The T.G. Howard Community Center Inc. Board of Directors had a most unique opportunity recently to learn more about the late Reverend Thomas Greene Howard, whom the center is named in honor of.
Thanks to Catherine Sheff, who maintains the Virginia Hunter archives, the Board of Directors gained access to some important historical documents. These documents led to a unique discovery. The materials provided gave further insight into the life of the late Rev. Thomas Greene Howard. (T.G. Howard)
Rev. Howard served as secretary of the Board of Education of the Methodist Church, president of the Christian Citizen’s League and was the former president of the Corbin Branch of YMCA. Rev. Howard was the first person to open a youth center and (private) library for African Americans in Pulaski.
Rev. Howard came to the New Century Methodist Church in Pulaski in 1938 and served as pastor. Revered Howard held several key offices in the East Tennessee Methodist Conference.
Rev. Howard, before coming to Pulaski, served as the pastor of the John Stewart United Methodist Church in Bluefield West Virginia. The John Stewart United Methodist Church was one of the most prominent Africa American churches in its conference. The church had over 500 active members, and fully committed to serving the surrounding community.
“Rev. Howard began pastoring what was then the Raleigh Street Methodist Episcopal Church in 1919, succeeding Rev. Anderson Davis. This property was sold in 1920 and the congregation worshipped at Genoa High until Entrance Day, July 9, 1922. The new edifice on Jones Street was named John Stewart Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church” (JSUMC Archive)
The T.G. Howard Community Center Inc. history committee contacted a regional office in the Methodist organization in hopes of finding more information about Reverend Howard’s service in West Virginia. The committee was pleased to learn that the John Stewart United Methodist church was still conducting Sunday services and serving the community today! Contact was made with Judy Raines, the lay pastor serving the John Stewart United Methodist Church.
The Committee discovered through the mutual sharing of information that the church has a “Howard Fellowship Hall!”
The members of the John Stewart United Methodist Church were equally astonished to learn of the existence of the Thomas Greene Howard community center in Pulaski.
The John Stewart United Methodist congregation graciously allowed representatives from the T.G. Howard Community Center Inc. Board to visit, and share information about the legacy of Rev. Howard’s service to others.
