J. D. Grey, sometimes known by his adopted name as James David Grey (December 18, 1906 – July 26, 1985), was a major figure in the
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The wor ...
and from 1937 to 1972 was the pastor of the large First
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
Church of
,
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
.
Background
A native of
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ni ...
in
Caldwell County in western
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
, Grey was reared in
Paducah
Paducah ( ) is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky. The largest city in the Jackson Purchase region, it is located at the confluence of the Tennessee and the Ohio rivers, halfway between St. Louis, Missour ...
, a city in
McCracken County, also in western Kentucky at the confluence of the
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
and
Ohio rivers. In 1925, Grey received his diploma from
Paducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Tilghman High School is a public secondary school in Paducah, Kentucky. It is the only high school in the Paducah Independent School District.
History
The school opened at its first location in 1900, and was named Paducah High School, a ...
. That same year, he was ordained to preach by the Immanuel Baptist Church, which began only three years earlier in 1922 as a mission of First Baptist Paducah. Immanuel is now located on Buckner Lane in Paducah.
In 1959, years after he had left Paducah, the mayor named Grey an honorary "Duke of Paducah". In 1929, he graduated from Baptist-affiliated
Union University
Union University is a private Baptist Christian university in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville. The university is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention). It is ...
in
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
,
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. In 1932, he received the
Master of Theology
Master of Theology ( la, Theologiae Magister, abbreviated MTh, ThM, or MTheol) is a post-graduate degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries. It can serve as a transition degree for entrance into a PhD program or as a stand ...
degree from
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a Baptist theological institute in Fort Worth, Texas. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It was established in 1908 and is one of the largest seminaries in the world. It i ...
in
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
.
[James Cole and Robert L. Lee, ''Saint J. D.'' (]Waco
Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...
, Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
: Word Publishers, 1969), p. 159-1963
While he attended Southwestern Seminary, Grey was the pastor from 1929 to 1931 of the Vickery Baptist Church in
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
. From 1931 to 1934, he was the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in
Ennis
Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...
in
Ellis County, south of Dallas. Both of those congregations remain active.
[
]
Ministry
In 1934, Grey accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Denton, Texas, but left, effective May 31, 1937, for his final pastorate at the First Baptist New Orleans, which extended for thirty-five years until his retirement on December 31, 1972.[ During that time, the congregation nearly tripled and annual contributions increased from $26,000 to more than $650,000.] As a preacher, Grey accented the basic Christian tenets:
"God, man, sin, grace, eternity," in that order. His biographer compare his style to that of the 19th century minister Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the Abolitionism, abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery ...
, the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and became best known for her novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852), which depicts the harsh ...
: "sometimes thundering, sometimes pleading, with a strong personality that dominated any platform he ever mounted, and a magnetic appeal that focused all eyes on him when he spoke. ... as a man of mature logic, Grey has developed his sermons through the years from a soberly reasoned and carefully thought-out position. ... He always bridges the gap between the secular mind and the biblical world."
From 1949 to 1950, Grey was the president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
The Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC) is an association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Convention is composed of approximately 1,595 member congregations representing 620 ...
, the headquarters of which are based in Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...
. He was a trustee of Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College
Louisiana Christian University (LCU) is a private Baptist university in Pineville, Louisiana. It enrolls 1,100 to 1,200 students. It is affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention).
Louisiana Christ ...
in Pineville, which in 1952 awarded him an honorary doctorate.[ In 1951, Grey became the first pastor ever to lead a prayer at the ]Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in New Orleans, Louisiana. Played annually since January 1, 1935, it is tied with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl as the second-oldest bowl games in the country, surpassed onl ...
pregame in New Orleans, which that year matched Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of ...
's Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky (UK), a founding member of the Southeastern Conference. The Kentucky Wildcats is the student body of the University of Kentucky. 30,473 ...
and Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners are the athletic teams that represent the University of Oklahoma, located in Norman. The 19 men's and women's varsity teams are called the "Sooners", a reference to a nickname given to the early participants in the Land Run ...
. When Kentucky won, his fellow clergyman and close friend Herschel H. Hobbs, an Oklahoma native, jokingly suggested that the Wildcats prevailed because Grey was a Kentucky native and had led the prayer. "They ought to have had somebody from Oklahoma pray," said Hobbs. Grey told Hobbs that the Lord should not be bothered with the outcome of the game since Kentucky "had Babe Parilli
Vito "Babe" Parilli (May 7, 1930 – July 15, 2017) was an American football quarterback and coach who played professionally for 18 seasons. Parilli spent five seasons in the National Football League (NFL), three in the Canadian Football League ( ...
on its team".
In 1952 and 1953, Grey was elected by the delegates as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the convention and is elected at the Annual Meeting. The president's duties include presiding over the annual meeting; appointing members to SBC committees; serving as an ex officio member of ...
, based in Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
. At forty-four, he was the youngest man ever elected to the SBC presidency. He was nominated by John Jeter Hurt, then the present of Grey's alma mater, Union University. Hurt had been Grey's pastor in Jackson, Tennessee; he nominated more SBC candidates who became president than any other individual. Grey said that he had never run for a church office and "if the brethren elect me, it's because I have always tried to do every job Baptists assigned me to do to the best of my ability, whether it's to be the obituary chairman of my association, or missions chairman, or whatever. I have tried to serve my denomination."
From 1950 to 1970, Grey was a member of the Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is the largest international Baptist organization with an estimated 51 million people in 2022 with 246 member bodies in 128 countries and territories. A voluntary association of Baptist churches, the BWA account ...
. In 1954, he chaired Billy Graham
William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well known internationally in the late 1940s. He was a prominent evangelical Christi ...
's four-week Evangelistic Crusade at Pelican Stadium
Pelican Stadium, originally known as Heinemann Park (1915–1937), was a sports stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1915 to 1957.
Heinemann Park namesake
Alexander Julius (A.J.) Heinemann was an officer and shareholder in the New Orleans Peli ...
in New Orleans. In 1957, he was the president of the Greater New Orleans Federation of Churches.[ He was called a "conservative ecumeniac", who believed the literal words of the hymn "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" which calls for the "fellowship of kindred minds" guided by the ]Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
.
Relations with politicians
In 1957, Grey was asked to nominate for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency Brooks Hays, a liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
U.S. representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from Little Rock
( The "Little Rock")
, government_type = Council-manager
, leader_title = Mayor
, leader_name = Frank Scott Jr.
, leader_party = D
, leader_title2 = Council
, leader_name2 ...
, Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
, who subsequently lost a Democratic gubernatorial
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political_regions, political region, ranking under the Head of State, head of state and in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of ...
primary election
Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
in 1966. At the time Hays was the chairman of the Christian Life Commission, a liberal group advocating peaceful relations with African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
s. Grey declined to make the nomination on the grounds that he should not use his influence as a two-term past president of the convention to promote a particular candidate. Nevertheless, Hays was elected as the convention president for a single term that year.
Among the politicians who admired Grey was the colorful and controversial Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Earl Kemp Long
Earl Kemp Long (August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1960) was an American politician and the 45th governor of Louisiana, serving three nonconsecutive terms. Long, known as "Uncle Earl", connected with voters through his folksy demeanor and c ...
, who retorted, "Everybody's bragging about this Billy Graham. Hell! He can't preach nothing iclike J. D. Grey. I had rather hear him preach than any ther Ther may refer to:
*''Thér.'', taxonomic author abbreviation of Irénée Thériot (1859–1947), French bryologist
* Agroha Mound, archaeological site in Agroha, Hisar district, India
*Therapy
*Therapeutic drugs
See also
*''Ther Thiruvizha
''T ...
man I've ever heard."
In 1964, Grey became involved in the Louisiana gubernatorial
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political_regions, political region, ranking under the Head of State, head of state and in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of ...
election on behalf of an erstwhile rival of Long's, the former Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
DeLesseps Story Morrison
deLesseps Story Morrison Sr., also known as Chep Morrison (January 18, 1912 – May 22, 1964), was an American attorney and politician who was the 54th mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1946 to 1961. He then served as an appointee of U.S. ...
, who had resigned as under U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
, to make his third unsuccessful bid for the state's highest office. At the time, Morrison, a Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
, faced a Democratic runoff election
The two-round system (TRS), also known as runoff voting, second ballot, or ballotage, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. It generally ensures a majoritarian resul ...
with John McKeithen
John Julian McKeithen (May 28, 1918 – June 4, 1999) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 49th governor of Louisiana from 1964 to 1972.
Early life
McKeithen was born in Grayson, Louisiana on May 28, 1918. His father was a ...
, a Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...
from Columbia and a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year te ...
. In a newspaper advertisement, Grey wrote:
You made us a marvelous mayor. I moved to New Orleans in 1937 and know what the city was before you took office n 1946 You gave New Orleans its start toward the great, progressive, industrial world city we have today. I saw you restore City Hall to a place of dignity, integrity, and respect. You gave your active support to every worthy move to improve the civic, business, social, cultural, and spiritual life of an entire community.
Grey's biographers note that "on occasion, J. D. raked his friend orrison Orrison is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bob Orrison (1928–2011), American film and television stunt performer
* Carrol Orrison (born 1929), American politician
* Katherine Orrison (born 1948), American set decorator, prod ...
over the coals in matter political and controversial. His influence was effective on many issues. By the same token, the mayor could respond to J. D. as a friend when he offered ... the keys to the city to a young Billy Graham in his first crusade ..." in New Orleans. When school desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups, usually referring to races. Desegregation is typically measured by the index of dissimilarity, allowing researchers to determine whether desegregation efforts are having impact o ...
came to New Orleans in 1959, Grey served as a member and director of the group, Citizens for Support of Public Schools.[
In 1968 and 1969, Grey was the president and board member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission under Morrison's successor, Democratic Mayor ]Victor Schiro
Victor Hugo Schiro (May 6, 1904 – August 29, 1992), was an American politician who served on the New Orleans City Council and as Mayor from 1961 to 1970.
Early life and political career
Schiro was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of An ...
.[
The '']New Orleans Times-Picayune
''The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate'' is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana, since January 25, 1837. The current publication is the result of the 2019 acquisition of ''The Times-Picayune'' (itself a result of th ...
'' analyzed Grey, accordingly:
Dr. Grey has provided spiritual leadership and inspiration to New Orleans' largest Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
congregation. And together, Dr. Grey and his church have played significant roles in every project of civic betterment through the years. ... All of his splendid attributes of intellect, integrity, courage, and compassion he has devote unstithingly to his church and his community. His influence has been widespread. ...
Community activities
Grey was a founding member in 1942 and thereafter the president in 1956 of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. He was a member of the committee which in 1968 coordinated the 250th anniversary celebration of the founding of New Orleans. He was a board member of the "good government
Good government is a normative description of how government is supposed to be constituted. It has been frequently employed by various political thinkers, ideologues and politicians.
Thomas Jefferson and good government
Thomas Jefferson often r ...
" group known as the Council for a Better Louisiana and the children's advocacy group, Big Brothers of New Orleans. He was also a life member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
in New Orleans, vice-chairman of the Louisiana State Board of Corrections, and a board member of the Association for Retarded Children, the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...
, United Givers Fund
United Givers Fund is the name used by several current or historical joint charitable appeals in the United States. Many of these appeals later adopted the United Way name, sometimes in conjunction with a merger with another charitable appeal.
Fun ...
, and the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded i ...
. He was active for three decades in Kiwanis International
Kiwanis International ( ) is an international service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and is found in more than 80 nations and geographic areas. Since 1987, the organizatio ...
, which gave him a "Legion of Honor" certificate.[ In 1984, long after he had retired as a pastor, Grey was an advisor for the ]1984 Louisiana World Exposition
The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition was a World's Fair held in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It was held 100 years after the city's earlier World's Fair, the World Cotton Centennial in 1884. It opened on Saturday, May 12, 1984, and ende ...
held at the site of the defunct Rivergate Convention Center
Harrah's New Orleans is a casino in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, near the foot of Canal Street, New Orleans, Canal Street a block away from the Mississippi River. It is a casino with approximately 2,100 slot machines, over 90 table ga ...
. This was the last world's fair to have been held in the United States.[
For his community service, Grey in 1971 received the "Loving Cup" from the '']New Orleans Times-Picayune
''The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate'' is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana, since January 25, 1837. The current publication is the result of the 2019 acquisition of ''The Times-Picayune'' (itself a result of th ...
''. In 1969, the unconventional biography entitled ''St. J. D.'' was written by Robert L. Lee, then the executive-secretary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and James F. Cole, the editor at that time of the state newspaper, ''The Baptist Message''. Grey was listed in ''Who's Who in America
Marquis Who's Who ( or ) is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies. The books usually are entitled ''Who's Who in...'' followed by some subject, such as ''Who's Who in America'', ''Who's Who of American Wome ...
'', ''Who's Who in the South and Southwest'', ''Who's Who in Religion'' and ''Outstanding Civic Leaders of America''.[ In 1972, Grey penned ''Epitaphs for Eager Preachers''. In 1956, Grey was named an "honorary citizen" of ]Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
by then Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Raymond Gary. In 1965, he was so honored in Dallas, Texas, and thereafter in twelve other cities. He was made an honorary deputy sheriff in ten counties in four states.[
In 1958, Grey played himself in the noir film '']Damn Citizen
''Damn Citizen'' is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Robert Gordon and starring Keith Andes, Margaret Hayes and Gene Evans.
Plot
A former WWII hero is appointed head of the state police by the governor of Louisiana to eliminate ...
''.
Family, death, legacy
Grey and his wife, the former Lillian Tooke, whom he married in 1927, had twin daughters born in 1941, Martha Ann Cantrell and her husband, Richard C. Cantrell (born 1940) of Gretna in Jefferson Parish Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...
, and Mary Beth Burg and husband, Jules L. Burg Jr. (1923-2011). There are three Grey grandchildren, Bryant Curtis Cantrell, Patrick Grey Cantrell, and Joe David Burg.[
Grey died in 1985 at the age of seventy-eight of a lengthy illness at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans.][ He is interred in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.][
The ]New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) is a Baptist theological institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions and evangelism are core focuses of the seminary.
NOBTS offers doctoral ...
honors Grey with its J. D. Grey Chair of Preaching and its annual J. D. Grey Preaching Award. In 2011, the recipient of both designations was Dennis Phelps, the NOBTS professor of preaching and director of church relations and alumni. A former Grey scholar is Argile Smith
Argile Asa Smith Jr. (born July 9, 1955) is an American clergyman and academic administrator who served as interim president of Louisiana Christian University from August 2014 to April 2015.
Background
Born in Poplarville, Mississippi, Smith rece ...
, the incoming interim president of Louisiana College.
G. Earl Guinn, the president of Louisiana College from 1951 to 1975, said of his friend: "I feel toward J. D. Grey about like Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...
felt toward his friend, the first Earl of Birkenhead
Earl of Birkenhead was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1922 for the noted lawyer and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead, F. E. Smith, 1st Viscount Birkenhead. He w ...
. ... I would rather have J. D. Grey at my side, cataract
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colors, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble w ...
s, arthritis
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...
, and all, than 99 percent of the people in all of the world."
W. A. Criswell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, and founder of Criswell College
Criswell College is a private Baptist Christian college and divinity school in Dallas, Texas. The college's stated mission is to provide ministerial and professional higher education for men and women preparing to serve as Christian leaders thro ...
, said of Grey: "No man among us has won more distinction from Southern Baptists than J. D. Grey. He has influenced so many groups, has been a friend to all of us."[Cole and Lee, ''St. J. D.'', p. 150]
Grey's papers are housed at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee.
See also
*List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
This list List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people includes notable individuals who are or were members of a church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) or who are otherwise affiliated with the SBC.
Presidents, pre ...
*Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The wor ...
*Southern Baptist Convention Presidents
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the convention and is elected at the Annual Meeting. The president's duties include presiding over the annual meeting; appointing members to SBC committees; serving as an ex officio member of ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, J. D.
1906 births
1985 deaths
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American non-fiction writers
20th-century Baptist ministers from the United States
American evangelicals
American male non-fiction writers
American religious writers
Baptists from Kentucky
Baptists from Louisiana
Baptist writers
Clergy from Dallas
Louisiana Democrats
Paducah Tilghman High School alumni
People from Denton, Texas
People from Ellis County, Texas
People from Paducah, Kentucky
People from Princeton, Kentucky
Southern Baptist ministers
Southern Baptist Convention presidents
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni
Union University alumni
Writers from New Orleans