[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING PEARL STREET AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pearl 
Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jackson, Mississippi. In 
1865, Reverend Thomas W. Stringer organized Pearl Street African 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The first church was known as Foley Chapel, 
and Reverend Stringer served as pastor until Reverend James Ellsworth 
was appointed as pastor. The church was located on the corner of 
Clifton and Pearl Streets. About seventeen pastors served the church in 
its initial edifice, including Reverend Hugh Miller Foley, the pastor 
for whom Foley Chapel was named.
  In 1898, Reverend James E. Carter, who had served as president of 
Shorter College in Arkansas, came to Mississippi and was assigned in 
1899 as pastor. Under Reverend Carter's leadership, the name of the 
church was changed to Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and a new edifice was built in 1902. The newly built church was on the 
corner of Clifton and Pearl Streets. Foley Chapel remained on the 
property as Foley Hall.
  In 1956, Bishop W. W. Wright appointed Reverend G. R. Haughton to 
Pearl Street A.M.E. Church as pastor. During his pastorate, the city 
requested the property at Clifton and Pearl Streets for opening a new 
street. Reverend Haughton immediately focused members' attention on 
building Greater Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in 
another location at 925 West Pearl Street. A home at 1051 Deer Park 
Street was purchased for the new parsonage. Members began use of the 
new church in April 1961, and it was dedicated on April 30, 1961. 
Successors to Reverend G. R. Haughton include the following: Reverend 
Dr. George A. Sewell (1965-1967) and Reverend William Portis (1967-
1974).
  In October 1974, Reverend Thomas Benjamin Brown, Jr. was appointed as 
pastor of Pearl Street. He served as pastor for eight years. In 1976, 
during Reverend Brown's leadership of the church, the trustees 
purchased additional property around the church at 925 West Pearl 
Street. Also, the church sold the parsonage on Deer Park Street and 
purchased a home at 219 Claiborne Street as the new parsonage. Four 
years later, Reverend Brown kicked off his campaign for Bishopric on 
May 24, 1980 in his native Greenwood, Mississippi. Two years following 
the kick-off campaign, Bishop Cummings determined that perhaps Reverend 
Brown stood a better chance of winning the Bishopric if he were to run 
for the Bishop serving as pastor of Union Bethel, New Pearl Street. So 
in November 1982, Bishop Frank Curtis sent Reverend Brown to New 
Orleans as pastor of Union Bethel, and he sent Union Bethel's pastor, 
Reverend Lorenzo G. Clarke to Pearl Street. Reverend Clarke was pastor 
of Pearl Street from November 1982-October 1985.
  At the General Conference 1984, Bishop Donald George Kenneth Ming was 
assigned to the Eighth Episcopal District Bishop Ming appointed 
Reverend Johnny Barbour, Jr. as pastor of Pearl Street A.M.E. Church in 
October 1985. Reverend Barbour, Pearl Street's longest serving pastor, 
remained as pastor for 15 years. In 1987, under Reverend Barbour's 
spiritual leadership, the church moved from 925 West Pearl Street into 
a church edifice at 2519 Robinson Street (valued at 3.5 million 
dollars). During this same year, 1987, Mrs. Ruth Roseman Dease, 
dedicated church historiographer from 1958-1987. Shirley Hopkins Davis 
was privileged and honored to have worked with Mrs. Dease in typing the 
history, which she so competently recorded on a weekly basis. Following 
Mrs. Dease's death, Reverend Barbour appointed Ms. L'Dina Robinson as 
church historiographer.
  Ten years following the purchase of the edifice at 2519 Robinson 
Street (1997), Reverend Johnny Barbour, Jr. and the officers and 
members burned the mortgage. The presiding bishop then was the Rt. 
Reverend Richard Allen Chappelle, Sr. Since the church has been 
purchased under Rt. Reverend Donald G. K. Ming's bishopric, Reverend 
Barbour invited Bishop Ming back to preach at the Mortgage Burning. 
Bishop Chappelle conducted the Mortgage Burning ceremony. Reverend 
Barbour had announced his candidacy for Secretary-Treasurer of the 
A.M.E. Sunday School Union at the General Conference 1996. So, he was 
campaigning for the office during this time. He remained pastor of 
progressive Pearl Street for several months after he was elected to the 
office at the General Conference 2000, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  During the General Conference 2000, the 8th Episcopal District was 
assigned Bishop Cornal Garnett Henning, Sr. whose father, Reverend H. 
W. Henning, had served as pastor of Pearl Street from 1940-41. Bishop 
Henning asked Reverend Barbour to remain pastor of Pearl Street until 
Planning Meeting in December 2000, and Reverend Barbour remained as 
pastor while carrying on his new General Officer position of Secretary-
Treasurer of the Sunday School Union.
  On December 2, 2000 the Rt. Reverend C. Garnett Henning, Sr. 
appointed the Reverend Dr. Samuel Boyd, Sr. as pastor of Pearl Street 
African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Boyd had served as pastor 
of Historic St. James A.M.E. Church, New Orleans, LA for ten years. He 
preached as pastor of Pearl Street on December 3, 2000.
  Pearl Street has a rich history of growth and development as a church 
family and community supporter. After 136 years, the church remains a 
stronghold and a source of spiritual empowerment for its members and 
the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pearl 
Street African Methodist Episcopal Church.

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