Pastor Kylon Jerome Middleton

Kylon Jerome Middleton is a transformational, moral leader called in these critical times to be a prophetic voice of justice, equity, and inclusion in America. Born in the paradoxically complex city of Charleston, educated in the public school system in Charleston County, at an early age, Kylon discovered his purpose and became an agent for positive change in the community.  

Driven, focused, and determined, Kylon established himself as a community organizer and an influencer to help mobilize communities around issues that historically create marginalization, separation, and division. Kylon is a unifier and seeks to use his passion and energy for reconciliation and healing to bring people together from diverse constituencies of the community, in dialogue, to build bridges of common interests, shared values, and collective priorities.

Kylon’s passion and energy undergird the steady beat of justice that motivates him to be a conscientious, empathetic thought leader who is not afraid to confront the issues of the day with sensitivity, fairness, transparency, and respect with the primary goal of coalescing the community around our mutual greater purpose.

Kylon Jerome Middleton’s life is a witness of the grace, mercy, and unfailing love of God.  The son of Vertelle M. Middleton and the late James Middleton, II, Kylon was reared with strong, Christian values. A lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he began preaching at an early age and has dedicated his life to service and building God’s Kingdom through ministries of reconciliation, healing and love. 

A credible, knowledgeable, and prepared leader, Kylon has always believed that education is the key to a productive future. He graduated from Burke High School and continued his studies at the College of Charleston, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications. He later pursued advanced graduate and theological studies at several distinguished institutions, including Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Charleston Southern University, where he completed a series of master’s and doctoral-level programs culminating in a terminal degree in educational leadership.

Kylon Jerome Middleton has built an accomplished career in education, serving with distinction in both secondary and post-secondary settings across the Carolinas.

At the secondary level, he taught English and later advanced into school and district leadership roles, including department chair, assistant principal, principal, and central office executive leadership. Throughout his tenure, he was recognized for his commitment to academic excellence, student success, and instructional leadership. Currently, he serves as the Chief Officer of Student Support Services in the Berkeley County School District (SC).

Kylon Jerome Middleton gives praises to God for his stewardship as a successful Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served the following Churches: Saint Paul AME Church, North Charleston (Supply); Pine Grove AME Church, Columbia, SC (Associate); Lever Chapel AME Church, Prosperity, SC; Saint Joseph’s AME Church, Durham, NC (Associate); Singleton AME Church, Georgetown, SC; Hopewell AME Church, Hemingway, SC, where God blessed him and the congregation to construct a $3.5 million worship complex to His glory. Kylon led the congregation at Hopewell in successfully hosting the 98th Session of the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference.  

Kylon Jerome Middleton is the 33rd Pastor of Historic Mount Zion AME Church on Glebe Street in Charleston, SC in the heart of the campus of his alma mater, the College of Charleston.  Kylon is extremely active in the work of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he is leading the congregation in a million dollar restoration, renovation, and expansion project. He is the Seventh Episcopal District Dean of the Board of Examiners, serves in the leadership of the South Carolina Annual Conference Board of Examiners, and is a leading Pastor on the Charleston District of the AME Church. Kylon was a delegate at the 51st and 52nd Quadrennial Sessions of the General Conference of the AME Church, where he also served as Vice Chair of the Revisions Committee of the General Church and on the Compiling and Editing Committee for the 2021 and 2024 Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Kylon Jerome Middleton preached the Annual Sermon at the Opening Convocation of the 99th Session of the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference in August 2009, which is a distinct honor for a seasoned Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Additionally, he preached the Word of God at the Women’s Missionary Society’s Night in White at the 158th Session of the South Carolina Annual Conference in September 2021.

Kylon Jerome Middleton is a dynamic, charismatic leader. In 2020, he was elected to the Charleston County Council, District 6 seat, the first person of color to hold the seat in the history of Charleston County.  His leadership, presence and impact on Council have already yielded proven, measurable results for the citizens of Charleston County. In 2025, he was elected Chairman of Charleston County Council.

Kylon led the City of Charleston's Illumination Project, whose mission is to build relationships of trust between the law enforcement and the communities they serve.  He has served as the YWCA Tri-County MLK Ecumenical Chairperson, Charleston 350th Community Outreach and Service Committee Former Chairperson, past member of the Social Justice Racial Equity Collaborative, past member of Coastal Community Foundation G&L Committee, Charleston Forum Board of Directors, Past Chapter President-Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Former President of the Charleston National Pan Hellenic Council, PM and current Secretary-Boaz Lodge No. 309 F&AM PHA, member of Progressive Chapter No. 310 OES, a member of the Robert B. Elliott Holy Royal Arch Masons, member of the George Washington Carver Consistory No. 162, and a 33° GIG of the United Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, Inc., and a life member of the Charleston Branch of the NAACP.

Kylon has one son, Kylon Joshua Middleton, a graduate of East Carolina University, with both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice, who is his pride and joy. With all of his many accomplishments, Kylon acknowledges that he could not do any of these things without God. The most important achievement in his life is that he is a child of God.