THE NEW HAVEN CLUB

79TH ANNUAL FOUNDER’S DAY

Guest Speaker

Orsella Renea Hughes is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where she serves as the Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Hartford, CT. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Pastor at Saint James AME Church in Danbury, CT from 2017- 2021; Associate Minister at Bethel AME Churches in New Haven & Bridgeport, CT serving in the positions of Christian Education Director, Women’s Ministry Leader, Community 8 AM Pastor, and Youth Minister. She was the Marketing Chairperson for the First Episcopal District AME Church 2016 Bicentennial Celebration. Rev. Hughes is also a proud member of the Connectional A.M.E. Women in Ministry.

Professionally, In 2008, Rev. Hughes was hired by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services as the Executive Business Manager growing with the company from one location to managing three locations in Connecticut. She was instrumental in the creation of the funeral home’s employee performance program, “Aria” which encouraged all employees to always perform their duties and responsibilities with excellence. While employed there, she also helped to create and was the coordinator for the grief counseling division, “Zola,” which helped families understand the importance of seeking professional grief counseling after their loss. She is currently the Executive Director for The Prosperity Foundation in CT which is a Black Community Foundation focused on building endowments and providing grants to Connecticut’s Black-led and Blackserving communities with a focus on the areas of education, economics, and health. Rev. Orsella is a proud member of the Links, Inc. serving in the Greater Hartford (CT) Chapter; Eastern Area Chair for Wellness - Mind, Body & Spirit, and a member of the National Council of Chaplains for the Links, Inc.

Rev. Hughes is the owner of “Serenity Ceremonies by Rev. Orsella” offering wedding day wedding officiating services (domestic and international), vow renewal, and premarital Spiritual counseling services. Having received multiple 5-star reviews, her business has been awarded Wedding Wire’s Couple Choice and The Knot’s Best of Weddings for 7 consecutive years. Her business has been featured in Munaluchi Bridal, BRIDES, Black Brides, and The B Collective Magazines.

Rev. Hughes matriculated to Southern CT State University, New Haven, CT pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications; earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA; a Certificate in Business Management from Cornell University; and a Certificate of Women’s Studies from Hartford, Seminary, Hartford, CT.

She married Howard Hughes in 2012 and together, they share a love for walks on the beach, dancing together, and making each other laugh.