Lorice Washington: Denzel Washington’s Sister Who Chose Faith Over Fame

While Denzel Washington commands global attention as one of Hollywood’s most decorated actors, his eldest sister has spent decades building a life that measures success differently. Lorice Annette Washington is an evangelist, prophetess, author, healer, and gospel singer who leads Lorice Washington Ministries in Ruckersville, Virginia. She has never chased red carpets or film roles. Her work centers on spiritual healing, prayer, and a rare academic blend of psychology and spiritual nutrition. She has also been open about living with bipolar disorder, using her story to reduce stigma within faith communities.

Quick Bio

The Washington Family

Lorice is the eldest of three children born to Reverend Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. and Lennis “Lynne” Washington. Her father was an ordained Pentecostal minister who also worked for the New York City Water Department and at a local S. Klein department store. Her mother, originally from Georgia and partly raised in Harlem, trained as a beautician and opened several salons in Mount Vernon, New York. She used her business to help support her children’s education.

Faith was the foundation of the household. Church attendance, prayer, and strict discipline defined daily life. Denzel Washington has spoken publicly about how strict their upbringing was, and Lorice grew up under the same rules. The family also cared for two foster children for a period, reflecting the Washington parents’ commitment to community beyond their own three kids.

Lorice is the eldest sibling. Denzel, born December 28, 1954, is the middle child. David Washington is the youngest. All three were raised in Mount Vernon, a suburb of New York City.

Early Life and Childhood

Lorice grew up in Mount Vernon alongside her two brothers. Religion was woven into every part of the household. Her father preached at a Pentecostal church, and both parents expected their children to participate in church life from an early age.

At four years old, Lorice began singing in her father’s church. That early experience marked the start of a lifelong connection to music and ministry. She later traveled across America, Europe, and the Middle East, developing both her musical and spiritual gifts.

Her parents’ divorce during the teenage years was a difficult turning point. To keep the children focused, their mother sent them to private school. For Denzel, that meant Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York. He later credited that decision with changing his life, saying the friends he left behind ended up in prison. Lorice’s experience during this period shaped her own resilience, though she has not spoken about it publicly in the same way.

Education

Lorice earned a B.A. in Psychology from Briarcliff College, building a foundation in understanding human behavior and emotional wellness. Her ministry profile also lists advanced degrees in Spiritual Nutrition, a field that explores the connection between dietary choices, spiritual practices, and overall well-being.

Unlike mainstream nutrition science, Spiritual Nutrition integrates theology, holistic health, and psychology. Programs in this area examine how fasting, plant-based diets, and mindful eating intersect with spiritual disciplines across religious traditions. Lorice’s training gives her ministry a distinctive angle that blends academic knowledge with faith-based healing.

Ministry Career

Lorice founded Lorice Washington Ministries in Ruckersville, Virginia, where she serves as an evangelist, prophetess, and laying on of hands healer. Her ministry centers on the Pentecostal tradition of physical touch during prayer, rooted in biblical scripture, where a healer lays hands on a person while praying for divine intervention.

Her official ministry profile describes her as “a highly anointed, holy ghost filled missionary with the gift of the word of knowledge and prophecy.” She uses these gifts to help people dealing with spiritual, emotional, and physical distress. Her approach combines prayer, fasting, and what she calls the “spirit-filled diet,” a practice informed by her academic background in Spiritual Nutrition.

Lorice is also a gospel singer. While she has not released commercially distributed music, she incorporates live singing into her services and speaking engagements. Her musical ministry traces back to those early performances in her father’s church at age four.

As a guest speaker, she is available for church engagements at a fee of $1,000 plus air and ground travel and accommodations. Her sermons focus on practical healing strategies, deliverance, consecration, and messages of hope grounded in scripture.

Her Book

Lorice authored The Anointing, Prayer, Fasting and the Spirit-Filled Diet, a guide to safe and effective methods of fasting and prayer during spiritual consecration. The book explores which foods enhance what she calls the “anointing experience” and which foods, when prepared incorrectly, could diminish it.

The book carries notable endorsements. The late Bishop Ithiel Clemmons, who served as First Jurisdictional Bishop of New York and General Board Member for the Church of God in Christ, wrote the introduction. Two forewords were written by Bishop Samuel L. Green Jr., also a General Board Member of the Church of God in Christ, and by her brother Denzel Washington.

The text describes practical approaches to consecration for deliverance and anointing, covering topics like prayer disciplines, fasting protocols, and the role of diet in spiritual preparation. It positions Lorice at the intersection of faith and wellness, offering readers a framework that goes beyond typical devotional writing.

Living with Bipolar Disorder

Lorice has been open about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a condition that causes extreme mood swings including emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). Her willingness to discuss this publicly is significant within evangelical communities, where mental health has historically carried stigma.

By sharing her experience, Lorice has helped others in faith communities feel less isolated. Her stance bridges a gap that many religious leaders avoid: the acknowledgment that spiritual faith and mental health treatment are not mutually exclusive. She demonstrates that a person can be a practicing evangelist and healer while also managing a clinical mental health condition.

This aspect of her story is rarely covered in profiles about her, yet it may be her most impactful contribution beyond her immediate ministry. In communities where mental illness is sometimes mischaracterized as a lack of faith, Lorice’s openness offers a counter-narrative rooted in both lived experience and spiritual conviction.

Personal Life

Lorice maintains strict privacy about her personal relationships. She has no verified public social media accounts. Her marital status and whether she has children are not publicly confirmed. This discretion is deliberate, reflecting her commitment to separating personal life from public ministry.

Despite her private nature, she maintains a close bond with her siblings. As the eldest, she was part of the family structure that supported Denzel through his rise in Hollywood. Denzel has acknowledged the influence of his family’s faith and values on his own life, though he rarely discusses his siblings in interviews. A recent profile noted that Lorice and David “lead private lives, so you won’t spot them on red carpets or see their names in headlines.”

Lorice Washington and Denzel Washington: Two Different Paths

Denzel Washington’s career has grossed over $5.1 billion worldwide. He has won two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was named the greatest actor of the 21st century by The New York Times. Lorice’s work does not generate headlines or box office numbers, but it reaches people in ways that awards cannot measure. Both siblings credit their parents and their Pentecostal upbringing for shaping who they became.

Interesting Facts

• Lorice began singing in her father’s Pentecostal church at age four.
• She traveled across America, Europe, and the Middle East developing her musical and spiritual gifts.
• The Washington family cared for two foster children during Lorice’s childhood.
• Her book’s introduction was written by Bishop Ithiel Clemmons, a senior Church of God in Christ leader.
• Denzel Washington wrote one of the forewords for her book.
• She has been open about living with bipolar disorder to help reduce stigma in faith communities.
• Her ministry is based in Ruckersville, Virginia, far from any major entertainment hub.
• She holds a B.A. in Psychology in addition to her advanced study in Spiritual Nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lorice Washington?

Lorice Washington is an evangelist, prophetess, author, healer, and gospel singer. She is the eldest sister of actor Denzel Washington and leads Lorice Washington Ministries in Ruckersville, Virginia. Her work centers on spiritual healing, prayer, fasting, and the connection between diet and spiritual life.

Is Lorice Washington Denzel Washington’s sister?

Yes. Lorice is Denzel Washington’s older sister. Denzel is the middle child of the Washington family. Their younger brother is David Washington. All three were raised in Mount Vernon, New York.

What does Lorice Washington do?

Lorice leads a Christian ministry focused on evangelism, prophecy, and laying on of hands healing. She also speaks at churches, writes about the connection between fasting and spiritual growth, and incorporates gospel singing into her services.

What book did Lorice Washington write?

She authored The Anointing, Prayer, Fasting and the Spirit-Filled Diet, which covers safe methods of fasting and prayer for spiritual consecration. The book includes an introduction by Bishop Ithiel Clemmons and forewords by Bishop Samuel L. Green Jr. and Denzel Washington.

Where is Lorice Washington’s ministry?

Lorice Washington Ministries is based in Ruckersville, Virginia. She also travels for speaking engagements at churches.

Does Lorice Washington have social media?

No. Lorice does not have any verified public social media accounts. She maintains a private life separate from her ministry work.

Does Lorice Washington have bipolar disorder?

Yes. Lorice has been open about living with bipolar disorder. She uses her platform to reduce stigma around mental health within faith communities, showing that spiritual service and clinical mental health management can coexist.

How can I book Lorice Washington for a speaking engagement?

You can contact her ministry by emailing LoriceWashington@msn.com. Her guest speaking fee is $1,000 plus air and ground travel and accommodations.

Conclusion

Lorice Washington’s story is worth knowing on its own terms. She has built a ministry that addresses spiritual healing, mental health awareness, and holistic wellness over several decades. Her academic background in psychology and Spiritual Nutrition gives her work a distinctive foundation. Her openness about bipolar disorder within an evangelical context fills a gap that many religious leaders still avoid.

She shares blood with one of the most famous actors alive, but her path was never about following him. It was about answering a different calling — one that started at four years old in her father’s Pentecostal church in Mount Vernon and continues today in Ruckersville, Virginia. Lorice Washington does not measure her life by box office numbers or award ceremonies. She measures it by the people she has helped, the stigma she has challenged, and the faith she continues to practice every day.