Leadershipss
The leaders at First Baptist Church—DC are a dedicated group of people who love God and his son Jesus Christ, so they have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord while using their spiritual gifts and talents to help others in the church and in our community.
Rev. Parrish is a native Virginian. She received Jesus Christ as her
personal Savior at the early age of 6 after being introduced to
Christendom by her Deacon and Deaconess parents.
She has been a member of First Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Harold N.
Brooks Jr Pastor, for more than 30 years where she has served as a
Deacon, Adult Bible Study and Sunday School teacher, and president of the Missionary Ministry. She accepted the invitation from her pastor in 1999 to go on a mission trip to Uganda Africa where she fell in love with the people, country and that approach to mission work and has been on mission trips most years between then and 2007 with Shalom Outreach Inc. Her latest mission trip was in 2020 to celebrate 20 years of Shalom ministering to
some of the original sisters and brothers. Her greatest joy while there has been the peace and joy that can be visualized when one accepts Christ Jesus as Savior. Rev. Parrish accepted her call to the preaching ministry in 2004 after entering seminary in preparation and for confirmation of her calling. She preached her initial sermon and was licensed in June 2004 becoming the first female licensed at First Baptist Church.
She was ordained May 17, 2008, becoming the first student catechized by her pastor, Bishop Brooks. She currently serves as instructor for the Spiritual Repositioning class for new members, an intercessor with the intercessory prayer ministry, and the Assistant Pastor. She graduated in 2014 from the Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies Magna Cum Laude. Rev. Parrish is widowed with two adult children, Troy and Shannon, and three delightful grandsons Troy Jr., Darius and Hassan. Her love for the Lord and kingdom building grows continually and one of her favorite scriptures is Psalm 34:1- I will bless the Lord at all times; His praises shall continually be in my mouth.
Rev. Donna Y. Calcote Heatley was raised in a military family as the second of four children born to Duncan and Dorothy Calcote. Raised in church, Rev. Heatley accepted Jesus Christ in 1968 during Vacation Bible School at the First African Baptist Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina. When Rev. Heatley’s family relocated to Maryland in 1970, she joined the First Baptist Church of Highland Park in 1971 under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. James J. McCord, Jr. It was at Highland Park, that Rev. Heatley deepened her relationship with God and developed a heart to serve. She served as a Sunday School teacher for various age groups and was a member of the Young Adult Choir and the Senior Choir.
When Highland Park instituted its Discipleship Training Program in 1991, she participated in the inaugural class as a student and became a facilitator in 1992. Rev. Heatley was also a member of the Highland Park Prison Ministry. They traveled to Lorton Prison and the Prince George’s County Correctional Facility on a regular basis to share the Gospel with the inmates and detainees. In September 2007, Rev. Heatley left Highland Park to join her husband Deacon Michael Heatley at First Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Harold N. Brooks, Jr. She continued serving as a Sunday School teacher and in Prison Ministry. In 2012 First Baptist instituted its Discipleship Training Program, with Rev. Heatley serving as a lead facilitator. The Program continues to graduate all who are committed to growing in their relationship with God. In September 2013, Rev. Heatley accepted God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was licensed by Pastor Brooks to preach in 2014 and subsequently ordained 2016. In 2017 Rev. Heatley began serving as the Youth and Young Adult Minister, offering spiritual guidance to young people at First Baptist. In 2021 Rev. Heatley became a member of the Comfort Care and Hope (CCH) Ministry, where she is committed to providing spiritual guidance during seasons of difficulty and empowering God’s people through His Word. Rev. Heatley was born overseas but calls Natchez, Mississippi her home. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland College Park and her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Rev. Heatley is also an honor graduate from Capital Seminary where, in a double Masters’ Program, she earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Christian Care. Rev. Heatley is a practicing attorney, having practiced law in both the public and private sector during her career. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Prince George’s County Bar Association, and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Rev. Heatley is married to Deacon Michael Heatley. They both share a strong desire to serve God as partners in ministry. They have two children Michael Heatley and Nicole Heatley Bailey and four grandchildren, Jazmyne, Jayden, Aryn and Nathan, Jr. A foundational scripture for Rev. Heatley is Micah 6:8, which illustrates God’s call on her life: He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?