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Legacy Award

Rev. Dr. Cameron M. Alexander

Rev. Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander always wanted to keep Antioch Baptist Church North nestled in the city of
Atlanta. There, he felt, the historic African-American church could have the greatest impact and serve people who
needed help the most. Under his leadership, beginning in 1969, Antioch became a beacon of hope in the community,
creating a much-needed food, housing and clothing ministry and a recovery program for people fighting addiction.
While other pastors may have been hesitant to reach out to those battling HIV and AIDs, Alexander greenlighted a
program to help.

“He was one of the most lovable preachers in town,” said former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who has known Alex-
ander since 1961. “He viewed his role as a shepherd who was duty-bound to take care of people,” said his eldest son,
Cameron Eric Alexander, an Atlanta Realtor and musician. “He really cared for the least of these. He put the needs of
the church family sometimes above his own personal challenges. That’s the reason people loved him so. People saw
Rev. Dr. Cameron M. Alexander that he put other people first.”
Former Pastor
Antioch Baptist Church North
Alexander served 29 years as president of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, which cites a mem-
bership of more than 600 churches. He’s a former vice president of the National Baptist Convention, USA and former
dean for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, an auxiliary of the state convention.

A second-generation preacher, Alexander was born in Atlanta - a “Grady baby.” He graduated from Booker T. Washing-
ton High School and attended Florida A&M University, where he played saxophone in the much heralded “Marching
100.” He later earned a degree from Morehouse College. He also earned a master’s of divinity degree from the More-
house School of Religion in 1968 and doctorate of divinity degrees from the United Theological Seminary (Louisiana)
and the Morehouse School of Religion in 1990.

Alexander was also a prominent community leader. He helped lead a bus boycott that integrated the Bibb County
transit system during his pastorate in Macon. He participated in lunch counter sit-ins. And, while a pastor in Savannah,
he formed a partnership with C&S Bank President Mills B. Lane to improve 109 blocks of real estate in Savannah.

Rev. Dr. Alexander, who would have celebrated five decades in the pulpit at Antioch this year, died Sunday, December
30, 2018, after a brief illness. He was 86. Alexander is survived by his three children, Cameron Eric Alexander, Kenneth
L. Alexander and Barbara Maria Hunter; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A son, Gregory Alexander,
preceded him in death.

Credit to Sheila M. Poole, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

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