Pastor of Pleasant Grove Church in Cary, North Carolina since May, 1998. Pastor Classy has led the church through a spiritual transformation resulting in tremendous church growth and relocation.

She answered her call to ministry in 1988 while a member of Third Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio. She was ordained in February 1992 by the American Baptist Churches, USA. In 1996, she had a sermon published in Volume three of "Those Preaching Women,” Reverend Dr. Ella Pearson Mitchell, editor. Pastor Classy has served as assistant to the pastor of Third Baptist church, Toledo, Ohio; Minister of Youth and Young Adults at the Calvary Baptist Church, Norwalk, Connecticut and Minister of Family Ministry at Christian Faith Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Preston has traveled to South Africa with Bishop Cynthia L. Hale to serve in two missionary endeavors.

Pastor Classy hails from Mobile, Alabama, was reared in a Christian home and is the oldest of eight children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas; a Master of Divinity degree from the New York Theological Seminary, New York, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, Indiana. Pastor Classy’s corporate career includes eighteen years with Bristol Myers Squibb, New York City where she was awarded the top leadership award, The Lee H. Bristol Award, in 1987.

She spent six years with Progress Energy Company, Raleigh, North Carolina and made tremendous contributions in the corporate supplier diversity initiative. She also served as President/CEO of Communities in Schools of Wake County for four years where she expanded community based learning centers for children and families in public housing.

Pastor Classy has served on the Boards of: Triangle Family Services, North Carolina Business and Industry and Tourism Committee, the Raleigh Housing Authority Self Sufficiency Board, the Capital Area Soccer League, The InterFaith Food Shuttle, The Family Place; and as a Junior Achievement Consultant for inner city youth; an adjunct professor in the Philosophy Department of St. Augustine College, Raleigh; and a participant in the Urban League Black Executive Exchange Program for college students. She has also served on the faculty of Apex School of Theology.  Currently, she serves on the Board of Triangle American Red Cross and a Champion for WakeMed Foundation. Pastor Classy is active with the NAACP, faith based initiatives, and other community projects that attempt to improve the quality of life for all citizens.  Pastor Classy is an active member of the Minister’s Mentor group of Elah Pastoral Ministries, Incorporated convened by Bishop Cynthia L. Hale, Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, Georgia. 

Pastor Classy has been honored as “Tarheel of the Week” by The News and Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina and was celebrated as a "Women of Note" by the African American Cultural Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina.  She served on the panel for Women in Ministry at the 95th Annual Hampton University Minster's Conference.  Pastor Classy was a presenter in 2009 for the Women in Ministry Conference in Atlanta, Georgia and she served as a Keynote Speaker for the 2010 National Executive Forum.  In 2011, Pastor Classy was presented the Women of Vision Award of Excellence "Spiritual and Corporate Leadership Award" by the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Bennett College for Women.  In 2012, she was selected to serve on the Western Regional Community Advisory Council in partnership with the community, to identify and develop collaborative solutions to address community needs.  In 2013, she travelled to Niger, West Africa to provide leadership development to the pastors and evangelists of the Evangelical Reform Church.  Serving on the mission field continues to be one of her passions.  In 2014, Pastor Classy served as Ministerial Representative on the Board of Directors for Dorcas Ministries (Christian Community in Action), Cary, North Carolina. In 2015, she graduated from Leadership Cary, a Cary Chamber of Commerce Leadership Development program. As of 2016, she serves as a member of the Faith Advisory Committee for Smart Start of Wake County; and on the Cary Kildaire Rotary Club.
 
Dr. Preston has been married to Deacon Jay Preston for 39 years. They strive to build up the Body of Christ by modeling Christian character and showing genuine love for God’s people.