The Reverend Sheila Wilson Freelon, Esq., MDiv., is the Senior Pastor of Carey Temple AME Church in Chicago. Having been appointed to Carey Temple AME at the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Rev. Freelon had the task of shepherding the congregation through a difficult time.  Services were held online while prayer and other ministries continued unabated.  Carey Temple AME regularly holds a food drive, providing for many in the surrounding area.  Before joining Carey Temple AME Church, Rev. Freelon was Senior Pastor of Turner Memorial AME Church where she led a multi-generational congregation, developing leadership skills, delivering Evangelism workshops, and coordinating community outreach efforts. Out of her passion to help others, Rev. Freelon established the Stop the Violence/Save Our Youth – Back to School community outreach, which included parenting, youth, prayer and neighborhood safety classes; a neighborhood prayer march and peace rally; and school supplies giveaway. This outreach was expanded to support the social justice aspects of the Black Lives Matter Movement, emphasizing that in Christ Jesus All Souls Matter. It also showcased the many — leadership, singing, dance, poetic and musical — talents of local youth and young adults.  Prior to joining Turner Memorial, Rev. Freelon served on the ministerial staff of Grant Memorial AME Church from 2002 to 2011.  At Grant Memorial, Rev. Freelon was Minister of Evangelism, taught Church School, and served as Director of the drama ministry.

Rev. Freelon’s first career was as a corporate lawyer for 30 years.  Attorney Freelon specialized in international, federal and state employment discrimination and compensation laws, ensuring that all employees were treated fairly and with dignity and respect in the workplace. Most recently she served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel in charge of global employment law compliance at a Fortune 200 Company in the Chicagoland area. She was also a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board, instrumental in establishing a progressive Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. Previously she worked in the law departments of Morgan Stanley (Vice President and Assistant General Counsel), the Quaker Oats Company (Senior Attorney) and the Chicago Transit Authority (Staff Attorney). She served on the Illinois Appellate Court as a Judicial Clerk after graduating from Law School. She also served her country in the U.S. Army Reserves in the Judge Advocate General Corps. As a lawyer Ms. Freelon penned numerous articles and served as a presenter and/or moderator for numerous legal seminars. She continues to mentor and counsel “up and coming” lawyers as she gives back to the legal profession.

Throughout her legal career she received awards and honors in recognition of her personal and professional accomplishments, including: “Attorney of the Year,” “Supplier Diversity Success” Award, “Who’s Who in Corporate America” Award, and “Corporate Trailblazers” recognition by the NAACP “Crisis” magazine. She was honored as one of “America’s Best and Brightest” business professionals by the “Dollars and Sense” magazine. Her personal and career accomplishments were featured in the American Bar Association’s publication titled, “Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters – Words of Wisdom from Multicultural Women Attorneys Who Have Been There and Done That.” She was also featured in Ms. JD, legal blog spot, providing practical pearls of wisdom for success in the Corporate Legal environment.  Rev. Freelon has served as a member of the National Advisory Board of the HistoryMakers organization and is a current member of the Board of Trustees of the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Rev. Freelon has impacted the lives of youth via her work with Junior Achievement, United Way, and United Negro College Fund, and as a motivational speaker on topics such as emotional intelligence, obedience, violence, education, leadership and personal and community responsibility. She also sponsors youth in Africa through World Vision International, and has coached four youth Bible Bowl teams to victory in the 4th Episcopal District of the AME Church. The 100 Black Men of Chicago has honored her for impacting the lives of youth in the church and the community.

Rev. Freelon holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary where she was a Judge Archibald Carey Fellow; Juris Doctor Degree from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was an Earl Warren Legal Scholar; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Mississippi cum laude, where she was a University Scholar.  She is the loving mother of two children.