Bishop Leath is a child of the parsonage. He was born in Huntington, New York and has lived in Norwalk, Connecticut and Inwood, New York as his father served in those places. Dr. Leath is a graduate of Yale College, Yale Divinity School (Master of Divinity) and United Theological Seminary (Dayton, Ohio) - Doctor of Ministry. His doctoral dissertation focused on the Class Leader system in the A.M.E. Church.

Bishop Leath has served churches in New York; Rhode Island; Norristown, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. His final pastoral charge was at Mother Bethel Church (Philadelphia) where he served for fifteen years as the 51st pastor. The Rt. Reverend Jeffrey N. Leath was elected and consecrated the 128th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in July 2008 in St. Louis. In his episcopal ministry, Jeffrey Leath served in the 19th Episcopal District (South Africa) during 2008-2012, and he presently is the presiding bishop of the 13th Episcopal District (Kentucky and Tennessee).

Bishop Leath is the husband of Susan J. Leath, M.D.; the Leaths have three children: (the Rev.) Jennifer, Victoria, and Jeffrey, II.

Brother Leath is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and he is a 33rd Degree Prince Hall Mason.

Dr. Susan Jones Leath is the fourth of five children of the Reverend Harold B. and Mrs. Juanita R. Jones. Growing up in Worthington, Ohio, she has been a lifelong A.M.E. Her father served as a local elder and her mother has been honored for devoted participation in the Women’s Missionary Society. She now serves as the WMS Supervisor for the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church (Kentucky and Tennessee).

Dr. Leath is a graduate of Yale University and The Medical College of Pennsylvania. She is the wife of Jeffrey Leath, the 128th bishop of The A.M.E. Church. She is the mother of (the Reverend) Jennifer Leath, Victoria Leath, and Jeffrey N. Leath, II.

Her interests are to encourage, promote and discuss health issues. The spiritual basis for her concern is 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?" She is quite concerned about preventive health issues within the community of faith.

Dr. Leath maintains an active practice of family medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also maintains fellowship with Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church of Philadelphia, where she leads a women's church school class each Sunday. Susan enjoys reading, gardening and her exercise regimen.