Breaking News: NBCA, Inc. International Elects Dr. Samuel Tolbert President
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. International has decided to elect a new president. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Tolbert, from Lake Charles, Louisiana has been formally elected after a period of voting. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr., Chairman stood along with the election commission. The results were released as follows:
Dr. Stephen J. Thurston, Illinois -365 votes
Dr. Samuel Tolbert, Louisiana – 1,290 votes
Dr. George Brooks, Tennessee – 379 votes
Homegoing of a Saint: Rev. William Shackleford, Martinsville, Virginia
Homegoing of a Saint: Rev. M.A. Byrd, Roselle, New Jersey
ROSELLE, NJ – The Borough of Roselle mourns the loss of another great individual in our community, Rev. M.A.Byrd. Pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church located at 1002 Rivington Street, in Roselle.
“When you talk about a leader that impacted a community you think of Rev M. A. Byrd. When you think of a person who remained a role model for all of us, you think of Rev. M. A. Byrd. When you think of a Pastor who guided you through many troubled times, good times and just any time, you think of Rev. M. A. Byrd. Words cannot express how dedicated this man was to my life but to the overall community of Roselle. He made me who I am today and I thank you Rev. M. A. Byrd. I love you! Rest in peace! You will always be my solid rock! Rest easy my leader! I will miss you until we meet again. Let’s all continue to prayer for First Lady Gloria Byrd, the Byrd Family and the Bethlehem Baptist Church family!” (by Mayor Jamel C. Holley)
Posted June 24, 2014
Homegoing of a Saint: Pastor Samuel P. Pettagrue, Jr., Birmingham, AL
From AL.COM
BIRMINGHAM, AL (EDITED) – The Rev. Samuel P. Pettagrue Jr., who was pastor of Sardis Baptist Church in Birmingham from 1971-2006 died on Sunday, June 25, 2014. He was 71.
Sardis Baptist grew from a small congregation to more than 3,000 members while Pettagrue was pastor.
The Birmingham City Council passed a resolution of condolence today. Pettagrue was a civil rights activist in the 1960s and worked closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, noted his attorney, Richard Jaffe.
The Rev. Samuel Pettagrue Jr. (File)
Jaffe said he hoped people would remember Pettagrue’s lifelong service to the community.
“He should be seen for the good that he did for so many people, mostly poor and disadvantaged,” Jaffe said. “He really did live a life of service.”
Before coming to Birmingham as pastor of Sardis Baptist Church, Pettagrue was the youth pastor at West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta. There, he was a key assistant to Abernathy in civil rights activities.
He was the first chapter president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Birmingham, said Yvonne Lowery-Kennedy, daughter of civil rights leader the Rev. Joseph Lowery.
“He’s done so much in this city,” Kennedy said. “There are so many young men he inspired that are now in the ministry.”
Homegoing of a Saint: Rev. Tony L. Jones, Lexington, Kentucky
From Kentucky.com:
and the late Scott Jones, Jr., went home
to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.
He retired from Kuhlman Electric.
He was a member at 1st Baptist Versailles and
was the former Pastor of Macedonia Baptist, Keene, KY, for 33 years.
He is survived by Audrea (Matthew) Brown, Hollie (TC) Walker,
Anthony (Betsi) Jones, Tony L. Jones, Jr.,
and Timothy Harris.
Service 1pm Mon,
Imani Baptist Church.
Visit 11am. Arr. O. L. Hughes & Sons.