J. Novvis Taylor (Minister)
1949-1950
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J. Novvis Taylor, was born on February 1, 1908. He preached in several states, including West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, and the District of Columbia. While he preached in West Virginia, he edited a periodical called "The Christian Preacher" with Curtis Combs. He was a talented song leader, also. He served as the first preacher for the South Florida Avenue church of Christ.
*We want to give special thanks to Michael Summers, grandson of Brother Taylor, for providing us with a portrait of his grandfather. |
B.C. Carr (Minister)
1950-1953; 1964-1972
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B.C. Carr was born in Dennis, Mississippi November 9, 1918. He was baptized in August of 1930 by O.C. Dobbs. He was married to Sybil Brown in 1939. Together they had two children: Linda Lou (Mrs. Pat) Phillips and B.C. Jr. (Butch).
He graduated from high school at the age of sixteen. He received his formal training at Freed Hardeman College for two years. Then he finished his BA degree at David Lipscomb. Further training was done at Harding Graduate School. He began his preaching career Somerville Road church in Decatur, Alabama in 1945. He served churches at LaGrange, Georgia from 1953-1955; the Floyd Avenue church in Memphis, Tennessee from 1955-1960; South Florida Avenue church from 1961-1964, and then was a member here until his death. In 1969, while serving in his second stint of preaching for the South Florida Avenue church, he along with the leadership there began the Florida School of Preaching. He help to raise funds for it, taught classes there, and served as its director for many years. Many people today are in the Lord's church having been touched by the lives of students he taught and trained for the ministry. B.C. Carr passed from this life January 13, 2001. |
Landon Hatley (Minister)
1953-1954
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Mr. Hatley was a Church of Christ Minister for 50 years. He also was a graduate of Lipscomb University. He was born in Camden, TN on July 15, 1921 to the late John A. Hatley and Velma Baker. He began preaching in Memphis, TN in 1941. He received formal education from Memphis State College and David Lipscomb College, where he graduated in 1948. He preached in Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, and Florida. He also did radio work in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His preaching career lasted 50 years. He passed away in December of 2009.
Photo, Courtesy of Lipscomb University Yearbook Archives |
Everett Mann (minister)
1954-1957
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Information coming.
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Gentry Stults (minister)
1958-1963
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Gentry served in the Army in the dark days of World War II. He was in the 88th Infantry division. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was wounded in Italy, caught by a burst from a German MG42. After a long convalescence he was discharged from the military and returned home.
After returning home Stults attended Larimore Business College, Freed-Hardeman College, and David Lipscomb College. He then began preaching first in Tennessee then in Florida. Gentry credited John D. Cox for having a lot of influence on his preaching career. Gentry preached in numerous gospel meetings in the U.S. and also in the islands of Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. In addition to his preaching, Gentry was also a representative of the Gospel Advocate Company, enlisting subscriptions for the magazine and enrolling people in the GA book club. Gentry often reported on his work in the Advocate. Gentry also served on the board of the Christian Home and Bible School in Mt. Dora, Florida. In addition to being on the advisory board, he often served as Emcee for fund raising dinners for the Mt. Dora home. Gentry was a polished after dinner speaker. Audiences delighted in his sharing humorous stories. More information can be found here. |
J. H. Blackman (minister)
1972-1975
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Mr. Blackman was born May 17, 1932 in Jacksonville, FL. He was a graduate of Florida Christian College and David Lipscomb University. He was a minister in the Church of Christ. Mr. Blackman was employed by the Polk County School Board and he also taught at the Florida School of Preaching where he served as the secretary for the board of directors.
J.H. Blackman passed away on June 6, 2010. |
Frank pierce (Minister)
1976-1979
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Frank Pierce attended Abilene Christian University and majored in Bible with a minor in Speech. He was also a Dale Carnegie graduate. He taught many ESL classes. He also authored a Bible correspondence course on the book of Acts and a book of idioms in order to teach foreign students the English language and to explain American idioms. His most important accomplishment was being a child of God, and he loved to teach the Bible.
He served as a minister and missionary in Mullinville, Kansas; Waurika, Oklahoma; Electra, Texas; Azle, Texas; Lakeland, Florida; Seagoville, Texas; Crandall, Texas; and the countries of Malaysia and Sri Lanka. He was a member of Lions Club and was also a Boy Scout Master. |
Bob McAnally (Minister)
1979-2016
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Bob McAnally began preaching at 15 years of age. He attended Athens Bible School, Florida Christian College, and Harding University. He has three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is a former preacher for various congregations in Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan. Bob retired from full-time preaching in June of 2016 after serving as the minister for the South Florida Avenue church of Christ for 37 years. Throughout his life, he was a faithful gospel preacher for almost 70 years,
Bob McAnally passed away on October 15, 2019. |
Glenn Sheumaker (Associate Minister)
1988-2011
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Brother Sheumaker's family moved from Oklahoma to Avon Park, Fl. around 1930, where his grandfather, Ephraim Garrett and his father served as elders of the local Church of Christ. In 1940, he attended Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tn., training to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, who he served faithfully until his death. He begain preaching first in Illinois, then Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and returning to Florida. He served in his final ministry at the South Florida Avenue Church of Christ as the associate minister.
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Brian Kenyon (Associate Minister)
2011-2019
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Brian R. Kenyon is an alumnus of the Florida School of Preaching. Prior to working with the South Florida Avenue church of Christ, Brian worked with churches in New Iberia, LA, North Jackson Church of Christ, Bartow, FL, Enville Church of Christ, Enville, TN and Friendship Church of Christ, TN. Brian has also worked on Campaigns in Scotland, Ghana, and Jamaica, as well as campaigns with Latin American Missions. Brian served as the Assistant Minister from 2011-2019. He is still a member of our congregation and currently serves as one of our Elders.
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Hiram Kemp (Minister)
2016-2021
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Hiram Kemp, is a Florida School of Preaching graduate. While in his last year at the Florida School of Preaching, Hiram served as an intern with Bob McAnally. Upon his completion of F.S.O.P., Hiram was hired by the Eldership of the South Florida Avenue church of Christ to replace Bob McAnally who stepped down due to health-related issues. Hiram served as the minister with our congregation for five years. He currently serves as one of the instructors for the Florida School of Preaching and has since returned to SFA to preach a gospel meeting in the Fall of 2025. He is co-founder and author of First Century Faith Today, and he continues to serve the Lord's kingdom faithfully by preaching the gospel.
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Vince Daugherty (Associate Minister)
2019-2024
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Prior to preaching, Vince worked in Education and served as a History teacher and Football Coach for four years. In 2017, he enrolled at the Florida School of Preaching and completed his coursework in 2019. In 2019, the elders of our congregation hired him to be the new associate minister for the South Florida Ave. church of Christ. In 2024, Vince and his family decided to relocate to Kentucky, where he began serving as the associate minister with the Elizabethtown church of Christ.
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Joshua Cantrell (Minister)
2021-2023
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Joshua has been preaching for the South Florida Avenue church of Christ in Lakeland since October 2021. Before this, he served as one of the preachers for the Cusseta Road church of Christ in Columbus, Georgia. He has preached by appointment since the age of fifteen. He continues to speak on lectureships, youth events, and is regularly on the Diligent podcast, promoting the Gospel of Christ. Brother Cantrell and his family ultimately decided to move closer to their relatives.
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