Bishop Roy Lawrence Hailey Winbush was born in Crowley, Louisiana to the late Reverend LeRoy D. Winbush and Mrs. Olivia Simon Winbush. He attended Crowley public schools during his elementary through high school years, graduating as valedictorian of his senior high class. He graduated with honors from Southern University in Baton Rouge. Bishop Winbush attended Union Theological Seminary in New York, received his Master of Divinity Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Doctorate of Divinity Degree from C.H. Mason Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia (a constituent of the Interdenominational Theological Center). Bishop Winbush has also been honored with two other doctorates along with numerous other awards and scholarships. Bishop Winbush served as 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, served in Korea and received an honorable discharge. In 1949, he was the recipient of the American Legion Award. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Winbush has served his community and the Church of God in Christ with distinction. He was consecrated to the Office of Bishop in 1983 as the Prelate of the First Jurisdiction of Louisiana. He is currently the Pastor of the Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Lafayette, Louisiana. Bishop Winbush served as the Chairman of the Congress of National Black Churches (CNBC), which is comprised of eight major denominations, 65,000 churches, and 19 million members. He is a member of the Board of Trustees and former Chairman of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). In 1979, Bishop Winbush along with his wife Dr. Mae C. Winbush established the Gethsemane Christian Academy in Lafayette, which now educates kindergarten through eighth grade students. They also established the LaPetite Academy, a development center for newborn through four years of age. He is the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Roy-Mae Winbush School in Haiti. Bishop Winbush is the organizer of the Winbush Bible Institute, established for the training of Christian workers. He organized the COGIC Credit Union, which is state chartered. He founded the COGIC Visitor and the Good Shepherd, monthly newspapers for the church ministry jurisdictional-wide. He also established the pastoral insurance and widows endowment programs in the Jurisdiction. On the national level of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Winbush serves or has served on the following:
- Member of the General Board, which is responsible for the governance of the church
- Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday School Quarterlies of the Church of God in Christ
- President of the National Publishing Board for 25 years
- Director of Curriculum for the Charles Harrison Mason System of Bible Colleges
- Chairman of the Board of the C.H. Mason Theological Seminary
- Organizer and former Chairman of the United National Auxiliaries Convention, now known as the Auxiliaries in Ministry Convention
- Chairman of the Saints Center Board
- Organizer of the COGIC Bookstore and producer of the COGIC Hymnal
Regarding awards and citations, Bishop Winbush has been the recipient of too many to list here, for both his civic and religious involvement and contributions. His dedication has made him a giant in the ministry of the Lord and a blessing to those persons for whom he serves. He is now involved with numerous civic and religious activities in the area of his domicile. Bishop Winbush is married to Mae Carter of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the father of two married daughters, Vanessa W. Gatlin and Odessa W. Scott; and the grandfather of three grandsons and two granddaughters. In summary, Bishop Winbush exemplifies proven leadership. He is an industrious and astute worker who has proven to be a servant of God. He is a devoted family man.