Alonda Hassell was born in Schenectady, NY to Alexander II and Louise Barnhill, where she attended Schenectady Public Schools.

After meeting James N. Hassell in 1991, the two united in marriage in 1992. The couple joined the Beulah Baptist Church under the leadership of their pastor, Dr. Jesse V. Bottoms, Jr. where Alonda learned volumes about the Word of God and worked tirelessly in ministry. She became involved with the music ministry, singing in the mass choir and directing the youth mass choir and also shared her love for young people by working with the youth commission.

Dr. James and Pastor Alonda Hassell relocated to Westchester County, NY after he was called to the city of Yonkers to pastor. Working closely with her husband, they endured many trials, but realized the power of God in their lives when God used them in 2005 to establish the Kingdom Baptist Church, a ministry that grew exponentially in one year. In 2006 Pastor Alonda also became a minister of the gospel.

First Lady Alonda, affectionately called "Pastor Lady", serves as the Pastor of Music and Arts, Media, the Drama Ministry, teaches in Kingdom's Bible Institute and bible study, and just does anything that is needed to help build the Kingdom of God. Pastor Alonda served as the music director for the Empire Missionary Baptist Church Convention Young People's Auxiliary for twelve years and currently serves at the Director for the youth and young adult ministries for Empire. Pastor Alonda is also the Founder and CEO of Know Your Worth, an organization created to empower and encourage women for all walks of life to better themselves through networking, workshops, and fellowship. She is a sought-after preacher, conference speaker and mentor.

In 2018, Alonda wrote her first book, “Know Your Worth,” which is birthed out of the need for people to recognize and appreciate their worth. Know Your Worth serves as a very practical approach to ideas about our worth and how to appreciate the process to learning and accepting your worth. In 2020, Pastor Alonda penned her second book, “Soulutions”, which is a 21-day devotional designed to assist with self-reflection, personal growth, and change.

Dr. James and Pastor Alonda Hassell are the proud parents of Ralon (Samantha), Kevin, Kayla, Kaira and Pop-Pop and Oma (grandparents) to seven grandchildren. Pastor Alonda holds a master’s degree in education and is employed by the Yonkers Public School District as a middle school English teacher.