Rev. Dr. Ruth McCants Locke was born in Sumter, South Carolina to Retired Presiding Elder Robert L. McCants, Sr., and Maggie Herriott McCants.  She attended the African Methodist Episcopal Churches where her father pastored in Columbia, South Carolina.

Dr. Locke earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts Degree from South Carolina State University in Speech-Language Pathology.  She continued her post-graduate studies at Ohio State University in Adult Neurogenic Communication Disorders. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Payne Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Education from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Locke was appointed to serve as the Accountant for the Third Episcopal District of the AME Church under the leadership of Bishop Errenous E. McCloud, Jr.  She is the first female pastor of St. John AME Church, in Worthington, Ohio.

Dr. Locke has been honored to be a workshop leader and keynote preacher for various conferences. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Columbus Chapter of The Links, Incorporated where she has served as the Chaplain, Strategic Planning Chair, and Treasurer.