Elder Ira Presley, Jr. was born to the late Ira Presley, Sr. and Mary Jane Davis Presley, June 1, 1943, in Mora, Georgia, a small community out from Douglas, Georgia which is in Coffee County. He attended the public school system of Coffee County one of the schools being George Washington Carver where he excelled as an honor student. He attributes the success of him and his sister, Laverne White, to his mother and father who expected them to always do things in the spirit of excellence. As he excelled in the local school system, he desired to attend college to become a professional athlete, but God who is all knowing, ever present and an all seeing God said to him, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jerimiah 29:11). Elder Presley currently attends North Carolina College of Theology.
Since his father was a military man, this afforded Elder Presley the opportunity to travel both in the United States and abroad. He remembers fondly attending school in France where he learned to appreciate the language and culture of the French.
Elder Presley expressed that a pivotal point in his life came when he came home after travelling with bands to take care of his ailing mother. At this venture he fell in love with Martha Kate Walker. Sister Walker as she was called was taking care of three of her nieces doing this time. After marrying her, the love of his life, they were blessed with one daughter, the late Veronica A. Presley, in which she was a part of their lives for fourteen years. Veronica will always be a part of them and her memories will live forever in their hearts. Although there have been some “ups and downs, sunshine and rain, and happiness and pain,” Elder Presley and Elect Lady Presley have remained unmovable in the spirit of love as husband and wife moving forward in Christ by the grace of God.
Elder Presley believes that “fresh bread” is vital for the body of Christ today. Walking in the Spirit is his goal. He is a strong believer in the five-fold ministry and its attributes. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:11-12). He believes in preaching and teaching the Word of God, and strongly believes that God has called all of us to “live” the Word with no apologies.
