The birth of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church occurred in 1880 at the Old Ship A.M.E. Zion Church in Montgomery, Alabama, for the purpose of integrating A.M.E. Zion churchwomen in the ministry of investing in communities around the world The Women’s Society is the oldest and largest lay organization of the A.M.E. Zion Church.

Outstanding contributions have been made by A.M.E. Zion missionaries such as Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) and Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), who were most influential in America history as abolitionists and human right leaders.