Reverend Maria Whitaker is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia. She accepted her call to ministry in 2007 and was licensed in July of 2010 at First Baptist Church, South Richmond under the pastoral leadership of Sr. Pastor Dwight C. Jones and Pastor Derik E. Jones.

She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Masters of Teaching and extensive post-graduate coursework in counseling. She is also a May 2019 graduate of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology where she received the Master of Divinity. She is an advocate of education in both the church and the community serving in varied teaching and leading roles in both the schools and church ministries. Reverend Whitaker has taught English and Reading in the public school system on both the middle school and high school levels; has served as a discussion leader/class facilitator in an international interdenominational woman’s Bible study for those seeking to deepen their relationship with God; and has served as a conference facilitator for various churches in the central Virginia area.

She has a special gift for understanding and caring for the emotional needs of people. Whether it be a student in her classroom or a random adult in the grocery store, Rev. Whitaker seeks to empower people to love self the way that God loves each of us. She believes in Christ’s redeeming power for us all and witnesses to spread the Word of that uncompromising love.

She is married to Rev. Dr. William Whitaker, II and serves in ministry with him at Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church in Richmond, VA as Assistant Pastor. They are the proud parents of two children, Lauren McKenzie and William Howard, III.