Marshall Keeble
Encyclopedia
Marshall Keeble was an African-American preacher
of the Churches of Christ, whose successful career notably bridged a racial divide in an important American religious movement prior to the American Civil Rights Movement
. Keeble enjoyed an almost unrivalled position as an African-American subject of hagiographical
biography by white contemporaries within the church of which Keeble was a member. A notable example of this is Roll Jordan Roll by fellow minister and longtime Keeble associate, J. E. Choate.
Keeble's first marriage to Minnie Womack, a graduate of Fisk University
High School, began in 1896. Their marriage lasted until her death on December 11, 1932. The couple produced five children, all of whom died in infancy, childhood, or early adulthood; all preceded Keeble in death.
Keeble married his second wife, Laura Catherine Johnson, on April 3, 1934. A long-time friend and fellow preacher, B. C. Goodpasture
, officiated at the ceremony. Keeble died in 1968. Laura Keeble was born on August 6, 1898. She was baptized into Christ in 1913. She died at age 108 on March 5, 2007.
At the age of 83, Keeble became a world traveler. On his first journey (summer of 1962), he and Lucien Palmer toured Palestine
, then proceeded on to Nigeria
, where Keeble preached day and night to large audiences. While in Nigeria, he was made an honorary chief of one tribe. The second journey began in October 1962, which took Keeble, Palmer, and Houston Ezell all the way around the world. Their first stop was Nigeria, where Keeble engaged in training preachers and preparing for the construction of the Nigerian Christian Secondary School in Ukpom. The main administrative building at NCSS is named Keeble Hall in his honor. The Christians in Nigeria also pleaded with Keeble to start a hospital there, and he relayed the plea from pulpits back in America. Partly as a result, the Nigerian Christian Hospital was founded in 1965. From Nigeria, the three travelers went on to Ethiopia
, India
, Singapore
, and Korea
, among other places. Finally, they returned home via Hawaii
and Los Angeles
.
In 1965, he was honored by Harding University
with an honorary Doctor of Law degree. Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement
appointed him a Colonel Aide-de-Camp. He was the first African-American so honored in Tennessee history. He preached his last sermon on April 17, 1968, three days before his death. He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery (Nashville, Tennessee).
Keeble was also primarily responsible for the establishment of several Christian schools, of which the primary surviving example is Southwestern Christian College
. He also helped establish the Silver Point Christian Institute (now the West End Church of Christ Silver Point
) in 1909.
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
of the Churches of Christ, whose successful career notably bridged a racial divide in an important American religious movement prior to the American Civil Rights Movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. Keeble enjoyed an almost unrivalled position as an African-American subject of hagiographical
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
biography by white contemporaries within the church of which Keeble was a member. A notable example of this is Roll Jordan Roll by fellow minister and longtime Keeble associate, J. E. Choate.
Family
Marshall Keeble was the son of Robert and Mittie Keeble, both of whom had been slaves. The family moved to Nashville about 1883. He attended school in Nashville, but did not progress beyond the seventh grade.Keeble's first marriage to Minnie Womack, a graduate of Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
High School, began in 1896. Their marriage lasted until her death on December 11, 1932. The couple produced five children, all of whom died in infancy, childhood, or early adulthood; all preceded Keeble in death.
Keeble married his second wife, Laura Catherine Johnson, on April 3, 1934. A long-time friend and fellow preacher, B. C. Goodpasture
Benton Cordell Goodpasture
Benton Cordell "B. C." Goodpasture was an influential preacher and writer in the Churches of Christ. A contributing writer to the Gospel Advocate starting in 1920, in 1939 he became the publication's editor, a post he held until his death...
, officiated at the ceremony. Keeble died in 1968. Laura Keeble was born on August 6, 1898. She was baptized into Christ in 1913. She died at age 108 on March 5, 2007.
Career
Marshall Keeble began preaching in 1897 with the support and encouragement of his father-in-law, S.W. Womack and other preachers. About 1920, he met and became a life-long friend of A. M. Burton, who provided funding for him. In 1942, he helped found and became the first president of Nashville Christian Institute.At the age of 83, Keeble became a world traveler. On his first journey (summer of 1962), he and Lucien Palmer toured Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, then proceeded on to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, where Keeble preached day and night to large audiences. While in Nigeria, he was made an honorary chief of one tribe. The second journey began in October 1962, which took Keeble, Palmer, and Houston Ezell all the way around the world. Their first stop was Nigeria, where Keeble engaged in training preachers and preparing for the construction of the Nigerian Christian Secondary School in Ukpom. The main administrative building at NCSS is named Keeble Hall in his honor. The Christians in Nigeria also pleaded with Keeble to start a hospital there, and he relayed the plea from pulpits back in America. Partly as a result, the Nigerian Christian Hospital was founded in 1965. From Nigeria, the three travelers went on to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, among other places. Finally, they returned home via Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In 1965, he was honored by Harding University
Harding University
Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas, in the United States, about north-east of Little Rock. It is a private liberal arts Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ. The university takes its name from James A...
with an honorary Doctor of Law degree. Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement
Frank G. Clement
Frank Goad Clement served as Governor of Tennessee from 1953 to 1959, and again from 1963 to 1967.-Early life:...
appointed him a Colonel Aide-de-Camp. He was the first African-American so honored in Tennessee history. He preached his last sermon on April 17, 1968, three days before his death. He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery (Nashville, Tennessee).
Legacy
It has been estimated that during his life, he baptized over 40,000 people around the world.Keeble was also primarily responsible for the establishment of several Christian schools, of which the primary surviving example is Southwestern Christian College
Southwestern Christian College
Southwestern Christian College is a historically black college in Terrell, Texas, 30 miles east of Dallas. SwCC is operated by the Churches of Christ.-Academics:...
. He also helped establish the Silver Point Christian Institute (now the West End Church of Christ Silver Point
West End Church of Christ Silver Point
The West End Church of Christ Silver Point is a folk vernacular brick church in the unincorporated community of Silver Point, Tennessee, USA. A primarily African-American Church of Christ congregation has met at the church continuously since its construction in 1915...
) in 1909.
External links
- Marshall Keeble at therestorationmovement.com.
- Articles Appearing In The Gospel Advocate After The April 20, 1968 Death Of Marshall Keeble at therestorationmovement.com.
- Audio sermons by Marshall Keeble at oldpaths.net.
- Marshall Keeble texts & recording at the Restoration Movement pages at the Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. - Marshall Keeble (Restoration Movement Picture Gallery) at the Restoration Movement pages of the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- Pioneer Preachers pioneerpreachers.com
- Marshall Keeble spoke at the College Church of Christ during Lectureship in the late 1960s. (Photo page at Abilene Christian University.)
- Marshall Keeble at tennesseeencyclopedia.net.
- Marshall Keeble And The Implementation Of A Grand Strategy: Erasing The Color Line In The Church Of Christ by Darrell Broking. December 2003. (PDF)
- Marshall Keeble the Evangelist Extraordinaire at GraceCentered.com