Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-9-18

Feature
Florida Primitive Baptist Convention To Hold Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Thursday, January 11th, members of the community will gather for the Inaugura- tion of the seventh President of the Florida State Primitive Baptist Convention. The in- auguration ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., at the Bayfront Hilton Hotel, 333 1st Street, South, St. Petersburg, FL.
Dr. Willie Junior Williams has been chosen to lead the organization as its newly elected president. Elder Kenneth Washing- ton, First Vice President, will preside over the Inauguration Ceremonies.
A native of Cairo, Georgia, Dr. Williams graduated from Cairo High School in 1974. After graduation, he served in the U. S. Navy for 6 years.
DR. WILLIE J. WILLIAMS ... Seventh President, Florida Primitive Baptist Convention
He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Southeastern University and an Honorary Doctor of Divin- ity Degree from Florida Bea- con College.
Dr. Williams has been an active force in the commu- nity. He has served as a Com- missioner for the City of Lakeland for 5 years and 1
REV. DR. BARTHOLOMEW BANKS
... Guest Speaker
year as the Mayor of Lake- land. He has also served on numerous boards and com- mittees.
Dr. Williams was called into the ministry in 1974, and his first pastorate was at Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church, in Milton. He also served at Zion Hill Primitive Baptist Church in Lakeland
before accepting the role of Senior Pastor at Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Bap- tist Church in Tampa, where he served for 18 years.
In 2010, he became the Senior Pastor at Greater Mount Pilgrim Primitive Bap- tist Church in Bradenton.
Dr. Williams has served in various leadership capaci- ties in the South Florida Pro- gressive Primitive Baptist District Association, the South Florida Progressive Primitive Baptist Church School Convention, and the Florida State Primitive Bap- tist Convention since 1979.
He is the father of two, and the grandfather of 3.
Rev. Dr. Bartholo- mew Banks, Sr., President of the Progressive Missionary & Educational Baptist State Convention will serve as the guest speaker.
A native of Pensacola, Rev. Dr. Banks, Sr., is the Senior Pastor at St. John Pro- gressive Missionary Baptist Church.
He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Pensacola Junior College in Business Administration. He contin- ued his education at the Uni- versity of South Florida,
where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. His Masters of Arts degree
in Biblical Studies was be- stowed upon him at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dal- las, Texas. Rev. Dr. Banks has also been awarded two honorary Doctorate degrees from Florida Beacon College & Seminary of Jacksonville, and Belford University of Sa- vannah, Georgia.
During his tenure with the Progressive M & E Baptist State Convention, Rev. Dr. Banks has served as the Fi- nancial Secretary for more than 15 years.
He is currently the Vice President at Large for the Na- tional Baptist Convention of America International, Inc. (NBCA, Inc.), and also serves on the Board of Directors of NBCA, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Banks was elected to the Presidency of Progressive Missionary and Educational Baptist State Convention of Florida, Inc. in March of 2006 and was re- elected for a second term without opposition.
He is married to Mrs. Vanessa Banks, the father of 4 and grandfather of 5.
Meeting
Neighborhood Information Meeting On Parade
There will be an informational meeting for the community on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 6:30 p. m. at Ragan Park Community Center, 1200 East Lake Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
Representatives from the City of Tampa along with the Dr. Martin Luther King Parade Foundation will be there to answer questions and provide additional parade details. Spanish speakers will be available.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018