Lady Gail G. Booker
First Lady of The Cathedral at St. Paul
Lady Gail Booker was born in Macon, Georgia, in a Christian home and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She is the youngest of six children. At an early age, her parents shared financial business skills and taught her to think positive. From age 6 to 17, her family used their musical and vocal gifts once a month in nursing homes around the city and vicinity as a family outreach ministry.
Lady Gail’s favorite hobby is reading, and favorite scripture is Philippians 4:18, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
A life rooted in faith.
Lady Gail was raised and nurtured in the Swift Creek Missionary Baptist Church under the guidance of her parents, Deacon Tony Madison Glover and Deaconess Mittie Glover. She was the musician for Her Mother (a city-wide psalmist) and her siblings as they ministered in music across Macon, Georgia. Lady Gail has maintained a lifelong commitment to Christian faith, discipleship, and church leadership.
Lady Gail is an accomplished musician who loves the Lord and is passionate about serving women, youth, and families within the church.
She is married to the Rev. Dr. Spencer Lamar Booker, and they have two talented sons, Maestro Daeryl "Scooter" Booker, and Nicholas Lamar Booker.
A commitment to learning.
Lady Gail holds an associate degree in secretarial science from Crandall College and received certification in "Effective Public Speaking and Human Relations" from Dale Carnegie. She received certification in "The ABCs of Effective Child Care Leadership" from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start).
Lady Gail worked as a civilian with Robins Air Force Base before employment with BellSouth Telecommunication. She retired from BellSouth Telecommunications as a Business Specialist with par excellent Human Relations skills that afforded her an opportunity to be a part of a video used to train employees across the region and was a member of The Elite Club. She is the former owner and investor of G&S Transportation which operated in 48 states.
Currently enrolled at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Strategic Management and a concentration in Organizational Behavior. In April 2026, she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nation's most prestigious academic honor societies, in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA. As an honor student, Lady Gail believes learning is a lifetime challenge and achievement with every new career.
Serving young people and families.
Lady Gail operated an outstanding after-school program in East Point, Georgia, that transformed failing students into honor roll students, and with the assistance of her husband, Pastor Booker, who was the lead chaplain for the police department, collaborated with the City of East Point Georgia to establish a summer program for Young People "The Summer Safety Initiative Program" with four satellite locations.
Faith expressed through service.
Lady Gail is a former Women Missionary Society Area Chair of the South Atlanta Area of the 6th Episcopal District. 2007 she was elected a delegate in the 6th Episcopal District to the 16th Quadrennial Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a former Midwest Conference President of the Ministers' Spouses, Widows, and Widowers Organization (MSWAWO) and the former Episcopal Treasurer of the 5th Episcopal District's M-SWAWO.
In 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lady Gail was crowned the “Connectional First Lady" of the Minister's Spouses, Widows and Widowers Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2020, she received the 5th Episcopal District Distinguished Service Award, "I See You," presented by Supervisor Alexia Butler Fugh. 2019 she was elected a delegate to the 19th Quadrennial Convention of the Women's Missionary Society. She served for seven years as the 5th Episcopal Treasurer of the Women Missionary Society. Lady Gail is the First Lady of the 5th Episcopal District's Historic St. Paul AME Church in St. Louis, Missouri, "The Oldest AME Church west of the Mississippi River," where her husband, the Reverend Dr. Spencer Lamar Booker is the pastor.
A Tribute to Her Husband
A successful leader I know is my husband, who serves as a pastor and leads our church community. His leadership stands out because he guides people with calm judgment, fairness, and a steady presence. He manages conflict, supports families, and makes decisions that balance spiritual needs with practical realities. People trust him because he listens, communicates clearly, and treats everyone with respect.
He demonstrates statesmanship through the way he handles difficult situations. When disagreements arise or members need guidance, he approaches each issue with patience and integrity. He focuses on unity, long‑term well‑being, and doing what is best for the community rather than what is easiest in the moment. His leadership style encourages cooperation and stability.
He also shows entrepreneurship by developing new programs and resources to meet community needs. Under his leadership, the church began its weekly Family Friday program, which provides fresh vegetables and pays for a food truck so people in the community can receive hot meals. The church also connects people with other resources and has distributed gas cards. He introduced a weekly after-school program and a Saturday mentoring program. He led the renovation of all three floors of the church, the paving of both parking lots, and the purchase of property for a future assisted living facility. These efforts show how he addresses immediate needs while planning for the church’s future.
Innovation is another part of his leadership. Under his leadership, the church purchased a sophisticated audiovisual system that makes fully hybrid participation possible. People can join from other locations, appear on screens in the church, and be heard through its sound system. He also introduced three types of Bible classes: one focused on grief and support, a traditional Bible study, and a nontraditional Bible study. These changes give people more ways to participate, learn, and stay connected.
Overall, his leadership is especially meaningful because he serves a congregation with a powerful and historic legacy. This church is the first AME Church west of the Mississippi River, the birthplace of the St. Louis Chapter of the NAACP in 1913, and the church home of Annie Malone, Madame C.J. Walker, and Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Leading a church with that level of influence, history, and community impact requires steady vision and strong statesmanship. His commitment to the community is reflected in his tenure, which is the longest of any pastor who has served the church.