William Douglas Booth

William Douglas Booth was born September 16, 1944, in Gary, Indiana. He was the second son of six children born to the late Rev. Dr. L. Venchael Booth and Mrs. Georgia Morris Booth. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Barbara Ann.

At the age of seven, William committed his life to Christ. When he was 17 years old, he was licensed to the Gospel Ministry at Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati. Approximately two years later he was ordained to the ministry at Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, DC.

Buttressing his commitment to the ministry with knowledge and training, William graduated Cum Laude from Howard University in 1966. Three years later he completed his Master of Divinity Degree (with honors) from Crozer Theological Seminary. The year 1969 was especially significant because that was when he and Ruth Ann Barnes were married. Over more than four decades, the two built a wonderful life together, centered around faith, family and service. They remained devoted to one other until William’s death.

William went on to earn his Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton. Over the years, he was blessed in his academic pursuits to be the recipient of a Rockefeller Fellowship, the Merrill Fellowship at Harvard University Divinity School, a Crozer Scholar’s award, a Louisville Institute Pastoral Study Grant, and the Pastor-Theologian Program grant from Princeton’s Center of Theological Inquiry. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Temple Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Known for his sensitivity and judiciousness, ultimately, William served the Lord through leadership of several churches: Assistant Pastor (to his father) at Zion Baptist Church, in Cincinnati; pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee (1973-1983); First Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana (1984-1990); and, First Baptist Church of Hampton, Virginia (1990-2005).

In addition to answering the call to pastor, he held a variety of distinguished posts over the years, including as an Instructor in Black Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio; Assistant Professor of Ethics and Director of the Religious Studies Program at Hampton University; Assistant to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs for Distance Learning at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC; Adjunct Faculty member at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies; Guest Religion Columnist for the Daily Press; a writer for The Worker, a missionary and education quarterly published by the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

An avid scholar of Baptist Church history, William authored The Progressive Story in 1980 published by Baum Press, and A Call to Greatness: The Story of the Founding of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, 2001, published by Brunswick Press.

In addition to his beloved wife, William is survived by devoted sons: William Douglas Booth, II (Dwayla), David Michael Booth (Pamela), grandchildren Ian, Kamille, Jameson Booth; loving siblings Lavaughn V. Booth, Jr. (Valerie), Anna-Marie Booth, Georgia Booth Leeper, Paul M. Booth, Sr. (Cynthia); many nieces and nephews; and a host of devoted friends, colleagues, fellow church members and former congregants.

A celebration of William’s life will be held at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, VA on Wednesday, October 14th at 11:00am with Senior Pastor Dr. Grant Ethridge officiating and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson as eulogist.

Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1021 Big Bethel Road, Hampton, VA 23666.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.