DATE: Friday, September 12, 1997            TAG: 9709100195

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   31 lines

PEWS WILL BE DEDICATED AT THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH

Members of Third Baptist Church will hold a service at 5 p.m. Sunday to dedicate 20 pews that have been purchased for the C.H. Jordan Memorial Chapel of the church.

The pews were donated by 20 families, church groups and auxiliaries in memory or honor of loved ones.

Joseph Lee Smith, a trustee of the church, has long dreamed of ``beautiful pews'' in the chapel instead of the individual chairs that have been used since it was built in 1954, according to Marion Ransom, who is in charge of the dedication service. Johnnie B. Jones, another trustee of the church, took on the project early this year, she said.

The service is being held in conjunction with the 112th anniversary of the church and the 16th of its pastor, Pastor Joe B. Fleming, who will be the speaker for the dedication ceremony.

Also Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Kirkland Walton of St. Peter's Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Va., will be the guest speaker for an 11 a.m. anniversary service.

An operatic musical will be presented by the C.H. Jordan Crusaders at 6 p.m.

The anniversary observance will continue throughout the month.

The Rev. Keith Cooke, associate pastor of Third Baptist, will speak at 11 a.m. Sept. 21.

A memorial service for all members who have died since last September will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 21.

- Janie Bryant

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