WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., born on January 16, 1920, in Plainfield, New Jersey, and the esteemed and beloved pastor emeritus of the Moore Street Baptist Church in Richmond, entered into eternal rest on April 7, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., was educated in the Plainfield, New Jersey, and Norfolk Public Schools, and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk in 1937; and

WHEREAS, he earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University in 1941 and the Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 1944; he completed additional graduate work at Drew University, The College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia, and Boston University School of Religion; and in 1967, the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree was conferred upon him by Virginia Union University; and

WHEREAS, in the beginning of his long and illustrious career, Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., was a bi-vocational minister, working as dean of the Virginia Theological Seminary in Lynchburg from 1945 to 1949 and as a teacher and principal from 1950 to 1964, while serving in the pastoral ministry; and

WHEREAS, his extensive pastoral experience included serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Cape Charles from 1946 to 1949, Grove Baptist Church in Portsmouth from 1949 to 1964, Gethsemane Baptist Church in Suffolk from 1959 to 1964, First Gravel Hill Baptist Church in Rushmere from 1953 to 1964, and Moore Street Baptist Church in Richmond from 1953 until his retirement in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., lived the Gospel that he believed, taught, and preached and sacrificed his time and gifts to many social and theological causes and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, he was a cofounder and board member of Richmond Opportunities Industrialization Organization to help educate and train the underprivileged for better jobs, and his board and organizational memberships and positions included board member of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention; past president of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia; local convener within Virginia for the Progressive National Baptist Convention; pioneering pastor in organizing the American Baptist Churches of the South and the Association's Area II; board member of the Capital Area Agency on Aging; and member of various boards for Virginia Union University; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement in 1994, Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., affectionately known in the faith community as the "dean of preachers," continued his 60-year service in the Gospel ministry as interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Petersburg; Shady Grove Baptist Church in Goochland; and Gillfield Baptist Church and Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Charles City; and

WHEREAS, during his retirement, he devoted considerable time to his grandchildren, traveling, and playing golf, and as an avid fan and supporter of the athletic teams of Virginia Union University; Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., continued to attend the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament every year until his health failed; and

WHEREAS, humility, integrity, a loving spirit, nobility, a caring attitude, faithfulness, scholarliness, and a divine messenger are but a few of the qualities attributed to Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., and those who loved and knew him are encouraged to cherish his memory, legacy, and wonderful gift for storytelling and preaching; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., pastor emeritus of Moore Street Baptist Church; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Dr. Gilbert Godfrey Campbell, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory and faithfulness to his calling.