WHEREAS, James S. Hall, Jr. was the founding pastor of Triumph Baptist Church in November, 1969. Prior to founding Triumph, Pastor Hall served as
pastor of Mount Rona Baptist Church in Florence, S.C. (1953-1957), Rafting Creek Baptist Church in Sumter, S.C. (1953-1957), and Springfield Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C. (1957-1963). He also was pastor of Morris Chapel Baptist Church in Philadelphia from 1963 to 1969; and
WHEREAS, James S. Hall, Jr. was born in Marion, South Carolina, the youngest of four children of preacher James S. Hall, Sr. and Eliza Thompson Hall; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hall
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Bachelor of Divinity degree in Theology at Morris College in Sumter, S.C. He is the recipient of honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Morris College, Fuller Normal School Greenville, S.C. and A.M.E. Seminary Monrovia, West Africa. He also attended special training at Temple University in Group Dynamics and Psychology; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hall’s ministry at Triumph has extended beyond the pulpit. His leadership has positively impacted the surrounding neighborhood through the creation of a credit union which in turn financed residential housing and a supermarket. Plans are underway for the development of senior housing and a Family Life Center. Triumph also created a community development corporation to continue making improvements in the neighborhood and improving the quality of life for all its residents; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Hall’s long history of community involvement stems back to his active participation in the Civil Rights Movement. While pastoring in South Carolina he served as President of Local PUSH, Vice President of South Carolina State Education and Missionary Convention, Vice President of South Carolina State NAACP, and local President of CORE Greenville, S.C. After moving to Philadelphia he was President of Little Neighborhood Schools, President of Triumph Development Community Corporation, Treasurer of Wade Cable Company, President of the Baptist Minister's Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity and Moderator of the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Unity Global Award and Legend of Civil Rights Award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That
the 1600 block of Hunting Park Avenue also be named “James S. Hall, Jr. Drive” in honor of the Reverend Dr. James S. Hall, Jr., Pastor of Triumph Baptist Church on the occasion of his 65 years of preaching.
End
Cindy Bass
Councilwoman—8th District
September 8, 2016
