» A Call to Serve

Mrs. Valesa S. J. Wells is characterized by the word given by the Apostle Peter in chapter 4, verse 10a of his first Epistle, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others...” (NIV)

With a wholehearted desire that her life please the Lord, Valesa endeavors to not only live a sanctified life but also a life that exemplifies the love and service to others demonstrated by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Only second to her call to serve the Lord as a yielded vessel for His use, is Valesa’s call to serve her husband, Pastor Dickerson L. S. Wells. Valesa is a staunch supporter of her husband and finds pleasure in using her gifts to aid him in his ecclesiastical, professional, and personal endeavors. She is also committed to serving her family, serving her church, and serving her community.

Valesa’s gift of service to ministry is demonstrated by her active involvement with the Bethel Church and the King of Glory Church where she serves in the Women’s Ministry, as a Bible Study teacher, a Women’s Sunday School Class teacher, a member of Bethel’s Executive Leadership Team, and a part of the administrative support team.

Her gift of service to others has been demonstrated professionally with her eight years of active and reserve duty in the United States Navy. Her career as a public finance professional which spans more than two decades and includes financial advisory services to cities, counties and state governments on debt management, capital planning, credit enhancement, and implementation of operational best practices. Valesa has served as Budget Manager for Shelby County Government where she managed a $1.2 billion budget and is currently serving as Finance Manager for the Town of Collierville.

Valesa’s gift of service to the civic and community organizations include being a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Class of 2008, Junior Achievement of Memphis Economics for Success instructor, volunteer reader for FM89.3 WYPL Radio (a program designed for the visually impaired), three terms on the Memphis City Beautiful Commission, Microsoft Excel instructor for the Collierville Burch Library, member of the Government Finance Officers Association, member of the Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association, and a participant of Women in Public Finance.

Valesa is a lifelong citizen of the City of Memphis, a product of the Memphis City School System, and a proud graduate of the University of Memphis where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing graduating with the honors distinction Cum Laude. She is a current candidate for a Master of Public Administration (May 2021) with a certification in Local Government Management at the University of Memphis. She and her husband are blessed with four children: ZaQuita, Dickerson II, Chantelle, and Chandler. One of the greatest joys shared by Valesa and her husband are their four grandchildren: Dominic, Jr., Zalan, Justice, and Mariyah.