Uncrowned Community Builders

The Reverend Lillian Davis-Wilson was ordained in the Diocese of WNY, to the diaconate on August 29, 2015. She is assigned to St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Buffalo, New York. Her ministry is in bereavement and loss. She started a bereavement and loss support group at St. Philip's and works with the Good Grief Support Group at Calvary Episcopal Church, in Williamsville, NY.


She is a Spiritual Director from St. Joseph's Center of Spirituality, and she completed the 4year program of Theological Education for Ministry by the School of Theology, from the University of the South. She also studied at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. She earned her Master's Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Hospital Administration and Planning from NYU. Her Bachelor's Degree is in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and Secondary Education from The City College of New York. She is a Cradle Episcopalian and a native of NYC.


Davis-Wilson leads the Episcopal Service at the Terrace View Long Term Care Facility. Her leadership has continually developed and grown working with the past four Bishops of western New York, and she has played a very active role on all levels of the church. In 2018 she was elected as the Provincial Clergy Representative to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church USA for 6 years. On Executive Council, she holds the title of Vice-Chair of the Joint Standing Committee of Mission Beyond the Episcopal Church. Additional roles on each level of the church are Episcopal Church USA: elected deputy to the general convention for 7 trienniums, vice-chair on the Standing Commission on National Concerns, selected as a member on 6 legislative committees.


On the Province level: ECW Province President, and Synod Council's Planning Committee for 4 trienniums. On the Diocesan level: Diocesan Council member, Race, Justice team in the mission strategy advisory group, member of the Search Committee for the 11th Bishop of WNY, and elected Lay Director of WNY Cursillo to name a few. On the Parish level: Chaired the 10th-anniversary joint ministry program, search Committee Chair for Rector, Vestry Warden, and numerous other leadership roles.


Before her ordination, in December 2011, Mrs. Davis-Wilson retired for the third time. As Deputy Town Clerk of Amherst, New York, She was mainly responsible for the fiduciary maintenance and management of the Town Bids, although she handled all aspects of the Town Clerk's office. Attributes include the establishment of a bid deposit identification system and the development of a tracking system for recommendations from the Erie County Planning Department. In 2012, she was recognized and awarded for her dedicated service as Deputy Town Clerk by the Amherst Town Board. She was the only African American employee in the Town of Amherst Office.


In 2005, Mrs. Davis-Wilson retired as Executive Director of the St. Philip's Community Center. During her 6-year tenure, she secured an NYS Registration for the church's School Age Child Care Center and obtained a 5-year grant for $120,000 per year from the NYS Advantage After School Program. Attributes include the development of partnerships with public schools and community organizations which enhanced the social, cultural, and academic experiences, and developed civic participation in advocating for after-school programming and funding. she was the recipient of both the Leadership Award from Citizen Action of WNY and a Certificate of Recognition award by New York's Governor, George E Pataki.


Davis-Wilson was a health care administrator, she held the positions of Director of Planning and Manager of Outpatient services for Erie County Medical Center. She came to Buffalo in 1983 as the Executive Director for the Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Care Center. In August 1985 she developed and successfully opened the largest voluntary certified 59 bed ICF/MR in the state and became the largest employer of African Americans in the City. Attributes include increasing staff from 35 employees to 250, tripling patient care, and in 5 years increased revenues from six hundred thousand to 5.9 million dollars. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards for her excellent work in the health care arena, and has written a variety of articles, the last "A New Garden", a poem in Go Tell Michelle, SUNY, Press (2009). She is a member of Leadership Buffalo and was recognized as a Black Achiever.


The Reverend Deacon, Retired Hospital and Human Service Administrator, Deputy Town Clerk, Community Leader, Activist, and local/National Episcopal Church leader are some of the titles that describe the career and professional experiences of Lillian J. Davis-Wilson. She is married to Herman Wilson, and she is a mother of 5, Grandmother of 7, and Great Grandmother of 2.