Religion

Rev. Abraham Lincoln Davis

*Abraham Lincoln Davis was born on this date in 1914. He was an African American minister and Civil Rights activist.

Abraham Lincoln "A. L." Davis was born in Bayou Goula, Louisiana and moved to New Orleans in 1930 to live with a sister and attend high school. Davis graduated from McDonogh 35 High School, received his B. A. degree from Leland College and his theological degree from Union Baptist Theological Seminary. He became the pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in 1935 where he became known as the Rev. A. L. Davis. He served as pastor of New Zion for forty-three years.

Louise Shropshire

*Louise Shropshire was born on this date in 1913. She was an African American composer for her religion and the church.

Born Louise Jarrett, the granddaughter of slaves and sharecroppers, she was born in Coffee County, Alabama. In 1917, her family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio. As a young girl, Jarrett demonstrated a gift for music and composed many hymns as a member of the Baptist Church. Sometime between 1932 and 1942, after marrying Robert Shropshire, she composed a gospel hymn entitled, If My Jesus Wills.

Francis P. Healy

*Patrick Francis Healy was born on this date in1834. He was a Black minister and college administrator.

Emanuel AME Methodist Church

*The opening of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816 is celebrated on this date.

Rev. Samuel Kyles

*The Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles was born on this date in 1934. He is an African American minister and Civil Rights activist.