Medical District in Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

St. John Baptist Church

Photographed by Curtis Wise, December 23, 2020

1. St. John Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. St. John Baptist Church was founded in 1868 by the Rev. George J. Mosby and several persons formerly enslaved. After several relocations, the Rev. Alexander McEwen Williams, a former member of the National Baptist Convention's Sunday School Publishing Board, Dr. Ransom Q. Venson, founder of the Cotton Makers' Jubilee (an event of pride and protest against Jim Crow segregation), and the members opened the doors at current location on May 10, 1953. Notable member WDIA's Rufus Thomas. America's "oldest teenager" and co-worker, Nat D. Williams, the first Black disc jockey in the South, taught Sunday School here and was a history teacher and mentor.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 184.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Communications • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 1953.

Location. 35° 8.067′ N, 90° 2.413′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in the Medical

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District. It is at the intersection of Vance Avenue and S Orleans Street, on the right when traveling west on Vance Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 640 Vance Ave, Memphis TN 38126, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Owen College (within shouting distance of this marker); Memphis Municiple Employees Federal Credit Union (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Mount Nebo Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church / Mt. Olive CME Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Blair T. Hunt, Sr. / Blair T. Hunt, Jr. (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Commercial Appeal / Publishing Locations

Photographed by Curtis Wise, December 23, 2020

2. St. John Baptist Church Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Elvis Presley and Sun Records / Sun Records (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Hunt-Phelan Home (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2021, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 523 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 5, 2021, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the church building. • Can you help?