Rev. Lillian Frier Webb dies

Lakeview resident was a gifted religious leader, counselor and writer

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Lakeview resident, Rev. Lillian Frier Webb, who blazed pathways for women in the African Methodist Episcopal church and elsewhere, died peacefully in the company of her family on Jan. 25. She was 94 years old.

Known affectionately as “Tante”, Frier Webb was born in Harlem on July 13, 1922 during the beginning of its Renaissance period. She was the daughter of Lillian and Rev. Richard Frier Sr., who was the founder of Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem. Possessing a naturally inquisitive nature, she was nicknamed “Books”, by friends of her younger brother, jazz musician Richard Frier Jr., whose friends included music notables Thelonious Monk, Walter Bishop, Jr., and Miles Davis.

Frier Webb excelled in academic pursuits, skipping two grades, and graduating from the prestigious Hunter High School before attending Hunter College majoring in bio-chemistry as a Pre-Med student. Rev. Webb later attended New York University and earned a master’s degree in religious education followed by a master’s degree in social work from Adelphi University. She also obtained a certificate in pastoral counseling from Blanton Peale Institute’s doctorate program in the early 1990’s.

In 1951, Frier Webb married Robert Stanley Webb, and raised three girls, Leslie, Jo-an, and Kathy. Saving long and hard, in 1959, the Webb family bought their first home and moved to Lakeview, where she lived until her death. Frier Webb and her husband divorced in 1962, leaving her to raise the children as a single mother.

In 1960s, Frier Webb entered into the ministry — the first year women were allowed to be ordained — and she was ordained in 1964. This earned her the distinction of being the first woman to be ordained in the New York Conference 1st Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Upon admission to the Annual Conference, Frier Webb took a position as a secretary with the National Council of Churches under the leadership of her friend and boss Ass. Director of Stewardship and Benevolence, Malcolm Blackburn.

Soon after, she developed and taught courses at Adelphi University School of Social Work and Nassau County’s Department of Drugs and Alcohol, where she created and taught Principals of Counseling I, II and III. In 1975, Frier Webb opened a private practice called Therapy Et. Al.

A brilliant wordsmith, with skills as a certified sex therapist, she wrote Essence magazine’s popular advice column, “Your Sexual Health” for 10 years as well as many sermons.

From 1988 to 1996, she chaired African Methodist Episcopal Women In Ministry known as AME/WIM, a group that was formed to demand equal rights for women in the AME Church. The group became an official commission of the General Conference in 1990. This effort led to the election in 2000 of Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie, who was consecrated the first female Bishop of the A.M.E. Church.

Lillian held many professional positions, both in and out of the organized church, including pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church in Port Washington, where she served for 17 years, secretary for the 1st Episcopal District of the AME Church, and chaplain at the Nassau County Jail for more than two decades. She also founded Women at the Well to help women upon their release from jail, and became an Advisory Board member of Safe Harbor Mentoring Program.

In 2003, Frier Webb retired from the pastorate, but remained active in ministry, returning to Bethel AME Church Freeport where she founded the Bethel Bible Institute and R.I.P (Retired Itinerate Preachers).

Frier Webb leaves three children: Leslie Frier, Rev. Jo-An Owings and Cay Fatima; son-in-laws: Rev. Paul Owings and Victor Marshall; six grandchildren: Anthony Richard Frier Webb, Warren Mason, Kwame Mason, Latik Harris, Francois Kodjo Gamor, Kulondi Frier; and seven great-grandchildren; T’yana Mason, Khalil Gamor, Kayla Mason, Keilan Mason, Devin Harris, Maya and Lola Webb.