Gay byron
Union Theological Seminary Mourns
In loving memory of the Rev. Dr. Gay L. Byron.
The late Rev. Dr. Gay L. Byron, a distinguished Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC, left an indelible mark on the fields of biblical scholarship, liberation theology, and womanist interpretations. She received her M.Div., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in New York Town, a journey that laid the foundation for her impactful career.
Her profound serve extended to the exploration of the Pauline epistles, the intersection of race and ethnicity in early Christian writings, and the origins of Christianity in ancient Ethiopia. Dr. Byron’s scholarly pursuits earned her numerous fellowships and accolades, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the study of ancient Ethiopic (Ge`ez) sources for the Novel Testament and prior Christian writings.
Among her notable publications is “Symbolic Blackness and Ethnic Difference in Early Christian Literature” (Routledge Press). This groundbreaking work explores how early Christian writings and teachings utilized the consciousness of blackness to imply other
Gay L. Byron
Visiting Faculty Fellow
The Rev. Dr. Gay L. Byron's scholarship focuses on liberation and womanist interpretations of the Bible, the Pauline epistles, race and ethnicity in prior Christian writings, and the origins of Christianity in ancient Ethiopia. Her explore identifies and examines ancient Ethiopic (Ge`ez) sources for the study of the New Testament and other early Christian writings.
As a 2020-21 Visiting Faculty Fellow, she will be collaborating with Jennifer Knust, William A. Johnson, and J. Andrew Armacost, co-directors of the Manuscript Migration Lab at the Franklin Humanities Institute. Her work will center on the "invisible lives" of Ethiopic manuscripts. In addition to generating a book manuscript on Ancient Ethiopia and the New Testament that explores manuscripts as fluid cultural products documenting both ancient realities and the practices of twentieth-century black bibliophiles, she also seeks to learn of the latest technologies and digital platforms for cataloguing and researching manuscript collections.
As a professor in a Historically Ebony Theological School, she has an innate sensibility in her scholarship toward equity, accessibilit
The Rev. Dr. Gay L. Byron is Professor of New Testament and Adv Christianity at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. Her scholarship focuses on the origins of Christianity in ancient Ethiopia with emphasis on ancient Ethiopic (Ge`ez) sources for the study of the New Testament and other early Christian writings. She is the writer of Symbolic Blackness and Ethnic Difference in Premature Christian Literature (Routledge Press) and co-editor (with Vanessa Lovelace) of Womanist Interpretations of the Bible: Expanding the Discourse (SBL Press). She is currently co-editing (with Hugh Page) a volume titled #BlackScholarsMatter for the Society of Biblical Literature.
Dr. Byron preaches and leads workshops throughout the country for a variety of denominational bodies, and lectures at theological schools and universities on topics dealing with race, ethnicity, and the Bible; African American and womanist hermeneutics; Ethiopic manuscripts; and early Ethiopian Christianity. She holds degrees from Florida State University (B.S.), Clark Atlanta University (M.B.A.), and Union Theological Seminary in New York City (M.Div. and Ph.D.).
Dr. Byron, the mother of two sons, i
Gay B. Byron
GUILDERLAND – Gay B. Byron, 90, of Guilderland, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 24, 2025 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Germantown, NY to the adv Willard and Katherine Fingar Best. Gay was predeceased by her beloved husband Robert Byron; her brothers Gwynne and Granville Top and her sister-in-law Margaret Dyer.
Gay is the cherished mother of David (Rose) Byron. She is the grandmother of Christopher (Jaclyn) Byron and Kara (Wayne) Lake. She is the great grandmother of Jacob and Kayleigh Lake, Silas and Sullivan Byron. Gay is the sister of Wendell (Pat) Best and sister-in-law of Marilyn and Carol Optimal . She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend graveside services on Friday, August 2, 2024 at 11:30am at Memory Gardens, Colonie. Please assemble at the main entrance of the cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, (www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org) PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516
Byron, Gay L.
PERSONAL:
Education: Florida State University, B.S., 1983; Clark Atlanta University, M.B.A., 1986; Union Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1992, M.Phil., 1996, Ph.D., 1999. Religion: Presbyterian.
ADDRESSES:
Home—Rochester, NY. Office—Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity Educational facility, 1100 S. Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14620-2589. E-mail—[email protected].
CAREER:
Cleric, educator, and author. Ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, 1997. Baptist Church of the Redeemer, Brooklyn, NY, seminary intern, 1990-91; St. James Presbyterian Church, New York, NY, seminary intern, 1991-92; Laconia People Presbyterian Church, Bronx, NY, stated supply pastor, 1997-99; Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, NY, assistant professor, 1999-2002, associate professor of New Testament and Black Church studies, 2002-03, Baptist Missionary Training School, chair of biblical translation, 2003-05, associate professor of New Testament and black church studies, 2005-07, and professor of Unused Testament and Christian origins, 2007—. Commissioned Lay Pastor Teaching Program, instructor, 2001; General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations of the Presbyte