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GEORGE W. SADLER, JR.
George W. Sadler, Jr. (May 18, 1942- ) is the son of George and Alice Sadler.
He was born in York, South Carolina. He was converted at age nine, and was baptized
into the Fishing Creek Baptist Church in York.
Sadler attended Chaplin College (B.A.), Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary,
Morehouse (M.Div.), and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He has served
as pastor in North Carolina and Georgia, and is currently pastor of Fortieth
Street Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida.
Sadler has served as chaplain at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital since
1984, and is president of Baptist Fellowship Bible College in Tampa. He has
received numerous denominational, government, and civic awards.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical files
WALTER H. SALTER, SR.
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Walter H. Salter Sr. (August 1, 1904-June 5, 1994) was born in Wilcox County, Georgia. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1926. Salter retired from the Jacksonville Electric Authority in 1946, and served as pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church in Hilliard, North Fourteenth Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach, and Barford Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He and his wife, LaVerna, had four children, Richard, LaVerna, Walter, Jr., and Robert.
Secondary Source: History of Ephesus Baptist Church, Hilliard, Florida, p. 14. Florida Baptist Witness, July 28, 1994, p. 10.
C. T. SAMPSON
C. T. Sampson was a Barnabas for Stetson University. He gave the school $70,000 at a very crucial time. Trustees were given authority to use $50,000 as they saw fit and $20,000 was to be kept intact at interest for the consistent increase of the library that bears his name. Sampson died in 1894. At that time, Stetson had an enrollment of 208.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1894, p. 30.
JAMES C. SAMS
James C. Sams (1911-1985) was serving as president of the National Baptist Convention of America when he died in Jacksonville in 1985. He was president of the convention for 15 years. He also served as president of the Florida Progressive Baptist Convention for 17 years. Sams was a native of Cochran, Georgia. Ebony magazine named him in the top 100 most influential Black Americans every year from 1971 until the time of his death. He served as pastor in Jacksonville for 32 years. His wife was Cornelia Sams.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 8, 1985, p. 6.
GUY S. SANDERS III
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Guy S. Sanders III (1948- ) is a graduate of Clemson (1970, B.A.), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1973, Th.M.). He has served in Kansas, and at LifeWay in Nashville, Tennessee, as a consultant for FAITH. He has served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Lake Wales (1982-1994), and became pastor of First Baptist Church in New Port Richey in 2000. He and his wife, Phyllis, have two daughters, Ashleigh and Andrea.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 19, 2000.
HAROLD GLEN SANDERS
Harold Glen Sanders (August 2, 1907-October 30, 1986) was born atAurora, Missouri. He was the son of Charles Theodore Sanders andMargaret Ellen Wheeler Sanders. He had four brothers; Carl (1897), William (1899), Joseph (1901), and Earl (1909). He also had sisters; Mildred (1903) and Marie (1905.). Sanders was converted at age 17, and baptized into First Baptist Church in Webb City, Missouri. He was licensed in 1927 at Webb City, and ordained by the Pleasant Home Baptist Church in Spruce, Missouri in 1933. He graduated from Webb City High School in 1925, and attended Southwest Baptist College (A.A., 1930), William Jewell College (A.B., 1932), and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1937; Th.D., 1941). Dr. Sanders married Mary Lou Myers on April 30, 1936. They had two adopted children; Margaret Ellen (1946), and Harold II (1946). Mrs. Sanders was killed in an automobile accident on October 4, 1950. Dr. Sanders married June Celeste Holloway on August 1, 1952 at Marion, Ohio. They had two children; Susan in 1953, and Ronald in 1954. Dr. Sanders served as pastor in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama. He served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain in the Pacific in World War II (1943-1946). He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida from 1946 to 1961, and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Stetson in 1961. He then served as Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention from 1961 until his retirement in 1972.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files. Florida Baptist Witness. February 28, 1946, p. 9; June 13, 1946, p. 1; November 20, 1986.
KENNETH G. SANDERS
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Kenneth G. Sanders graduated from Stetson University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sanders served as pastor of Trinity in Apopka; Edgewood in Lakeland; and in 1980, went as pastor of Turkey Creek in Plant City.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, May 29, 1980, p. 6.
LESLIE E. SANDERS
Leslie E. Sanders was ordained on December 9, 1942, at Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended South West Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri; William Jewell (A.A.); Texas Wesleyan (B.A.); and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M.). Sanders served as pastor of Valverdre Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas; Golden Gate Baptist Church in Oakland, California; Downtown Southern Baptist Church in Los Angeles; First Baptist Church, Chipley; Woodland Baptist Church in Jacksonville; and West Broadway in Louisville, Kentucky. Sanders and his wife, Jeanne, had two daughters, Sandra and Sharon.
Secondary Source: Joan P. Chance, First Baptist Church, Chipley, 1887-1987, pp. 11-12.
WILLIAM IRA SANDERS
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William Ira Sanders served as pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Jacksonville for 39 years (1921-1959). He was born and raised in Florida. At the time of his death he held the living record for the longest continual pastoral service in any Southern Baptist Church in Florida. He served as a Baptist minister for 51 years. He served as pastor of First Church West Palm Beach, Cocoa and Titusville. He also served as clerk of the Jacksonville Baptist Association from 1921-1959. Sanders was a graduate of Columbia College in Lake City (A.B. 1914), and attended Crozer University in Pennsylvania and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He married Sallie Childs Harrison who was a native of South Carolina and a graduate of Rollins College.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, June 20, 1946, pp. 1, 4; January 29, 1959, p. 1.
E. E. SANFORD
E. E. Sanford (1853-1918) was born in Davis County, Indiana, and was licensed to preach at his home church in Washington, Indiana, on November 22, 1879. He was ordained at Edwardsport Church in Edwardsport, Indiana, on September 29, 1882. He was pastor at Edwardsport and Maria Creek churches in Indiana before moving to Winter Haven, Florida, and serving as pastor from 1905-1908.
Secondary Source: Louise Beauchamp, History 1885-1985, First Baptist Church, Winter Haven, p. 12.
CLARENCE E. SAUNDERS
Clarence E. Saunders was a bivocational pastor in Florida who had a wonderful record of service. He was born in Clay County, but lived in Jacksonville from 1923 until his death in 1960. Saunders organized four Southern Baptist churches. They were Murray Hill, Lake Shore, and Edgewood Heights in Jacksonville, and Maxville Baptist Church in Maxville. He served as pastor at First Baptist Church in Grand Park, Trinity, and Callahan. Saunders taught school for 35 years in Duval, Clay, and Nassau County schools. Saunders and his wife, Gladys, had one daughter, Annie, and a son, Curtis. Saunders died October 9, 1960.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 20, 1960, p. 12.
JOHN A. SAUNDERS
John A. Saunders (November 21, 1871-February 21, 1953) was born at Woodville,
Florida. He was converted and joined the Woodville church at an early age. In
1895 he married Maude Dye and they had three children. She died in 1900.
Saunders became a minister in Leon County. He married Alma Parish in 1910. They
had seven children.
Saunders was ordained at the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Jacksonville on October
8, 1908. He was instrumental in organizing several churches in the Jacksonville
area.
In December 1921 he moved to Middleburg and served as pastor of the church there
for many years.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
JAMES A. SAWYER
James A. Sawyer (1912-2002) held an honorary doctorate from Stetson, and served
in numerous denominational positions. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church
in Cocoa for 27 years (1940-1967). He and his wife had one daughter, Chrystene,
and three sons, William, James Jr.,
and Thomas.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, June 27, 2002.
ROBERT E. SAWYER
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Robert E. Sawyer (1928-1983) was a native of Miami. He was a graduate of Stetson and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Pembroke Road Baptist Church in Miramar for 26 years (1957-1983). He was the first pastor of the church and that was the only pastorate he ever had. He founded Penbroke Christian Academy. He helped begin Pine Lakes Baptist Church, and a Spanish mission. He and his wife, Ann, had three sons, David, Joel, and Robert Jr.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 10, 1983, p. 6.
SHERWOOD E. SAWYER
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Sherwood E. Sawyer (February 15, 1932- ) was born in Garland, Maine, the son
of Kenneth and Helen Sawyer. He is married to Ruth Rowe, and they have two sons,
Tim and Paul, and had one daughter, Lois Anne, who died in 1956.
Sawyer attended Ricker College, the University of Maine (B.A.), and Eastern
Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor in Maine and Pennsylvania
before becoming pastor of Bethel Creek Baptist Church in Lafayette County.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
MICHAEL JOSEPH SCHALTZ
Michael Joseph Schultz (1898-1967) was a native of Scott Haven, Pennsylvania. He served as pastor of Baptist churches in Mango, Wauchula, Umatilla, Tampa, and Lakeland.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, December 21, 1967.
C. E. SCOTT
C. E. Scott served in the Jackson County Baptist Association and died in 1927.
Secondary Source: Jackson County Baptist Association Minutes, 1927, p. 26.
EDWIN E. SCOTT
Edwin E. Scott graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO., and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served three pastorates and as a director of missions of the St. Johns River Baptist Association before joining the faculty of The Baptist College of Florida in 2006.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 3, 2006, p. 5.
J. S. SCOTT
J. S. Scott died in 1904 after serving as pastor in the West Florida Baptist Association.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1905, p. 18.
PITT MERCER SCOTT, SR.
Pitt Mercer Scott, Sr., (September 4, 1876-February 15, 1946) served for ten
years as pastor of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church. He also served as pastor
of Laurel Hill, Baker, Hurricane, New Hope, Leonia, and Sandy Creek in Northwest
Florida.
Scott was born in New Hope in Holmes County, Florida, the son of Judge and Mrs.
W. W. Scott. He married Celia Wilkes and they had two sons; Pitt Jr., and Clark;
and two daughters: Mrs. T. D. Sutton, and Mrs.
J. W. Olfson.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, May 2, 1946, p. 15; August 1, 1946, p. 15.
D. DOUGLAS SCRIVNER
D. Douglas Scrivner served for 33 years as a pastor in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida. He was pastor of First Baptist Church, Delray Beach at the time of his death on July 18, 1965.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 5, 1965, p. 8.
EDWARD L. SCRUGGS
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Edward L. Scruggs (March 5, 1917-December 9, 2001) was born at
Sandersonville, Mississippi. He was licensed in 1939 by the Plainview Baptist
Church in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and ordained in 1945 at the Carrolton Avenue
Baptist Church in New Orleans.
Scruggs graduated from Bogalusa High School (1935), Jones Junior College, Ellisville,
Mississippi (1942), Mississippi College (1943), and New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary (B.D., 1951, Th.D., 1953).
Dr. Scruggs taught at Runnellstown High School at Hattiesburg, Mississippi (1944-1947),
and served as pastor at Sand Hill Baptist Church, Indian Hill, and Unity, all
in Leakesville, Mississippi (1944-1946). He was pastor of County Line, Prospect,
and Indian Springs Baptist Church in Hattiesburg (1946-1947). He was pastor
of Plainview in Bogalusa (1948-1953), State Line in Mississippi (1953-1954),
and First Baptist Church, Citronelle, Alabama (1958-1962). Dr. Scruggs then
taught at Baptist Bible Institute from 1962-1982.
Dr. Scruggs married Odelia Douglas of Clara, Mississippi, and they had three
daughters; Lethy (1945), Adria (1949), and Nelda (1947). No one ever loved missions
and mission work more than the Scruggs.
Secondary Source: Baptist College of Florida files.
ALAN SEAY
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Alan Seay and his wife, Lee, were natives of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He served as pastor of Orsino Baptist Church in Merritt Island before being appointed as a foreign missionary to Belize. He and his wife were killed April 29, 1988, in a tragic automobile accident when their car was struck head on by a British Army armored vehicle in a convoy near Orangewell Town, Belize. They were killed instantly, and were survived by their parents and three children.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, May 12, 1988, p. 6.
DILLARD FLOYD SEBASTIAN
Dillard Floyd Sebastian, Sr. (March 26, 1893-March 6, 1951) was bornin Garrard
County, Kentucky. He was converted at age 16, and baptized
and ordained to the ministry at the Gilead Baptist Church. Sebastian attended
Berea College, Georgetown College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
During his ministry he served six churches. Four churches in Kentucky and First
Baptist Church in Plant City, Florida, from 1923 to 1930.
Sebastian preached the Florida Baptist Convention sermon in 1936. He was named
Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, Plant City when he retired.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, March 15, 1951, p. 13.
PRESTON BROOKS SELLERS
Preston Brooks Sellers (1921-1987) served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Tampa, East Hill in Pensacola, Norwood in West Palm Beach, and First Baptist Church in Tavares. He served as president of the Florida Baptist Convention in 1956. He and his wife, Christine, had one daughter and one son.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 5, 1987, p. 14.
W. D. SELLERS
In 1856 W. D. Sellers was pastor of Lake Bryant Baptist Church in Marion County and Mossy Grove Baptist Church in Sumter County.
Secondary Source: Alachua Baptist Association Minutes, 1856, p. 14.
JOHN WALTON SENTERFITT
John Walton Senterfitt (March 8, 1872-April 10, 1945) served faithfully for 50 years as a minister in Florida. He was born near Milton, converted at age 17, felt the call to preach, and was ordained in 1895. He attended Florida State Normal School and Stetson University. While at Stetson, he served the church at Titusville. Senterfitt was the first pastor of East Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida from 1906 to 1912. He served as pastor of Woodlawn in Jacksonville from 1912 to 1916, First Baptist Church in Marianna from 1916 to 1926, Crescent City in 1928, First Baptist Church in Brookville from 1928 to 1936, and Orange Park Baptist Church in Jacksonville from 1937 until his retirement in 1939. Senterfitt served as assistant secretary of the Florida Baptist Convention for 16 years, and as secretary for six years. Senterfitt married Ira McCaskill of Santa Rosa County in 1905. They had three sons; John Jr., Edward, and Donald; and one daughter, Mrs. W. D. Gunter. He died April 10, 1945.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 25, 1945, p. 11. Leitch, Christ Centered Century, pp. 5-9. East Hill Baptist Church. . . 1906-1956. Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
CHARLES H. SEXTON
Charlie Sexton was converted and called to preach in Orlando. He graduated from The Baptist College of Florida in 1983, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985. Sexton served as pastor of New Home at Graceville, Florida; First Baptist Church of Horseshoe Bend in Weatherford, Texas; Cypress Baptist Church in Cypress, Florida, and First Baptist Church of Big Pine Key.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
R. H. SHACKLEFORD
The death of R. H. Shackleford is reported in the 1869 Florida Baptist Association Minutes.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1869, p. 9.
JOE SHAFRANEK
Joe Shafranek graduated from Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville. He was serving as pastor of Tenth Street Church in Palmetto in 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 25, 1980, p. 6.
DELOS L. SHARPTON
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Delos L. Sharpton served as pastor of Southside Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, and First Baptist Church, Donalsonville, Georgia (1977-1980), before becoming pastor of Miami Shores Baptist Church in 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 3, 1980, p. 6.
J. M. SHEFFIELD
J. M. Sheffield served as a pastor in Florida and died in 1910.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1911, p. 83.
SIMEON SHEFFIELD
Simon Sheffield (1826-1902) was an orphan from Savannah, Georgia. He came with his brother-in-law, Wilson H. White, to Columbia County, Florida, in 1840. Sheffield farmed and was an over-seer of slaves until the emancipation. In 1831, Sheffield married another Georgia orphan, Elizabeth Yawn, at White Springs. Sheffield fell under conviction about baptism and was baptized by Orion Fryer at Alligator (Lake City today) and later called to preach. Sheffield served as a chaplain in the Civil War, and baptized many soldiers. In 1867, Sheffield became pastor at Ebenezer and Jonesville in Levy County. Sheffield was instrumental in the organization of Pine Grove Church on July 11, 1871. This was in the days of quiltings and rail splittings, thus the first church was built of pine logs. The Santa Fe River Baptist Association (before Harmony Association was formed) met with the Pine Grove Church, and the men slept in the cotton house. Later when the Harmony Baptist Association was formed, three different Sheffield sons served as moderators (J.S.C., Jim, and Ward).
Secondary Source: Grace K. Raborn, A Pioneer Preacher of the Wacassassee, Simeon Sheffield. Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1903, p. 19.
WILLLIAM ASHBURY SHELBY
William Ashbury Shelby and his wife, Betty, gave 1.5 acres of land near Pensacola for the construction of Beulah Baptist Church in 1880. Shelby served as the first pastor of the church (1880-1886).
Secondary Source: Historical Events of Beulah Baptist Church, p. 1. Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
G. W. SHEPPARD
G. W. Sheppard served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lakeland in 1910 and 1911.
Secondary Source: Alice M. Muir, A Historic Sketch, p. 19.
HOKE H. SHIRLEY, SR.
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Hoke H. Shirley, Sr. (1894-1985) was a graduate of Mercer University. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in West Point, Kirkwood Baptist Church in Atlanta, Central Baptist Church in Americus, all in Georgia before he moved to Florida. He served First Baptist Church in Ocala (1941-1944) and First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale in Florida. He and his wife, Beth, had one daughter and one son.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 30, 1944, p. 3; July 25, 1985, p. 6.
A. D. SHOEMAKER
A. D. Shoemaker was the second person to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church, Crestview. He served in about 1918.
Secondary Source: History of First Baptist Church, Crestview, p. 14.
ROBERT E. SHOOK
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Robert E. Shook served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Eustis from 1970 to 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, December 18, 1980, p. 6.
LONNIE H. SHULL, JR.
Lonnie H. Shull, Jr. was a graduate of the University of South Carolina and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served for 15 years as pastor of Northside Baptist Church in West Columbia, South Carolina from 1968 to 1983. In September 1983 he became pastor of First Baptist Church in Plant City.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 15, 1983.
JOHN H. SIBLE
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John H. Sible, (1929-1992) was a graduate of Stetson University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as director of missions of Marion Association for 15 years. He grew up in Tampa. He served as pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Sarasota, Northside Baptist Church in Ruskin, Palm Avenue Baptist Church in Tampa, and First Baptist Church in Orange City. He and his wife, Grace, had a daughter, Pamela, and a son, John, Jr.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 30, 1992, p. 6.
JAMES W. SIBOLE
James W. Sibole celebrated his 24th year as pastor of Miami Lakes Church in 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 23, 1980, p. 6.
DANIEL SIKES
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Daniel Sikes (August 10, 1855-April 12, 1922) was the son of William and Nancy Sikes. He married Mary J. Lloyd. Sikes served as pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church in Hilliard, and as associational missionary in St. Mary River and Jacksonville Associations.
Secondary Source: History of Ephesus Baptist Church, Hilliard, Florida, p. 12.
ARMANDO SILVERIO
Armando Silverio (c. 1923-2001) served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Saint Augustine and also helped to start Moultrie and Crescent Beach Baptist Churches in Saint Augustine. He ws the first home missionary to the Italian speaking community of Pittsburg. He and his wife, Geneva, had three children; Beverly, Henry, and Milton.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, January 4, 2001, p. 10.
B. L. SIMMONS
B. L. Simmons served as the fourth pastor of First Baptist Church, Crestview in 1923. Simmons was a widower with several small children. He was the first pastor to live on the field at Crestview.
Secondary Source: History of First Baptist Church, Crestview, p. 16.
DANIEL SIMMONS
Daniel Simmons preached the opening sermon of the Alachua Association Meeting on November 11, 1848, at the Providence (Olusta Creek) Baptist Church in Columbia County. In 1848 Simmons served as pastor of Bethlehem in Benton County and Alachua Association.
Secondary Source: Alachua Baptist Association Minutes, November 1848, pp. 1, 6.
DAVID ALLEN SIMMONS
David Allen Simmons (1911-1967) was a graduate of the Falls Seminary in Toccoa, Georgia. He organized the Calvary Baptist Church in Monticello, and spent 40 years there. He also served as pastor in Virginia and Tennessee.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, February 9, 1967.
E. MASON SIMMONS
E. Mason Simmons served as pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Ponce de Leon (1971-1980), and in 1980 went as pastor of Whitfield Memorial Church in Pensacola.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, February 28, 1980, p. 6.
LACY JAMES SIMMONS
Lacy James Simmons lived in the Dooly County, Georgia in the 1840s before going to Thomas County, Georgia, in the 1850s where he is named in a few church minutes. In one census he is listed as minister Midway MB. He was in Marion County, Florida, at Moss Bluff in the 1880 census of Florida. Simmons is listed in the 1851 Minutes of the Florida Baptist Association as the pastor of Union Church in Thomas County, Georgia. Simmons reportedly married a Creek or Cherokee Indian woman who died in childbirth with a son named James. He then married Nancy and together they raised quite a large family. A son, Joseph, was born when Lacy was 49 years old and was the great grandfather of Martha Post. He died in 1893.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1851, p. 2. Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1894, p. 40. E-mail correspondence from Martha Post, great-great-grand daughter, Bartow, Florida.
M. SIMMONS
M. Simmons (1879-1945) was reared in southeast Alabama, but had his ministry primarily in Jackson County and Holmes County, Florida. He joined the Damascus Church in Graceville, Florida, in about 1919, and was ordained soon afterward. He served as pastor and as a music teacher for forty years. Simmons served as chaplain in the state legislative for one year, and held various public offices in Holmes County, Florida. He served as pastor of Mt. Olive Church in Holmes County for 15 years. He died in Tampa, Florida, on February 24, 1945.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, May 31, 1945, p. 13; July 19, 1945, p. 15.
PHILLIP E. SIMMONS
Phillip E. Simmons served as pastor of Neptune Baptist Church (1974-1978). He and his wife, Cheryl, had three children; Andrew, David, and Matthew.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
ROBERT SIMMONS
Robert Simmons (1911-1976) was born at Oak Grove on August 20, 1911.
Simmons was a farmer and a preacher. He served as pastor of numerous churches
in the Hardee and DeSota County areas. He was pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
of Myakka City in 1946-1947.
Secondary Source: A. O. Hendry. Bethany Baptist Church 1888-1988, pp. 64-66.
S. SIMMONS
In 1867 S. Simmons was pastor of Fort McCoy Church and Indian Spring Church in Marion County. In 1867 he was also pastor of Orange Creek Church in Putnam County.
Secondary Source: Alachua Baptist Association Minutes, 1875, p. 8.
L. R. SIMS
L. R. Sims in 1860 was pastor of Sandy Creek, Ucheanna, Camp Creek, and Limestone in the West Florida Baptist Association. He lived at Ucheanna.
Secondary Source: West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1860.
AARON SINGLETARY
Aaron Singletary (1926-1983) died of a heart attack while serving as pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Ona. He served one year from 1982 to 1983. He had just returned from Lake Yale where he had served for a week as camp pastor at Royal Ambassador camp and over 150 decisions had been made. Singletary had previously served as pastor at the First Baptist Churches of Wimauma, Alturas, Altha, Raiford, Hernando Beach, Cypress Baptist Church in Cypress, and Fellowship Baptist Church in Ocala. He and his wife, Margaret, had two daughters; Joyce and Janette, and two sons; Roy and Glenn.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, July 14, 1983, p. 6.
ELWIN L. SKILES
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Elwin L. Skiles left Georgetown Baptist Church in Georgetown, Kentucky, to become pastor of First Baptist Church, Pensacola (1949-1953). He and his wife, Ruth, had two children, Winn and Ann Colier. Skiles was a graduate of Baylor and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a chaplain in World War II, and was pastor in Virginia and Kentucky before going to Florida. Dr. Skiles resigned from First Baptist Church in Pensacola in 1953 to go as pastor of First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas.
Secondary Source: Toni Moore Clevenger. On the Bay—On the Hill,
pp. 225-231.
MARK ANDERSON SKINNER
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Mark Anderson Skinner (August 19, 1956- ) attended Bible College at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and completed his B.A. and master s degrees at Andersonville Seminary. He and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Kristen and Kaitlin. Skinner has served as pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Boynton Beach (1980-1985); Charity Baptist Church, New Salisbury, Indiana (1986-1994); Anchor Baptist Church, Seville, Florida (1994-1998); Calvary Baptist Church, Jacksonville (1998-2000), and Medulla Baptist Church in Lakeland.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
D. A. SKIPPER
D. A. Skipper served in West Florida and died June 7, 1886.
Secondary Source: West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1886, p. 12.
J. C. SKIPPER
J. C. Skipper served as pastor at Damascus in West Florida Association in 1879, and Hickory Grove in Dale County, Alabama; and Beaver Creek in Geneva County, Alabama.
Secondary Source: West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1870, p. 9.
DANIEL SLOAN
Daniel Sloan (1811-1888) served as a Florida Baptist pastor in Polk, Lake and Sumter counties.
Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files
W. A. SLOAN
W. A. Sloan (1892-1963) served as pastor of Jackson Heights Baptist Church in Tampa, and First Baptist Church in Fort Meade. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Baptist Bible Institute in Lakeland. After leaving Florida, Dr. Sloan served on the faculty of Clear Creek Baptist College in Pineville, Kentucky, and as president of West Kentucky Baptist Bible Institute in Clinton, Kentucky.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 28, 1963, p. 12.
DANIEL SLOWN
Daniel Slown in 1877 was pastor of New Hope Church at Webster.
Secondary Source: Alachua Baptist Association Minutes, 1877, p. 19.
T. M. SMILEY
T. M. Smiley was scheduled to preach the annual sermon of the FloridaBaptist Convention in 1947, but died in Lake City on August 14, 1947. He had served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Live Oak, for seven years. He and his wife, Mabel, had three sons; T. M. Jr., James, and Jack.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 21, 1947, p. 13.
B. G. SMITH
B. G. Smith (1872-1924) was born in Twig County, Georgia, and was educated at Locust Grove Institute and Mercer University. He began to preach early in life and was a gifted pastor and evangelist. He was pastor of College Street Baptist Church in Dade City, Florida, at the time of his death.
Secondary Source: Pasco Baptist Association Minutes, 1924, pp. 8-9.
BILL SMITH
Bill Smith (1890-1972) served as dean of the Baptist Bible Institute in the 1940s when it was in Lakeland. He also served as pastor of East Thonotosassa Baptist Church during this time. After leaving Florida, Smith became dean of the Clear Creek Mountain Preacher s Bible School in Pineville, Kentucky. He died March 18, 1972, in Oklahoma City.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, May 4, 1972, p. 11.
CLIF SMITH
Clif Smith graduated from The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, and in 2003 was serving as pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Vernon. He previously served as pastor of Rocky Creek Baptist Church in the Chipola Association. He and his wife, Bettie, have two children, Andrew and Abbie.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 9, 2003.
DWIGHT L. SMITH
Dwight L. Smith graduated from William Carey College (B.A., 1965), New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary (1971), and Luther Rice Seminary (D.Min., 1979).
Smith served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Quincy (1972-1979). He and
his wife, Jeri, had three children; Angie, Bryan, and Bruce. Jeri died in 1984
of a rare lung disease. Smith later married Diane Walker, and they live in Ellisville,
Mississippi, where Dwight is pastor of West Ellisville, Mississippi Baptist
Church.
Secondary Source: Sara Davis Martin. A History of First Baptist Church, Quincy, Florida, pp. 70-71.
J. P. SMITH
J. P. Smith was pastor of the Cottondale Church and the Chipley Church in 1890.
Secondary Source: West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1890, p. 19.
JACOB HORACE SMITH, JR.
Jacob Horace Smith, Jr. (1852-1875) was born in Dahlonega, Georgia. He was baptized in 1865 in Atlanta and licensed to preach in 1871 in Rome, Georgia. He studied at Mercer University (1871-1873) and then became a school teacher and preacher in Florida. Smith served as pastor of Harmony Baptist Church at Enterprise, Florida. In 1874 he became a Home Mission Board preacher and had to soon give that up due to poor health. He died in Jacksonville on April 13, 1875.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
JOHN D. SMITH
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John D. Smith graduated from Stetson University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He went as pastor of First Baptist Church in Wahneta in March 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, March 27, 1980, p. 6.
J. M. SMITH
J. M. Smith served as a Baptist pastor in Florida and died in Santa Fe River Association in 1934.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1934, p. 94.
J. P. SMITH
J. P. Smith served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Marianna from 1891 to 1894.
Secondary Source: Leitch, Christ Centered Century, p. 4.
JOSHUA SMITH
Joshua Smith (January 31, 1954- ) was born in Mocho, Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I., and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and Jacksonville, Florida. He is the son of Sir Uriah Smith and Matie-Bel Smith. Smith attended high school in Jamaica, and received the A.A. degree from St. Andrew Tech, the B.A. from Jamaica Bible College, and has done graduate studies at Jacksonville University and Luther Rice Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.). Smith was converted in 1968 at Calvary Baptist Mission at Over River, Orange, Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was the organizer of the North Pearl Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville, and has served as its pastor from 1987-1996. He served as Regional Director for African-American Ministries in the Florida Baptist Convention (1995-1997), and as National and Regional Missionary for the North American Mission (1998-2003). He and his wife, Lorraine C. Smith, married June 24, 1987.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
KENNETH SMITH
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Kenneth Smith served as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Tallahassee. He served as first vice president of the Florida Baptist Convention in 1981.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 20, 1980, p. 5.
L. N. SMITH
L. N. Smith led in a revival meeting in Brewster in 1927 and thirty people were baptized and twenty joined by letter. Many of the men saved were middle aged railroad men. The church at that time was without a pastor and they called Smith and he became pastor of the Brewster Church.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 18, 1927, p. 12.
SAMUEL SMITH
Samuel Smith went as pastor of Tamiami Baptist Church in 2003. He had previously served churches in Kentucky.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, March 20, 2003.
SID SMITH
 |
Sid Smith (October 21, 1943- ) has served as the director, African American
Ministries Division, Florida Baptist Convention since 1994.
Smith attended the University of Corpus Christi (B.A., 1965), and the California
Graduate School of Theology (Ph.D., 1973). He served as a professor at American
Baptist College (1991-1994), and was president of the Black Church Consultants
of America (1990-1994).
Dr. Smith was manager of the Black Church Development Section of the Southern
Baptist Sunday School Board from 1987-1990. He has worked with the Home Mission
Board, and served as pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Nashville (1981-1983),
and Priest Lake Baptist Church in Nashville (1987-1990). He is a prolific author
of books and articles. He has served as guest speaker and visiting lecturer
at numerous colleges, universities, conferences, and seminaries.
Smith is married to Arnette E. Smith, and she is the assistant principal at
Lake Lucinda Elementary School in Jacksonville. They have one child, Sid Smith
III.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
WILLIAM R. SMITH
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William R. Smith graduated from East Tennessee State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. He served as pastor of Morningside Church in Savannah, Georgia and Chamberlayne Church, Richmond (1970-1980) before becoming pastor of Terry Parker Baptist Church in Jacksonville in 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 30, 1980, p. 6.
WILSON SMITH
Wilson Smith retired as pastor of First Baptist Church Wildwood in 1999. He also served as pastor of Belle Shoals in Branden. Smith and his wife, Sue, have four children.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 26, 2004, p. 13.
CLIFFORD JAMES SMYLY
Clifford James Smyly (1910-1988) served 58 years as a pastor in Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Florida. He was the state training union secretary in Florida from 1960 to 1966. He and his wife, Mattie Rawls Smyly, had one daughter, Martha, and one son, Clifford, Jr.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 25, 1988, p. 12.
JACK A. SNELL
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Jack A. Snell (1940-2007) was born in Graceville, Florida. He graduated from Samford University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Central Church in Newman, Georgia (1972-1980) before going as pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church (1980-2000) in Jacksonville. The last seven years of his life Snell served on the CBF Global Missions staff. Jack and his wife, Anita Funderburke had two children: Charles and Stephanie.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, June 12, 1980, p. 6.
RANSOM GRADY SNOWDEN, SR.
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Ransom Grady Snowden, Sr. (September 26, 1904- ) was born in Mississippi. His
father was William Gray Snowden (September 1880-November 13, 1972) and his mother
was Vesta Julie Trussell Snowden (December 14, 1881-May 28, 1974).
Snowden married Jessie Marie Lee. They had three children; Patricia born in
1932, Ransom Jr., born in 1934, and Robert born in 1944. Snowden came to Florida
in 1925. He graduated from Stetson University in 1929. He was ordained by Blake
Memorial Church at Lake Haley, but his ordination took place in a brush arbor
in Pierson.
Snowden was pastor of Osteen and Flagler Beach churches at the same time. In
1932 he graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,
Kentucky. He then became pastor in Hopewell, Virginia for 9 years, First Baptist
Church in Deland from 1941 to 1952, Arlington Baptist Church in Jacksonville
for 13 years. He retired in 1965.
Upon retirement, Snowden served in about 20 interim positions, and spent 18
months as pastor of Necker Valley Baptist Church in Stuttgart, West Germany.
At age 94, he served as a deacon and as a teacher of an adult class at Blake
Memorial Baptist Church.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Society Historical files.
EDWARD DAVIS SOLOMON
Edward Davis Solomon (December 16, 1875-September 13, 1957) was
born in Coldwater, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi College (A.B.,
1898), and did further studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
(1898-1900). He was awarded the Doctorate of Divinity degree by Stetson University
in 1943.
Solomon married Josie Crawford on November 12, 1907. They had three sones; Edward
C., William, and Crawford. He was ordained in 1898, and served as pastor at
First Baptist Church in Kaufman, Texas; First Baptist Church in McComb, Mississippi;
Main Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Fifteenth Avenue in Meridian, Mississippi;
and St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Solomon served as corresponding secretary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
from 1924 to 1930. He is best known among Florida Baptists as the editor of
the Florida Baptist Witness from 1931 to 1949.
Solomon served as chaplain in the Spanish American War and World War I. He was
a member of the committee that drew up the Cooperative Program in 1925.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
JAMES KENNETH SOLOMON
James Kenneth Solomon (May 5, 1928- ) was born in Winter Garden, Florida. He was the son of James Wilson Solomon and Euna Mae Jacobs Solomon. He had one brother, David Thomas Solomon who also served as a Southern Baptist minister, and one sister, Euna Marie Benton. Solomon was converted at age 13, and baptized into the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden, Florida, in April 1941. He was licensed to preach on April 10, 1946, and ordained on May 4, 1952, at First Baptist Church in Winter Garden. Solomon married Helen Louise Davidson on July 30, 1950, at Panama City, Florida. They had one daughter, Janet Louise, born November 11, 1954. Solomon served as a chaplain in the United States Navy from 1953 to 1955, and as pastor of First Baptist Church in Bristol, Florida from 1955 to 1956. He then became pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida. He served as associational missionary until his retirement.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
ROBERT N. SOLOMON
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Robert N. Solomon was born May 22, 1929 in Asheville, North Carolina, the son of Rufus Calvin and Ruth Neely Solomon. He graduated from Wake Forest (1952, B.A.) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1956, B.D.). He served as pastor of Wesconnett Boulevard (1965-1971) in Jacksonville and of Oak-Griner Church in Ocala (1971-1980), then went as pastor of Bee Ridge Church in Sarasota in 1980 where he served for 25 years. He served 12 years as a member of the Florida State Board of Missions and serves currently as chairman of the Association Missions Committee of the Southwest Florida Baptist Association. He taught Old Testament at Luther Rice Seminary. He and his wife, Connie, have two sons.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 7, 1980, p. 6; August 4, 2005, p. 11. James Luffman, A History of Oak-Griner Baptist Church, pp. 145-153.
DANNY SOUDER
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Danny Souder graduated from Texas Christian University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Kings Avenue Church, Brandon (1977-1980), and went as pastor of Northwest Church in Gainesville in 1980.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, July 24, 1980, p. 6.
JAMES DAVID SOUTHERLAND
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James David Southerland is a native of Orlando, Florida. He has served as pastor in Mississipi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. He is married to Mary Lynn Perkins. They served with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board in Europe. He currently serves as Director of Missions in the Florida Association. He is the son of Dr. James E. and Mabel Southerland.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 30, 1972, p. 11.
JAMES E. SOUTHERLAND
James E. Southerland (August 31, 1915-April 29, 2002) was born and raised in
Wauchula, Florida. He was the son of Fred and Clara Louise Warlick Southerland.
His father was an accountant, and his mother was a housewife. He had one brother,
Frederick, and one sister, Ethelind.
Dr. Southerland was converted at age ten, and baptized into the membership of
First Baptist Church in Wauchula in 1925. He was ordained at Wauchula in 1938.
He married Mabel Arthur of Orlando, and they had three children (David, Carol
Ann and Becky) and seven grandchildren.
Dr. Southerland attended Stetson University (B.A.), The Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary (Th.M.), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.D.). He served
as pastor of First Baptist Church, Titusville; Avondale Baptist Church in Jacksonville,
First Baptist Church, Oxford, Mississippi, and Heritage Baptist Church of Dothan,
Alabama.
Dr. Southerland was a chaplain in the United States Army Air Corps in World
War II. He served as registrar at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,
and interim and supply pastor in many churches.
Dr. Southerland served as President of Baptist Bible Institute for 20 years
(1957-1977) and held the title of President Emeritus at the time of his death
in 2002.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia. There are now 15.9 million members in 41,500 churches in the United States. Southern Baptists support over 5,000 home missionaries in the United States, and over 5,000 foreign missionaries serving in 153 countries of the world. There are 41 state conventions and fellowships in the United States. Florida is one of these state conventions. There are 1,200 local associations (many follow county lines) in the United States that choose to cooperate in evangelism, missions, education, ministry, and fellowship. You become a Southern Baptist by joining or uniting with a local Southern Baptist church. Church membership is gained in most Southern Baptist churches through announcing that Jesus Christ is your saviour and being baptized by immersion.
Secondary Source: Southern Baptist Convention official website.
JENNIE LUCENA SPALDING
 |
Jennie Lucena Spalding (c. 1861-1931) was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She moved with her mother to Deland to escape the cold winters. She was a close friend of Lucina Telford, and when Telford died while serving as the head of the Florida Baptist Women s work, Spalding was chosen to replace her. Spalding served as the first corresponding secretary and treasurer of the Woman's Missionary Union (1894-1911). She started with no salary and was receiving $500 a year when she resigned seventeen years later. When Spalding left in 1911 she moved to Missouri and attended medical school. She graduated and set up a medical practice in Kirksville, Missouri. She moved to Ashville, North Carolina after her mother s death in 1915 and she died in Ashville on October 17, 1931.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
Martha Trotter, Faithful Servants, p. 46.
T. J. SPARKMAN
T. J. Sparkman died in 1916 in Palmetto. He served in the Peace River
Association.
Secondary Source: Peace River Association Minutes, 1916, p. 6.
Florida Baptist Convention Annual, p. 67.
W. C. SPARKMAN
In 1927 W. C. Sparkman, pastor of the Manatee Church, had been preaching ten years, preached 1,423 sermons, conducted 59 funerals, 54 weddings, and baptized 499 people. He went to Manatee as pastor in 1922.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 22, 1927, Vol. XL, No. 38, p. 5.
THURMAN R. SPELL
Thurman R. Spell (1910-1950) died on May 29, 1950, in Staunton, Virginia, where he was serving as pastor of the Laurel Hill Baptist Church. He was a native of Autryville, and a graduate of Wake Forest College. He served as pastor in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. In Florida, he served as pastor at Callahan, Mt. Olive, Ephesus, and Earlington Heights.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, June 22, 1950, p. 13.
DAVID H. SPERRING
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David H. Sperring died January 1975. He was a native of Live Oak, and a graduate of Stetson University and Southwestern Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Sebring. Sperring was a retired military chaplain.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, February 20, 1975, p. 7.
THOMAS H. SPRAGUE
Thomas H. Sprague died on March 20, 1949. He was born in Nova Scotia, and graduated from Bucknell University (Ph.B.) and Crozer Theological Seminary. Stetson University conferred a Doctor of Divinity on him in 1912. Bucknell also gave him an honorary degree. Sprague served as pastor in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. He organized First Baptist Church in Hollywood, Florida, and served as pastor. He served as an American Baptist Home missionary to Cuba and the West Indies. Sprague married Jessie Barton Lovell from Pennsylvania. He was a prolific writer and a well known speaker.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 21, 1949, p. 8.
JAMES SPRINGFIELD
James Springfield (1934-2004) was a native of Texas and served as a trustee at Baylor University, Baylor Medical School, and University Community Hospital in Tampa. Springfield was pastor of New Tampa Baptist Church (1995-2004) at the time of his death. He served for 55 years in churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida. He was an artist and left an extensive collection of drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Springfield and his wife, Ruth, had three children; a son, Wes, and daughters, Jamie and Sherri.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, December 2, 2004, p. 4.
R. WAYNE STACY
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R. Wayne Stacy served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Austin, Indiana, before going to North Stuart Baptist Church as pastor in 1980. Stacy graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic College (1974) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Ph.D.). He had previously served at Crossroads, and Central Baptist churches in West Palm Beach; Chosen Church in Belle Glade; and First Baptist Church, South Bay. He served as dean and professor of New Testament and Preaching at the School of Divinity of Gardner-Webb University. In 2004 he went as pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He and his wife, Cheryl, have one grown son.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, January 17, 1980, p. 6; January 29, 2004, p. 10.
JEFFERY D. STADING
Jeffery D. Stading attended the Baptist College of Florida and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was licensed and ordained to preach by West Broad Street Baptist Church in Tampa. Stading served as pastor of West Broad Street in Tampa and in 2007 went as pastor of Bayless Highway Baptist Church in Starke.
Source: Florida Baptist Witness, February 22, 2007, p. 10.
ARTHUR HOUSE STAINBACK
Arthur House Stainback (1909- ) was born in Weldon, North Carolina, the eldest
of six children born to Peter N. Stainback and Susanne Ethel Doran.
Stainback was saved at age nine and answered the call to preach as a teenager.
He married Jean Le Roy and they had one child, Peter LeRoy Stainback.
Stainback was educated at the Hartford Theological Seminary (B.R.E.) and New
York University (M.A.). He received an honorary doctorate from Emmanuel Baptist
College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Steinback served as pastor in North Carolina before becoming president of
Baptist Bible Institute on September 16, 1952. He served through June 25, 1957,
when the college came under the ownership of the Florida Baptist State Convention.
Secondary Source: Wiley Richards, Telling the Story of Jesus,
pp. 50-86.
GEORGE R. STAIR
George R. Stair served as pastor of First Baptist Church Lakeland from 1935-1937.
Secondary Source: Alice M. Muir, A Historic Sketch, pp. 27-28.
EDWARD I. STALNECKER
Edward I. Stalnecker (1932-2007) served as pastor and evangelist in the Southern Baptist Convention for over 30 years. He was a native of Winter Haven and a graduate of Louisiana State University and Luther Rice Seminary.
Source: Florida Baptist Witness, June 7, p. 20.
S. T. STANLAND
S. T. Stanland served as a pastor and died in Marion County in 1892. He was
ordained on November 12, 1848, at the request of New Hope Church of Alachua.
Interestingly enough his last name appears in Baptist minutes as Stanaland ,
Stanland , and Standland. In 1873 Stanland was pastor of Lake Bryant and Pleasant
Plain in the Marion County area.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1893, p. 103.
Alachua Baptist Association Minutes, 1848, p. 2; 1873, p. 7.
CHARLES E. STANLEY
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Charles E. Stanley (September 25, 1932- ) was born in Danville, Virginia, to Charles and Rebecca Stanley. He received his bachelor of arts degree in 1954 from the University of Richmond and then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (B.D., 1957). In 1955 he married his longtime sweetheart, Anna. He served as pastor of Fruitland Baptist Church in North Carolina for two years, and First Baptist Church in Fairborn, Ohio (1959-1962) before going to Florida to serve in the First Baptist Church in Miami (1962-1968), and First Baptist Church of Bartow, Florida (1968-1969). In 1969 he went to First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has served for over thirty years. He and his wife have two children, Andy and Becky.
Secondary Source: Emir and Ergun Caner. The Sacred Trust,
pp 173-176.
WILLIAM EDWIN STANTON
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William Edwin Stanton was the first permanent pastor of the Lemon City Baptist
Church in Miami (1896). (The Stanton Memorial Church in Miami was named in his
honor). The Lemon City Baptist Church later became First Baptist Church, and
then later the name Central Baptist Church was chosen. Stanton died in 1909.
Stanton was a Connecticut native. He graduated from Colgate and Hamilton. He
served as a Florida Baptist pastor over 25 years.
Secondary Source: Maracha L. Reiner, Belief in the City. The Miami Metropolis, April 5, 1919. Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1910,
p. 74.
MARVIN V. STEDHAM
Marvin V. Stedham (January 8, 1898-December 5, 1973) was born in Morgan County,
Alabama. He preached his first sermon in Cullman County, Alabama, in 1917, at
age 19. He served churches in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
In 1954, Stedham became a field secretary for the Florida Baptist Convention,
and served with 117 churches and 55 missions in eight counties. Under his leadership
75 missions were begun. He and his wife, Mettie Loyce Riddle Stedham had one
daughter, Evelyn, and one son, Ray.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, January 3, 1974.
HARWOOD STEELE
Harwood Steele (1920-1993) served as pastor of churches in West Virginia and Florida. He retired as professor and dean of Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his wife, Ann Duda Steele, had two daughters, Mary and Ruthanne.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 16, 1993,
p. 11.
MARK D. STEPHENS
Mark D. Stephens was born in Tampa, Florida. He attended the University of Florida (B.Mu.), Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Stephens served as a pastor for seven years, and in 2002, became the Director of Theological Education and Distance Learning for the Florida Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Natalie, have three children; Rachel, Sarah, and Hannah.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
JAMES G. STERTZ
James G. Stertz served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Sarasota, and resigned in 1980 to go as pastor of First Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, December 11, 1980, p. 6.
JOHN STEWART
John Stewart served as pastor at Greenwood and Mount Pleasant in 1871.
Secondary Source: West Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1871,p. 11.
WILLIAM PAYNE STEWART
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William Payne Stewart (1957-1999) was a professional golfer and won 18 tournaments in his lifetime. He won the U.S. Open twice. He and five others died in a tragic private plane crash on October 25, 1999. He touched many in life and death through his humor and faith. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral service at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger, and over 100 famous co-workers were present for the service. J. B. Collingsworth and Jim Henry were quoted by many sources as they spoke of the faith of Payne Stewart. He was survived by his wife Tracey Ferguson Stewart, daughter Chelsea, son Aaron, and mother Bee.
Secondary Source: Gulf Wire Services, October 25, 1999.
Orlando Sentinel, October 30, 1999.
RANDY STINSON
Randy Stinson is a native of Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.) In 2006 Stinson became the dean of the School of Leadership and Church Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary .
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 21, 2006, p. 4.
ORRIN W. STITES
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Orrin W. Stites (1910-1973) died on September 25, 1973, while serving
as pastor of Mayfair Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He was born in Knoxville,
Tennessee, and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a graduate of The Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, and was very active in Kentucky Baptist work before
moving to Florida.
Stites worked as field secretary of the Florida Baptist Convention for nine
years before becoming pastor at Mayfair.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 4, 1973, p. 10.
DAVID A. STOKES
David A. Stokes (1931-1997) was born in Sarasota, the son of Albert and Esther Stokes. He attended Stetson University, Baptist Bible Institute, and Norman Junior College. He was ordained by Friendship Baptist Church in Sarasota in 1953, and served Wilma Baptist Church in Bristol. He served Reedy Creek Baptist Church of Moultrie, Georgia, from 1981 to 1997.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, February 27, 1997, p. 15.
EDGAR EUGENE STOKES
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Edgar Eugene Stokes (August 18, 1940- ) grew up on the family farm near Lee, Florida. He is the son of Edgar and Susie Mae Driggers Stokes who also had three other children; Pauline, Carolyne, and Robert. Stokes graduated from North Florida Junior College (A.A., 1960), Florida State University (B.S., 1962), and the University of Florida (M.Ed., 1967). He was saved at age 11 during spring revival services at Beulah Baptist Church near Lee. Stokes served as a public educator and was a Gideon speaker for 13 years. He was called to preach on January 6, 1985, and served as pastor of Pleasant Grove, Eridu, Florida (1985-1989), and New Home Baptist Church of Madison, Florida (1989-2002). Stokes married Elizabeth Geraldine Holley on June 15, 1963, and they have three daughters, Sheri, Gena, and Tania. He has served as Director of Missions of the Middle Florida Baptist Association since 2002.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
RALPH W. STONE
Ralph W. Stone served as pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church (1975-1980) before going as pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 10, 1980, p. 6.
ARTHUR STOVALL
Arthur Stovall served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Winter Haven from 1939 to 1947.
Secondary Source: Josephine G. Burr. History of Winter Haven, Florida, p. 98.
Louise Beauchamp, History 1885-1985, First Baptist Church, Winter Haven, p. 9.
W. G. STRACENER
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W. G. Stracener was born on December 8, 1905, and was a native of Louisiana. He attended Louisiana State University, and served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Madison (1934-1938), Riverside Baptist Church in Miami (1938-1944), East Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola (1944-1949), and also served as editor of the Florida Baptist Witness (1949-1970). He received an honorary doctorate from Stetson University in 1950. Stracener was ordained by First Baptist Church, Thomasville, Georgia, in 1932. He preached the annual sermon at the Florida Baptist Convention in 1943 using Matthew 17:20 as his text.
Secondary Source: 452 Florida Baptist Witness, March 15, 1944, p. 5. East Hill Baptist Church . . 1906-1956, Florida Baptist Historical
Society files.
EDWARD M. STRANER
Edward M. Straner (1923-2004) served as pastor of River Road Baptist Church, Palatka, and First Baptist Church, East Palatka. Straner served as an officer of the Florida Baptist Historical Society and wrote A History of the St. Johns River Baptist Association. He and his wife, Julie, were married 53 years and had two daughters; Karen and Kathy.
Secondary Source:Florida Baptist Witness January 29, 2004, p. 10.
JAMES LEVI STRICKLAND
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James Levi Strickland (1882- ) was the founding pastor of Highland Baptist Church of Lawtey. He organized the church in 1910, and in 1963, he and Mrs. Easter Wilkinson (age 105) were still members of the church. Strickland attended Stetson University. He organized five churches in Florida, and preached in 27 different countries. During the days of T annual call he was actually pastor of Highland Baptist Church on five different occasions.
Secondary Source:Jacksonville Times-Union, April 20, 1963.
JOHNNY W. STRICKLAND
Johnny W. Strickland (1924-1983) died of a heart attack after serving as pastor of Park Avenue in Winter Garden for six days. He had previously served the church from 1959 to 1973. He also served as pastor of Dixie Highway Baptist Church in Auburndale, and First Baptist Church of Rock Springs. He and his wife, Betty, had one daughter, Wanda, and one son, Robert.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, August 25, 1983, p. 6.
MALACHI N. STRICKLAND
Malachi N. Strickland (May 19, 1809-March 4, 1884) was born in Marlborough County, South Carolina. He was ordained by order of the Bennettsville Church in South Carolina on November 28, 1837. Strickland studied at Furman University. He preached primarily in South and North Carolina. Strickland acted as missionary of the Welch Neck Association. He moved to Florida in 1851. In Florida, Strickland served as pastor of Paran Church, Pleasant Grove, Eliam, Peniel, and Wacahoota.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Convention Annual, 1884,
pp. 35-36.
MARK STRICKLAND
In the 1846 Florida Baptist Association Minutes, M. Strickland was listed as pastor of Providence Church in Gadsden County.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1846, p. 8.
RAYMOND STRICKLAND
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Raymond Strickland (April 30, 1879-March 6, 1951) was born at Kingsley Lake, Florida. He married Ollie Carter in 1903 and both of them were baptized at Heilbowen Springs in Bradford County in July 1911. Strickland entered Columbia College at Lake City on November 8, 1911. He served as pastor at Wellborn and at Oak-Griner Baptist Church in Ocala (1937-1938). He and his wife moved to Webster to a farm where they lived 34 years. He served as pastor of a number of churches in Lake and Sumter counties. He served as Justice of the Peace in the Webster District and served as a Florida State Representative from Sumter County.
Secondary Source: James Leland Luffman. Oak-Griner Baptist Church, p. 42.
ROBERT STRICKLAND
Robert Strickland graduated from Baptist Bible Institute and served as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama (1962-1966), Hiland Park in Panama City (1966-1987), Kinsey Baptist Church, Kinsey, Alabama and First Baptist Church, Columbia, Alabama. Strickland spent over ten years in evangelism with emphasis on the Christian home.
Source: Florida Baptist Historical Society files.
DAN C. STRINGER
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Dan C. Stringer (November 7, 1927- ) was born in Cordell, Oklahoma. He was licensed
to preach by First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1947, and ordained
there in 1948.
Stringer attended Baylor University (B.A., 1952), and The Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary (B.D., 1957). In 1974 he received an honorary doctorate of divinity
from California Baptist College in Riverside.
Dr. Stringer served as pastor of Bosque Farms Baptist Church in Los Lunas, New
Mexico; Millican Baptist Church in Millican, Texas; and Steep Hollow Baptist
Church in Bryan, Texas. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church of
Lordsburg, New Mexico; First Southern Baptist Church in Buckeye, Arizona; First
Southern Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada; and Coronado Baptist Church in
Scottsdale, Arizona.
Dr. Stringer served in numerous capacities with the Arizona Baptist Convention.
He came to Florida from the position of Executive Director-Treasurer of the
Northwest Baptist Convention. He served as Executive Director of Florida Baptists
from 1979 to 1988.
Dr. Stringer married Harriet Elizabeth Rogers. They had two children; Mrs. Scott
Cox of Hazel Crest, Illinois, and Stephen of Huntington Beach, California.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 20, 1979, p. 3.
W. G. STROUP
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W. G. Stroup (1905-1994) served as the church music director for the Florida Baptist Convention from 1953 to 1970. Stroup was a graduate of Wingate, Furman, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before serving in Florida, Stroup served as music and education director for churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. He and his wife, Martha, were married for 63 years. They had two sons, Frank and William.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 27, 1994, p. 10.
R. F. STUBBS
The death of R. F. Stubbs was reported in the 1869 Florida Baptist Association Minutes.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Association Minutes, 1869, p. 9.
ROBERT STUCKEY
 |
Robert Stuckey graduated from Southern Illlinois University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Theological Seminary. Stuckey served churches in Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Iowa, and Florida. He served 50 years in active ministry and served as executive director of the Iowa Southern Baptist Fellowship. During the last 20 years of his ministry he served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Fort Myers Beach. He retired in 2005 after 50 years of active service. He and his wife, Suzanne, had four children.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, April 7, 2005, p. 15.
ALBERT A. STULCK
Albert A. Stulck (1887-1976) served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Winter Garden, Florida, from 1942 until 1955.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, July 15, 1976, p. 6.
JAMES M. SULLIVAN
James M. Sullivan (1881-1970) was born in South Carolina, and educated at Mercer University. He served as pastor at Newberry, Williston, Hawthorne, Palatka, and Lacoochee.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, July 30, 1970, p. 9.
JOHN SULLIVAN
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John Sullivan (October 20, 1936- ) was born in Ansted, West Virginia. He attended Grand Canyon Baptist College (B.A., 1961), and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., 1965, M.Div., 1968; D.Min., 1973). Sullivan served as pastor of Twenty-Seventh Avenue Baptist Church in Phoenix (1959-1962), First Baptist Church in Aledo, Texas (1962-1967), Ridglea West Baptist Church, Fort Worth (1967-1971), First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs, Texas (1971-1975), and Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport (1975-1989). Dr. Sullivan married Nancy Hinson Sullivan (June 24, 1955), and they have three children, John Michael (June 6, 1957), Cheryl Ann Anderson (November 18, 1960), and Jeanie (October 13, 1967). Dr. Sullivan was converted on August 13, 1955, having been led to Christ by his wife of two months, Nancy Hinson. He was baptized in Congress Heights Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and was ordained to the gospel ministry on December 1, 1957, by First Baptist Church, Cupertino, California. Dr. Sullivan became the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention in 1989.
Primary Source: Video tape sermons at Baptist College of Florida
Secondary Source: Baptist College of Florida files
ROBERT SULLIVAN
Robert Sullivan (1967-) was born in Jacksonville and accepted Christ at age 12. He served in numerous churches as minister of youth before becoming the pastor of FBC White Springs (1995-1998). Sullivan married Paula Ann Militello in 1987 and they have two children: Jarrod and Hannah.
Source: First Baptist Church White Springs, pp. 25-26
JAMES R. SUMMERS
In 2004 James R. Summers was recognized for 25 years as pastor of
Northwest Baptist Church in Miami. Homer G. Lindsay, Jr., was the organizational
pastor of the church in 1952. The church now has members from 40 different nations.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, November 11, 2004, p. 20.
CHARLES A. SUTTON
Charles A. Sutton (1895-1965) was born at Highland City, Florida. He was the
son of Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Sutton. He was licensed to preach by the Mount Olive
Baptist Church in Auburndale, Florida, on October 2, 1927, and was ordained
April 1, 1928.
Sutton served as pastor of the Griffin Baptist Church in Lakeland. He served
the following churches in the South Florida Association: Griffin, Mt. Tabor,
Homeland, Webster Avenue, and Bradley. He was pastor of the Stetson Baptist
Church of the Seminole Association, and Knights and Alifia churches in the Shiloh
Association. He also served as pastor of the Central Avenue Baptist Church in
Lake Wales. He was pastor of the West Scenic Park Baptist Church in Lake Wales
at the time of his death. He served as the first association missionary in the
South Florida Association.
Sutton and his wife had three daughters; Violet, Evelyn, and Claudia, and two
sons; Charles Jr. and Clifford.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, October 21, 1965, p. 8.
DONALD A. SWARTZ
Donald A. Swartz (1923-1999) served as pastor in Connecticut, New York, and Florida. He served as pastor in Seminole and Tampa, and was pastor at Lakewood Baptist Church when he retired in 1971. He and his wife, Grace, had five children.
Secondary Source: Florida Baptist Witness, September 9, 1999
