverend Dr. Derrill A. Blue was appointed pastor of the Memorial AME Zion Church in Rochester, New York. He was appointed the Presiding Elder of the Rochester-Syracuse District on July 15, 2018.
Reverend Dr. Derrill A. Blue has experience working in the banking industry, university assessment, and accreditation. He serves as a Cultural Ambassador to the Yale Clinical Research Program at Yale University. He is an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York.
Reverend Dr. Derrill A. Blue is married to the former Paula Danielle Bryant. They have two children Makis Antonio Blue and Norie Danielle Blue.
REVEREND PAULA B. BLUE
MEMORIAL A.M.E. ZION CHURCH | ROCHESTER, NY | LEADING LADY
ROCHESTER-SYRACUSE DISTRICT | LEADING LADY OF THE DISTRICT
Reverend Paula Blue is a native of North Carolina. She is a wife, mother, educator, preacher, and a lover of God and God’s people.
One of Rev. Paula’s greatest joys has been partnering with her loving husband, The Reverend Derrill Blue, in marriage and ministry, and parenting their two amazing children, Makis and Norie.
Rev. Blue began her preaching ministry in 2011 and is greatly humbled and passionate about delivering the Word of God. The scripture that keeps her grounded in life and in ministry is 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; she is honored to be a public display of God’s grace.
At her local church, Rev. Paula serves as the first lady and Minister of Spirituality and Worship. She also works with children’s church, and the women’s and prayer ministries.
Rev. Blue holds a bachelor’s in Mathematics with a Physics minor, a master’s in Instruction and Curriculum, and a master’s in Theology. She is currently a doctoral student at Boise State University’s Educational Technology program and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York.