By: Jim Pyatt, WNCC Archivist & Historian

Neffie (Connie) Locklear

Connie Locklear is a member of Tuscarora/Lumbee nations and is a Charter Member of Triad Native American Church, the first Native American congregation in our Conference outside of Cherokee. She has served as a Sunday School Superintendent, Lay Leader, Church Secretary, President of the UMC, and Director of the church choir. She has served as the Secretary of Resources for the Northern Piedmont District UMC. At the conference level Connie has served on the Justice and Reconciliation Team, Committee on Native American Ministries (serving as Chair 2008-12 and 2014-17), and as Treasurer of the Board of Laity. She was elected to serve as an Alternate Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference in 2008, a Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference in 2016, and a Delegate to General Conference in 2012. Connie also was elected to serve for a quadrennium as a member of the General Commission on Religion and Race.

Professionally, Connie worked for thirty years as Senior Administrative Coordinator with BB&T. To quote her biographical sketch, in her spare time Connie “enjoys visiting her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, traveling, beading, and reading. Connie loves to laugh and enjoys a good cup of coffee with friends. Her favorite scripture verse is Isaiah 40:31: ‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.’”

Be sure to read the other biographies written by WNCC Archivist & Historian Jim Pyatt:

Daphine Strickland, part of the Task Force that led to the organization of Triad Native American Church, the first Native American congregation in our Conference outside of Cherokee.

Thomas Queen, the Director of the Cherokee Mission from 1973 until his death in 1992.

Jeremiah Wolfe, the first Native American to be elected a delegate to General Conference from the WNCC in 1976.