About me
Michelle Hunton was born in New York to a blended family as the 7th child. Grew up in Hempstead Long Island. Her childhood was the tale of two cities. The best, the worst. After her parents divorced, moving from place to place was the norm. Michelle attended 4 high schools but graduated. She managed to attend North Carolina A&T State University. At the start of her college career things changed. She became a born again Christian. This provided the security and stability which changed and saved her life. Prayer became the center of her life. During her Junior year Michelle heard and accepted the call to ministry. This year while on vacation visiting her family in Bermuda, she met her husband. It was a whirlwind romance. After graduation she got married. This year she was also accepted with a full scholarship to Mason seminary in Atlanta. After one year school was postponed.
The family moved to California. Michelle was expecting their first child. After the birth of their son, school was back in the plan. She attended Grace Graduate School where she earned a Masters degree, writing her thesis on Youth Gangs and Evangelism. This period of time was filled with new beginnings and challenges. Michelle completed school and had her second child. The marriage ended.
With her two sons she returned to Atlanta to pursue her second Master’s in Pastoral Care and Counseling. In her third year of seminary she was Ordained as an elder in the Church of God in Christ.
Professional she served as a Chaplain in several hospitals in the Atlanta area pursuing Clinical Pastoral Education in tithe Emory Hospital program. At which time she wrote as her research paper “Incest and Pastoral Care”.
Next Michelle worked for Atlanta Police as a chaplain and recorder.
Having completed the Master’s of Divinity and the Clinical Pastoral Education doors began to open. Michelle took a position as Chaplain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This position moved her family to Rochester, Minnesota for one year.
The next move was to Pekin Illinois to open a new institution. This was a honor for Michelle as she only had one year with the bureau. Her theology was also transitioning during this move. Michelle heard the call of Orisha at this time. She began her journey with the help of Egun and Orisha.
The next move was back to New York where her God parents lived.Michele continued to serve as a chaplain in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in NewYork. In 1998 she was initiated into the cult of Osossi by Chief Bey Aya Ilu and Iya Barbara Bey Ogunrelekun.
During her career Iya Michelle has served in many boards and received numerous award. Recently was a speaker at the United Nations discussing the needed measures to be put in place to preserve our right to worship in accordance to our beliefs. She is a contributing writer for two books.
Iya Michele has written and published the book , The Adura Circle, Prayers for the White Table.
The life as a Yoruba priest is full time. She does Misas often. Odefa is a seamstress and beader for Ocha ceremonies.
Praying and Ocha continue to be
