Brad R. Braxton
Brad Braxton was Salutatorian of the graduating class of 1987 at Salem High School. He excelled not only as a student, but also as an athlete and inspirational leader. He served as class president for three years, was VJCL treasurer and president, and was FCA treasurer, vice president and president. Brad was also a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Latin Club and Chorale. He played varsity football for three years and was named co-captain in his senior year. He earned the “Most Improved Award” as a sophomore.
Attending the University of Virginia as a Jefferson, Echols and Virginia Scholar, Brad earned a B.A. degree in Religious Studies in 1991. Honors received at UVA included membership in the Omicron Delta National Leadership Honor Society, The Golden Key National Honor Society, the Raven Society, and Phi Beta Kappa. He was chosen as a Lawn Resident, named outstanding chapter member of the Western Region of the Virginia Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and received the Alumni Most Distinguished Student Award which included a Life Membership in the Alumni Association.
Next, Brad became Salem’s first Rhodes Scholar which enabled him to attend and graduate form Oxford University, in England, with a Master of Philosophy degree in New Testament Studies. This was followed by receiving a George W. Woodruff Fellowship to Emory University where Brad is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament Studies and is currently working on his dissertation.
The son of Reverend James A. and Louise Braxton, Brad was licensed in ministry at his father’s historic First Baptist Church on South Broad Street in Salem when he was only nineteen and ordained as a minister at the age of twenty-two. This was the official beginning of his life of service as a minister, teacher, and counselor. While attending UVA, he served as Associate Minister at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlottesville and, later, as a ministerial intern at the New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore. During doctoral studies at Emory University, his home church became the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, back in Salem, Sunday, August 29, 1993, was officially proclaimed “Reverend Brad R. Braxton Day” in recognition of his many accomplishments and for bringing distinction to his hometown.
While at Emory University in 1994, Brad became one of the 40 candidates to apply for the opening of Senior Pastor at Baltimore’s 600 member Douglas Memorial Community Church. For a year he flew to Baltimore on weekends as pastor-elect while continuing studies at Emory. On Sunday evening July 14, 1996, Brad was officially installed as Senior Pastor with over 1000 people in attendance including family members, friends and colleagues from six states, the district of Columbia and England.
Under his leadership, Douglas Memorial Community Church has initiated a number of new programs including the opening of a Mercy Store as one of several outreach programs designed to assist those in need. He established a health fair, revived a tutorial program for elementary pupils, and began a computer literacy program for adults and youths. He recently married the former Lazetta Rainey and they reside in Baltimore.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, the Reverend Brad Ronnell Braxton was inducted in 1998 into t he Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
