Marshall Keeble

Marshall Keeble was born of slave parents on a farm near Murfreesboro, in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on December 7, 1878. When he was four years of age his parents, Robert and Mittie Keeble moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He attended the Bell view and Noles Schools of Nashville; but never went beyond seventh grade. Although limited in education, he, nevertheless, acquired a remarkable knowledge of the Bible and human nature. He married Miss Minnie Womack, a Fisk University high school graduate. With the help of his father-in-law, S.W. Womack and other gospel preachers, he started preaching the gospel soon after 1900. A.M. Burton, founder of the Life and Casualty Insurance Company, became his friend and patron. During his life he preached from the Golden Gate Bridge to New York harbor and around the world. Frank G. Clement, former Governor of Tennessee, appointed him the first black Colonel Aide-de-Camp in Tennessee history. He was also made an honorary chief over one of the largest Nigerian tribes in Africa. Brother Keeble held gospel meetings anywhere he could find space large enough to erect his tent. There have been thousands, white and black, who have heard his sermons all over the country. When he left a place there would be hundreds that obeyed the Word of God by being baptized into Christ. It has been estimated that in his preaching career, he baptized at least forty thousand precious souls into the body of Christ, making him responsible for populating heaven with more souls of the saints than anyone else this side of the first century. Brother Keeble passed from this life April 20, 1968.

§ "The Church among the Colored." Abilene Christian College Lectures 1950. Austin, TX: Firm Foundation Publishing House, 1950. Pp. 142-156. Introduction to Online Text by Don Haymes.

§ From M. Keeble (Response to "Negro Meetings for White People" by Foy Esco Wallace, Jr.). Bible Banner (April 1941): 5. Introduction to Online Text by Don Haymes.

§ "Among the Colored Brethren." Gospel Advocate 92 (7 December 1950): 793-794. Introduction to Online Text by Don Haymes.

§ Sound Recording:
Invitation by Marshall Keeble in Wave (.wav) Format

J.D. Boyd, Jr.

John Dudley Boyd, Jr. was born at Station Camp Creek, near Cottontown, about seven miles north west of Gallatin, Tennessee on January 4, 1892. In his infancy his mother passed away with typhoid fever and his father was left to care for his infant son. J.D. better known as just "D" knew well what it was to walk in the vale of poverty. He had very little time for school, but studying very hard, he was able to enroll in M.T.N (now Middle Tennessee State University), where he later met his future bride, Miss Frances Crouch, daughter of a Gospel preacher. After their marriage, he started preaching the Gospel on a regular schedule. J.D. Boyd traveled over much of America, preaching the Gospel. Every place he went, he was loved and respected. He spent many years in North Louisiana and was one of the best known and most loved preachers of his time. He preached from 1922 to 1972, and was a faithful servant unto his death.