Rev. Dr. Rosier Smith Gavin
Rev. Dr. Rosier Smith Gavin (Bobo & Johnson) |
Baptist Minister
Notes:
• Pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PASTOR December 16, 1906 - May 31, 1909
AND
THE TWENTY-NINTH PASTOR September 11, 1910 - June 29, 1913
"Rosier Smith Gavin was born December 17, 1867, in Clarke County, Mississippi. His parents were David Callaway and Jane M. Gavin, a Methodist family. R. S. Gavin graduated from Southern University, Greensboro, Alabama, (now Birmingham-Southern), in 1891 with an A. B. Degree.
He was married September 1, 1892, at Yantley, Alabama, to Miss Sally Anne Brock, a graduate of Judson College, Marion, Alabama, in the class of 1891. The couple taught school for a time, one of their posts being in New Market, Alabama, at the Huntsville District Training School, a Methodist institution.
Their only child was David Withers Gavin, born June 29, 1897. Soon afterward, Professor Gavin surrendered to the Baptist ministry and was ordained in 1897, by the Concord Baptist Church of the Bigbee Association in Southwest Alabama.
The family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and Reverend Gavin entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated. Early pastorates were Meridian, Mississippi, and Bessemer, Alabama. In January 1906, a hip ailment caused him to resign from the Bessemer pastorate for a complete rest from pastoral work. The young family moved to Yantley, Alabama, and lived with Mrs. Gavin's father, David W. Brock, who owned a large farm. While recuperating, he served as an evangelist in various locations.
Late in 1906, Dr. Gavin became pastor of the First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama. He was loved by all and the church witnessed numerous accessions, one being his own son, David Withers Gavin, whom he baptized June 10, 1908. During his ministry in Alabama, Dr. Gavin contributed many 'letters,' or short sermons, to the Alabama Baptist and continued evangelistic work in addition to pastoral duties. His resignation from the First Church, Huntsville, enabled him to give full time to evangelism.
He had served a short, time as pastor in Enterprise, Alabama, when the First Baptist Church at Huntsville called him for a second pastorate. He returned September 11, 1910, and was welcomed by hundreds of friends. He served until June 29, 1913.
Afterward, he served as pastor in Lakeland, Florida; Corinth, Columbus, Quitman, and Meridian, Mississippi. While serving at Quitman (1921 - 1925), Dr. Gavin and son, Withers, entered the weekly newspaper field, as owners and publishers of the Clarke County Tribune. In 1930, they entered the radio field in Meridian, with Radio Station WCOC, but continued the newspaper. Dr. Gavin retired from the active ministry in 1932, moving to his farm home at Marion, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. When he died, February 26, 1936, he was survived by his wife, Sally Anne, and his son, David Withers Gavin. David Withers and his wife, Maude Carter Gavin, continued the family businesses." - Bobo & Johnson
• First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL celebrated their 200th anniversary in 2009. In their account of the Bicentennial they said "The little we know of our church's 100th anniversary is mostly gleaned from an article written by Pastor R. S. Gavin in the June 9, 1909 issue of The Huntsville Weekly Mercury; our fortunate circumstances render us able to provide a better record." - Jones
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Owen
| Nickname: | R. S. |
| Born: | December 17, 1867, Clarke County, Mississippi |
| Died: | February 26, 1936, Marion, Mississippi |
Notes:
• Pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PASTOR December 16, 1906 - May 31, 1909
AND
THE TWENTY-NINTH PASTOR September 11, 1910 - June 29, 1913
"Rosier Smith Gavin was born December 17, 1867, in Clarke County, Mississippi. His parents were David Callaway and Jane M. Gavin, a Methodist family. R. S. Gavin graduated from Southern University, Greensboro, Alabama, (now Birmingham-Southern), in 1891 with an A. B. Degree.
He was married September 1, 1892, at Yantley, Alabama, to Miss Sally Anne Brock, a graduate of Judson College, Marion, Alabama, in the class of 1891. The couple taught school for a time, one of their posts being in New Market, Alabama, at the Huntsville District Training School, a Methodist institution.
Their only child was David Withers Gavin, born June 29, 1897. Soon afterward, Professor Gavin surrendered to the Baptist ministry and was ordained in 1897, by the Concord Baptist Church of the Bigbee Association in Southwest Alabama.
The family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and Reverend Gavin entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated. Early pastorates were Meridian, Mississippi, and Bessemer, Alabama. In January 1906, a hip ailment caused him to resign from the Bessemer pastorate for a complete rest from pastoral work. The young family moved to Yantley, Alabama, and lived with Mrs. Gavin's father, David W. Brock, who owned a large farm. While recuperating, he served as an evangelist in various locations.
Late in 1906, Dr. Gavin became pastor of the First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama. He was loved by all and the church witnessed numerous accessions, one being his own son, David Withers Gavin, whom he baptized June 10, 1908. During his ministry in Alabama, Dr. Gavin contributed many 'letters,' or short sermons, to the Alabama Baptist and continued evangelistic work in addition to pastoral duties. His resignation from the First Church, Huntsville, enabled him to give full time to evangelism.
He had served a short, time as pastor in Enterprise, Alabama, when the First Baptist Church at Huntsville called him for a second pastorate. He returned September 11, 1910, and was welcomed by hundreds of friends. He served until June 29, 1913.
Afterward, he served as pastor in Lakeland, Florida; Corinth, Columbus, Quitman, and Meridian, Mississippi. While serving at Quitman (1921 - 1925), Dr. Gavin and son, Withers, entered the weekly newspaper field, as owners and publishers of the Clarke County Tribune. In 1930, they entered the radio field in Meridian, with Radio Station WCOC, but continued the newspaper. Dr. Gavin retired from the active ministry in 1932, moving to his farm home at Marion, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. When he died, February 26, 1936, he was survived by his wife, Sally Anne, and his son, David Withers Gavin. David Withers and his wife, Maude Carter Gavin, continued the family businesses." - Bobo & Johnson
• First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL celebrated their 200th anniversary in 2009. In their account of the Bicentennial they said "The little we know of our church's 100th anniversary is mostly gleaned from an article written by Pastor R. S. Gavin in the June 9, 1909 issue of The Huntsville Weekly Mercury; our fortunate circumstances render us able to provide a better record." - Jones
Related Links:
• Bobo & Johnson - First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Alabama: The First 175 Years: 1809 - 1984, by Mildred Burden Bobo and Catherine Ryan Johnson, 1985, pages 51, 77-81, 83-87, 262.
• Jones - Paper titled "First Baptist Church Huntsville, Alabama, June 2009, An Account of the Bicentennial" by Joseph M. Jones, church clerk and historian. (Originally found at http://www.fbchsv.org/clientimages/51105/pdf/accountofbicentennial.pdf.)
• Owen - History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921, page 645.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Owen