Autura Eason-Williams was born and raised in Memphis, TN. A graduate of University of Memphis and Memphis Theological Seminary, she is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC and plans to graduate May 2020. A life-long United Methodist, Autura accepted a call to full-time ministry in 1997 and has served under appointment in the United Methodist Church since 2002. She was commissioned Provisional Elder in 2003, Ordained Elder In 2006. Her appointment history includes Centenary United Methodist Church, Calvary Longview United Methodist Church, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries, Christian Education and Age-Level Ministry and current service as Pastor of Capleville United Methodist Church, a multi-ethnic church in Southeast Memphis.

During her 12 year tenure at Capleville, Autura has led the church in becoming a neighbor in the Southeast Shelby County community through senior activities, a multi-generational computer and coding ministry, English as a Second Language classes, outreach to neighborhood schools, a community food pantry, and an apartment ministry. She also served Calvary Longview and Centenary United Methodist Churches and led those churches in similar community outreach.

Committed to the community, Autura served as a founding board member of the Center for Transforming Communities and of US Making it Happen Shalom Zone; facilitated Formation for Ministry classes at Memphis Theological Seminary for 10 years; and coached for Center for Youth Ministry Training for 2 years. In 2011-2012 she chaired the Advisory Committee for the development of new neighborhood school, Belle Forest Community School. She currently serves as an Arise2Read Coach at Ross Road Elementary, offers a monthly Birthday Celebration at Crump Elementary and leads the neighborhood in promoting the love of reading through Samaritan Community Reading Project.

Committed to the connection, Autura has served on a number of boards including Wesley Senior Ministries, Lakeshore, Wesley Foundation University of Memphis, Hannah’s Hope, United Methodist Neighborhood Centers, New Church Development, and District Committee on Ministry. She has led youth camps, Fall and Spring retreats, confirmation retreats, district and conference UMW retreats, Church Women United and Key Women events and preached for local church, district, and conference events.

Autura currently serves as the Chair of the Memphis Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, a member of Memphis Conference Black Methodists for Church Renewal. She has served many years with Methodist Lebonheur Healthcare as a member of the Faith and Health Committee and on the planning committees that created My Sister’s Keeper, an outreach that addresses health disparities of African American women and The Congregational Health Network, an ecumenical network of 600 churches that address health disparities and build relationships between the hospital, the faith community, and neighborhoods.

In 2016, Autura was elected First Clergy Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference and served as a General Conference Reserve in 2016 and 2019. Since 2016, she has served as Secretary of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Council on Finance and Administration. In 2019, Autura was selected to be part of the Memphis Conference UMC Next delegation and is committed to working toward a church that embraces and fully includes all people. Autura leads the 2020 Memphis Conference General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation.
Committed to accountable discipleship, Autura has participated in a women’s covenant group for almost 20 years. She is the wife of Darrell Eason-Williams and mother to four children: Ayanna, John, Terence, and Gwendolyn.