Rev. Dr. Valda Jean Combs

Valda Jean Combs was born in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas to Willie Booker Combs, Jr. and Talmadge Booth Combs. Combs attended University of Houston as a National Merit Scholar, graduating with a B.A. in psychology. Honors included: Top Ten Student, Dean’s List, Student Senate Secretary, and Director of Ethnic Affairs.

Combs earned the Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, where she was a national moot court champion, columnist for the school newspaper, and founding president of the South Texas College of Law chapter, National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA). Combs served as regional director and a national board member for NBLSA. During her law school years, Combs lost many friends to AIDS, and grief gave birth to activism.

In 1989, a coalition of Prairie View A&M students and county residents elected Combs the first African-American county attorney in the United States, and the first and only African-American to gain countywide office in Waller County since reconstruction.

Combs earned a certificate in addiction studies at University of Houston, where she became aware of the link between substance abuse and HIV. She began her formal work in HIV/AIDS at AIDS Foundation Houston in 1997; where she served as an educator, grant writer, program coordinator, and manager of housing programs. Combs continued working in HIV/AIDS as a consultant for churches and community-based organizations. At the HIV Prevention Bureau, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Combs coordinated the Urban AIDS Ministry and was responsible for conferences, testing events, and World AIDS Day citywide activities.

Combs became a licensed minister at Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, in 2001, where she served as an Associate Minister. Combs has been faculty at Prairie View A&M University, South Texas College of Law, North Harris Community College, and the University of Houston Center for Addiction Studies. She is Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Law Students, and American Women. Combs served as President-Elect of the Black Seminarians Union at Brite Divinity School. Combs founded and administers Full Proof, an HIV/AIDS Ministry; serves on the board of Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network, and as Chairperson of the Tarrant County HIV/STD Coalition. She is an Assistant Pastor at McMillan United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Her column, “Notes from a Nappy Headed Woman,” appears in Churchin’ Magazine monthly.

Rev. Dr. Valda Jean Combs is a gifted preacher, writer, teacher, trainer, facilitator and Mother to her daughter, Alexandria Jean Combs-Morgan. She is particularly motivated to make faith institutions receptive, accepting, and affirming of all God’s people.