The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work

by Charles Octavius Boothe

Mr. Pettiford married his present wife, Miss Della Boyd, of Selma, Ala., November 22, 1880. She is an excellent woman and comes of a fine family. As might have been expected the marriage has been a happy one for both parties.

Dr. Pettiford is a clear thinker, a concise speaker, a firm friend, a lover of his race, and a fine presiding officer. Every feature in his bearing is indicative of the true gentleman and earnest Christian. He is a firm friend of Selma University, and by this school he has been honored with the degree of D. D. He is at this time (1892) president of the “Alabama Penny Savings Bank” and of the Baptist State Convention of Alabama. He is further noticed in connection with the chapter on “State Convention” and “Selma University” as well as in other chapters.

Closing this sketch, it seems fitting that I should remark that though he excels in many virtues, he is especially peculiar in these:

1. He is abundant in plans and measures, so that the variety of his operations almost wholly exclude the monotony so often felt in church work.

2. He is in a peculiar degree a patient man. In all conditions he seems to possess his soul in patience.

Since the above was written, he has been elected financial secretary of the State work.

He is now organizing the Alabama Publishing Company. He is full of enterprise.

Rev. W. C. Bradford, Pastor First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Phillips, Rev. D., of Tuskegee, was a “Father in Israel.” Those who are old enough to remember him as a slave, say that he sat in council with the white ministers and was permitted to speak in their associational gatherings. Nothing seemed to disturb his peace; no amount of heated discussion ever caused him to break from his strong hiding place of pious humility. He was a large man with strong will, but every “jot and tittle” of his ponderous being was under submission to his consecrated will, which ruled all like the helmsman steers the great ship. He was about the age of Mr. John Dosier, eighty years. He refused to accept freedom till all were free.