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His Church. She fell asleep in Jesus on June 12, 1947.

The First Bulletin of the Church

It was the 36th anniversary of the late pastor Dr. W. T. Johnson that the first "Church News" was introduced, Sunday, October 31, 1937. Mrs. Johnson served as Editor and Mrs. Florence G. Robinson served as secretary and printer, for seven years. It was revived under the leadership of Mrs. Julia Fitzgerald Thompson and Mr. Daniel Perkins, Jr. Now, Mrs. Edith Wright Williams is actively engaged in this field of service. 

Our Missionaries

In 1812 the Foreign Missionary Society equipped Lott Carey and Collin Teague for Mission Work in Africa. And in 1922 Mrs. Rachel Tharps Boone and her husband served on the foreign field. Two children survive this couple, Dr. Rachel Boone Keith and Rev. Clinton C. Boone. 

Ministers Licensed and Ordained by The First African Baptist Church

Dr. S. C. Burrell
Rev. George Roane
Rev. W. H. Stokes, Ph.D.
Rev. J. Andrew Bowler
Rev. W. H. Smith 
Rev Eli Saunders
Rev. Horatio Harris
Rev. Charles Bowe
Rev. D. Webster Davis
Rev. R. J. Bass
Rev. A. C. Hines
Rev. W. H. Brooks, D.D.
Rev. Thomas H. White
Rev. R. Beecher Taylor
Rev. Robert Stanton
Rev. David J. Fitzgerald
Rev. James H. Green
Rev. David E. Robinson
Rev. Thomas H. Briggs
Rev. J. H. Fauntleroy

The First Baptist Church is proud of her preachers who she has sent out into the world to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On October 31, 1943 the Rev. Alexander L. James was called to the pastorate of the church. He served for three years, after which he tendered his resignation. During the pastorate of Rev. James the church took on new life and many young people were recruited and became active in the Church. Many renovations were made. There were two licensed to the Gospel Ministry, Rev. Charles W. Robinson and Rev. Herman H. Watts. 

After the resignation of Rev. James, the Reverend David J. Fitzgerald was elected by the church as acting pastor. Rev. Fitzgerald served faithfully in this capacity for about eighteen months. The Lord used Rev. Fitzgerald in a great way. He preached the gospel courageously, he visited the sick and the spirit of christian fellowship was greatly enhanced in the church. Rev. Fitzgerald still serves faithfully in the church and will always occupy a warm place in the hearts of the members of First African Baptist Church.

MEMORIAL CHURCH ORGAN CHIMES were dedicated on September 29, 1946. Mrs. Antoinette Bowler Davis sponsored this movement and presided at the console.

Rev. Yarborough Burrell Williams

On April 25, 1948 our church called Rev. Y. B. Williams to the pastorate of First African Baptist Church. He was born in Warrenton, N.C. Here he received his early christian training. He comes to us from the Union Baptist Church of Eastville, Virginia. During his stay there the church was cleared of debt and completely renovated. Through his leadership the membership was greatly increased and the spiritual life of the church carried to new levels. He was also a great civic asset to the county and community on Eastern Shore, Virginia. He was the founder and president of the Northampton County Civic Association, which served to awaken interest in the civic life of the community. He was president of the Eastern Shore Virginia Baptist Ministers Conference and Secretary of the Eastern Shore Virginia Baptist Association.

Rev. Williams is a product of Shaw University and Virginia Union University. While pastoring in Newport News, Virginia he served as director of the National Youth Administration activities.

He has a very fine family, Mrs. Mattie B. Williams, wife, two girls and three boys, all of which are talented.

During the eight years Rev. Y. B. Williams has been pastor of First African Baptist Church, the church has taken on new life and set new goals. The membership has been organized into geographical districts and a new financial system has been inaugurated.

The financial strength of the church has been greatly increased and the spiritual life has been strengthened. New organizations have been formed, and the church has greatly expanded its educational and missionary work. A public address system has been installed; the church has paid for a parsonage at 2411 Lamb Avenue at a cost of $12,000.

Deacons ordained March 4, 1952 include: William H. Dowtin; Thomas Henderson; Philip Patterson.

Deacons ordained May 14, 1956, Carroll W. Anderson and Dahlia Miller.

For some time it had been though by many members of the congregation that because of the shift in population, it had become necessary for the Church to relocate its place of worship to a more desirable section of the city. The coming of Rev. Williams gave added emphasis to the idea. He contended that the church needed a community to serve, and there was no longer a community to serve in the location at Fourteenth and Broad Streets.

February 22, 1955, in a special business meeting, after hearing a report from the Trustee Board, with a recommendation, the church voted
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