Graves, Avis D.

Minister Avis D. Graves was born in Dayton, Ohio and reared in Cleveland, Ohio. Min. Graves currently serves as Minister of Worship at University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina under the leadership of Pastor Claude R. Alexander, Jr. She has held this position as Minister of Worship for three years. Min. Graves also serves as the Director of the University Park Music & Arts Studio, which provides instruction in the fundamentals of music (theory, piano, voice, woodwinds, bass guitar, brass and drums). She is currently developing a team of musicians within the University Park membership to form the church's first Orchestra Ministry. She coordinated, compiled and prepared the instructional material for the church's Worship Conference, "In Spirit and in Truth". In January 2000, she began her studies as a candidate for the Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master's degree in education with an emphasis in Critical and Creative Thinking from Notre Dame College of Ohio in South Euclid, Ohio. Min. Graves was the founding partner and Director of Prevention Education for the Arts Educational Theatre Company of Cleveland. She coordinated The Chorale Satellite Program, which offers formal instruction in fundamentals of music, piano, voice, organ and drums at three Cleveland area churches.