The youngest of four children born to Joseph & Ella Highsmith, Rev. Annesto H. Younger was educated in the Richmond Public School system. She received her B.S. Degree in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1975. Dr. Younger’s post-graduate work included coursework at Virginia State University and the University of Virginia.

Dr. Younger was a classroom teacher and exceptional education administrator in Virginia’s Department of Correctional Education for 21 years. She retired from King William County Public Schools in 2016.

She previously served as Coordinator of Music for the Baptist Minister’s Conference Annual Metro Revival for 12 years. Currently, she serves as Assistant Coordinator of Music for the Tuckahoe Baptist Association and Praise & Worship Leader for the African American Fellowship of Virginia’s Preaching Camp.

At her home church, Fairfield Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Younger serves as Assistant Pastor and Minister of Women.

Her husband of 50 years is Deacon Tyrone Younger. They have one daughter, Leading Lady Tyann Taylor, and three grandchildren.

She accepted the call to the Gospel Ministry, in December 2010. Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Bobby E. Holmes, she was licensed by the Fairfield Baptist Church on April 10, 2011, and ordained in June 2013.  

Minister Younger earned a Master of Theology Degree from Infinity Bible Seminary, on May 19, 2019, and was also blessed to be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sacred Music Degree. Her relationship with Infinity continues as she has joined the staff at Infinity as an English Instructor. 

Dr. Younger’s favorite passage of Scripture is Psalm 27. She truly believes that musical talent was given to her as a way to reach, and teaching was a gift granted to increase knowledge, but the call to preach is God’s way of saying “tell your story and mine”, in order to change lives.