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2016 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Celebrating the life of the Reverend Dr. William Douglas Booth.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 14, 2016
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 29, 2016
 

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. William Douglas Booth, a noted pastor and theologian who served at First Baptist Church in Hampton for many years, a religion teacher and college administrator who was a well-regarded writer and scholar, and a devoted husband and father, died on October 7, 2015; and

WHEREAS, William Booth was born in Gary, Indiana, and was licensed to the ministry when he was 17; he became an ordained minister approximately two years later at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, while he was beginning his life’s work as a pastor, William Booth continued his education; he earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, and later received a master’s degree from Crozer Theological Seminary and a doctoral degree from United Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, before becoming pastor of First Baptist Church in Hampton, William Booth served at places of worship in three different states; he was an assistant pastor or pastor at churches in Cincinnati, Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Gary, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, William Booth became pastor of First Baptist Church in Hampton and faithfully served the congregation for 15 years; he was known for his leadership, sensitivity, and judiciousness; and

WHEREAS, William Booth was a well-regarded scholar who taught at Xavier University, Hampton University, and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies; he was vice president of academic affairs for distance learning at Shaw University; and

WHEREAS, William Booth was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Temple Bible College in Cincinnati; he received several prestigious scholarships and grants, including a Merrill Fellowship from Harvard University Divinity School and a grant from the Center of Theological Inquiry; and

WHEREAS, a talented writer and student of church history, William Booth was a guest religion columnist for the Daily Press newspaper and The Worker, a religious quarterly; he also published two books on Baptist church history; and

WHEREAS, William Booth will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his wife, Ruth Ann; his sons, William and David, and their families; and many other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Dr. William Douglas Booth of Hampton, a noted pastor, theologian, and scholar, and a devoted husband and father; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Dr. William Douglas Booth as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.