History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Joseph Gay Grant

west virginia edition 73 Dr. Grandison was active in college athletics while in school, playing both baseball and football. He is a versatile man and takes an active interest in growing things about the place. His favorite reading, after his professional books, runs to fiction. He is a member of the Baptist church and in politics is a Republican. He belongs to both the state and national medical societies and to the Masonic Order. He is and has been an intelligent observer and student of affairs and believes that the primary needs of the race have to do with education and wealth, especially homes and real estate. Joseph Gay Grant The historic old city of Richmond, Va., has sent out to the rest of Virginia and to other states many religious leaders of both races. One of the strong men of the M. E. Connection now (1922) doing splendid work in West Virginia is Rev. Joseph Gay Grand, of Ronceverte , and he is a native of Richmond. He was born there on March 24, 1882. His father, Christopher C. Grant was a mechanic, the son of Susie Payne. The mother of our subject, was, before her marriage, Miss Willie E. Woodson, daughter of Lucy Woodson, who is still living at a ripe old age and is well known for her piety. Mr. Grant pursued his elementary studies in the Richmond public schools from which he passed to the High and Normal School in the same city. Later he further pursued his literary work at Morgan Academy, Baltimore, and finally took his theological training at Howard University, Washington, D. C. He went to Howard after entering the ministry and won his B.D. degree in 1921. After leaving the public school he had to make his own way, but he found that an incentive to effort rather than a discouragement. He was brought up in the good atmosphere of a Christian home and that early influence gave tone and direction to his life. joseph gay grant west virginia edition 75 At a rather early age his mind turned toward religious matters, and he experienced the new birth in 1898, or when he was sixteen years of age. Some years later he felt divinely led to preach the Gospel and was licensed in 1908. He joined the Conference at Baltimore in 1913 under Bishop Cranston. Prior to this he had served the Leesville, Va. Circuit for six months, but his first regular charge was Charlottesville, where he preached four years. He went from there to New Windsor, Md., where he preached two years and began the erection of a new house of worship. His next appointment was to the Central Station, Washington , D. C, which he served one year. He went from there to Woodlawn, Va., and it was while there that he found time for his theological course at Howard. At his next charge, Hall’s Hill, Va., he preached two years and remodeled the church. In 1922 he came to Ronceverte, where the work prospers under his hand. Mr. Grant believes that progress may be promoted by a spirit of co-operation and understanding such as is fostered by the Woman’s Clubs and education conferences. In politics he is a Republican and among the secret orders holds membership in the Odd Fellows, of which he is chaplain. On November 26, 1903, Mr. Grant married Miss Sadie E. Coates, daughter of W. H. and Emma J. Coates, of Loudoun County, Va. John Lewis Griffith Rev. John Lewis Griffith now (1922) stationed at Williamson, W. Va., is one of the Fathers in Israel in the A. M. E. Connection. Though he has already passed the allotted three score and ten, he is still active, and still has his face to the front. He has been a member of the church for nearly sixty years and has been preaching the Gospel for a generation. To appreciate the man and his work one must recall the condition of his early years. He was born a slave at Flemingsburg, Ky., on January 25, 1849. So it will be seen that he was a youth of sixteen at the close of the Civil War. His father was Squire Griffith; he married Lucinda Holliday. ...