Reverend Dr. Charlrean Batten Mapson is the daughter of the late Charlie Batten, Jr. and the late Anna Rean Batten.

 

She is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended the Atlanta Public Schools.  Her high school matriculation took place at Benjamin E. Mays Academy of Science and Mathematics.  Upon high school graduation, she attended Clark Atlanta University (CAU) where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Engineering.  While at CAU, she served as inaugural president of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and a national officer of NSBE as National Pre-College Initiative Chairperson.  In 1991, the AUC chapter of NSBE honored her with the creation of an annual award and scholarship bearing her name, “The Charlrean Batten Leadership Award.”  Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she moved to Wilmington in 1991 and began employment with Hoechst Celanese as a Laboratory Supervisor.  She was later promoted to Chemical Sales Representative.  

​

After six years of service at Hoechst Celanese, she entered the real estate business, then later opened her own firm in 2009.  In 2003, she was named Realtor of the Year for the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, which had approximately 2,000 members at that time.  Her service to the real estate community includes Board of Directors member of the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, Board of Directors member of the North Carolina Association of Realtors.  She is currently an instructor of real estate continuing education courses for the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.  

 

She has been active in the Wilmington community for many years with service in various capacities.  In previous years she has served on the Boards of Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, Friends of New Hanover County Public Library, member of the Wilmington Planning Commission, and the 1898 Racial Reconciliation Committee.   

 

She is the former General Youth Secretary of the Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, serving 2003-2011. Implementing the Youth Empowerment Statement, Y-M-S song (to the tune of YMCA), and the Vickie Awards, honoring students excelling in academics and the arts.    

 

She joined the St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church under Dr. Dennis V. Proctor, now Presiding Bishop in the A.M.E. Zion Church.  And began her pastoral ministry at the Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Leland, North Carolina.  During the two and one-half years of service at this charge twenty-three members were added to the congregation under her leadership.  She implemented several youth ministries including a step team (in partnership with the graduate chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.); she implemented youth and children’s Bible study and Sunday School classes; and implemented a summer day camp for youth and children.     

 

She served successfully for seven years as pastor of the historic Saint Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Whiteville, North Carolina.  While serving at the St. Mark Church, she initiated monthly community discussions on the topic of racial reconciliation; partnered with the Presbyterian Church to implement the Circles of Hope program for single parents living in poverty; organized and maintained the Whiteville Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; and implemented several feeding programs for area families in need, partnering with another church of the denomination and a local Food Lion store.  Additionally, she initiated a support group for parents of children with special needs and participated in the Reimagining Health Collaborative (RHC) held at Duke Divinity School.  RHC is a program which seeks to bridge the gap between the church and those suffering with mental health issues. She provides spiritual and administrative leadership to church, including managing daily operations, developing, and administering annual budget, delivering compassionate pastoral care to community and leading worship services, ordinances, funerals, and weddings. Partners with city officials, non-profit resource organizations, civic groups, other denominations, and members of the public for outreach to community.

  

She served as pastor of the historic St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Wilson, North Carolina for two years. She Implemented and taught Special Needs Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes. She Implemented financial reporting system for the Wilson District, as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. 

 

She is currently the proud pastor of the Price Cathedral Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

 

In May 2021, she was named by Governor Roy Cooper to serve the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities. In February 2022 (less than a year after the appointment) she was elected chair of the council’s Community Living Committee.

 

In November 2021, she was appointed to the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Community Relations Advisory Committee.  

 

In May of 2016, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hood Theological Seminary as a Master of Divinity degree recipient and recipient of the Student Recognition Faculty Award. 

 

In May of 2021, she graduated from Duke Divinity School as a Doctor of Ministry degree recipient. Her doctoral thesis is entitled Inclusion of the Autism Population in Churches, Schools, and Communities. She recently completed season 1 of her first podcast, “Let’s Talk Autism with Dr. C…” | Podcast on Spotify. 

 

A prolific writer, in January 2016, she published, “Christianity, Christian Symbolism and the Ku Klux Klan,” in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Quarterly Review. Furthermore, she has written for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church School Herald and Sunday School literature and the Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society.

 

On January 31, 2005, she and Reverend Donald R. Mapson were blessed with son, Jadon Hassani Mapson who has Autism. So, she is a loud and proud Autism mother and fierce “Autism Mama Bear!”