WHEREAS, Reverend Emerson Talmadge was born on September 6, 1900 in Jackson, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, In 1921, he came to Philadelphia and joined the Macedonia Baptist Church where he was called to the ministry in 1924; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Talmadge devoted many years to evangelistic service, including conducting revivals from coast to coast and in The British Isles; and
WHEREAS, In 1949, Reverend Talmadge was elected Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of Elmwood and the congregation grew and flourished under his leadership; and
WHEREAS, Due to redevelopment, Calvary Church was forced to move in 1961 and the membership purchased the present sanctuary at 6122 Haverford Avenue where Reverend Talmadge served his parishioners twenty-four hours a day until his retirement in 1991; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Talmadge received many awards including an honorary degree as Doctor of Divinity from Miller's University; and
WHEREAS, He traveled extensively to Europe, Africa and the Holy Land and had an audience with his Holiness Pope Paul IV; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his forty-two years of service as Pastor and Pastor Emeritus of Calvary Baptist Church, he was a highly loved and respected spiritual and community leader; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the 500 block of North Robinson Street shall also be known as "Pastor Talmadge Way" in honor of the devotion, commitment and leadership of the late Reverend Emerson Talmadge.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church as a further remembrance of the life and legacy of Reverend Emerson Talmadge.
End