NAMBC Church History
Norris Avenue Missionary Baptist Church was founded on May 25, 1959, by Rev. S. L. Veasey in a six room house located at 1437 Norris Road in Memphis, Tennessee.
In his own words: “I was on my way home one evening and took a turn onto a gravel road. I had never been on this street before, there were quite a few trees, very few houses, no schools and one church. I heard a voice that said this is the place, here build me a church on the hill. I went into the community and talked to the people, and they agreed that it would be good to have another church in the community.”
Officially services began in July of 1959. Three families comprised the membership, the Veasey’s, McNeals and the Williams.’ “Members began to come and go. As the membership grew, we decided we needed to expand.” In 1963 the house was remodeled and designed as a church building.
In 1983, Rev. Robert Tharp was elected as Pastor of Norris. On May 9, 1992, the church building was lost to a fire. The only items that remained were a pulpit podium, minister’s baptism robe and a bible. Worship services were held in the Hilton Hotel and Corry Junior High School while the church was being rebuilt.
In April of 1993, the Church entered it’s final phase of rebuilding under the guidance, advice and spiritual leadership of Rev. Fred Brown and Brother Elton Cummins. The rebuilding of the church was completed on July 2, 1993.
In August of 1993, the Lord called Rev. Dr. Rickey L. Dugger, Sr., to become Pastor of the Norris Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. Since that time our active membership has more than doubled. The Lord has blessed our church with a great visionary leader, teacher and preacher of the gospel.
Under the leadership of Rev. Dugger, there have been numerous ministries added to the church. In February of 2004, he brought to fruition the vision of building a Family Life Center. The addition of the Family Life Center has been an integral part of the revitalization of the Elliston Heights Community. Through the outreach ministry of the Family Life Center, a Christian Basketball League has been birthed and has built up a client base of over 10 churches. We are also able to provide mentoring, tutorial and health/fitness opportunities, not only to the church, but also to members of the community. The Family Life Center has also become a place to house many activities such as banquets, anniversaries, wedding receptions and concerts.
In his own words: “I was on my way home one evening and took a turn onto a gravel road. I had never been on this street before, there were quite a few trees, very few houses, no schools and one church. I heard a voice that said this is the place, here build me a church on the hill. I went into the community and talked to the people, and they agreed that it would be good to have another church in the community.”
Officially services began in July of 1959. Three families comprised the membership, the Veasey’s, McNeals and the Williams.’ “Members began to come and go. As the membership grew, we decided we needed to expand.” In 1963 the house was remodeled and designed as a church building.
In 1983, Rev. Robert Tharp was elected as Pastor of Norris. On May 9, 1992, the church building was lost to a fire. The only items that remained were a pulpit podium, minister’s baptism robe and a bible. Worship services were held in the Hilton Hotel and Corry Junior High School while the church was being rebuilt.
In April of 1993, the Church entered it’s final phase of rebuilding under the guidance, advice and spiritual leadership of Rev. Fred Brown and Brother Elton Cummins. The rebuilding of the church was completed on July 2, 1993.
In August of 1993, the Lord called Rev. Dr. Rickey L. Dugger, Sr., to become Pastor of the Norris Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. Since that time our active membership has more than doubled. The Lord has blessed our church with a great visionary leader, teacher and preacher of the gospel.
Under the leadership of Rev. Dugger, there have been numerous ministries added to the church. In February of 2004, he brought to fruition the vision of building a Family Life Center. The addition of the Family Life Center has been an integral part of the revitalization of the Elliston Heights Community. Through the outreach ministry of the Family Life Center, a Christian Basketball League has been birthed and has built up a client base of over 10 churches. We are also able to provide mentoring, tutorial and health/fitness opportunities, not only to the church, but also to members of the community. The Family Life Center has also become a place to house many activities such as banquets, anniversaries, wedding receptions and concerts.