Negail R. Riley
September 15, 1930 - September 24, 1987
In 1963 while serving as pastor of Wesley Chapel on the campus of Philander Smith College, Dr. Riley helped negotiate the desegregation of Little Rock, Arkansas. A graduate of Howard University, Perkins School of Theology, and Boston University School of Theology, Riley founded the United Methodist Community Developers program and was a founding coordinator of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. He also served as president of the board of the Black United Fund, president of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, and chairman of the Racial Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches. At the time of his death, Riley held the office of assistant general secretary of the National Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.