Rev. Donald Black

Rev. Donald L. Black, son of Lee M. Black and the late Bessie Emerson, was born in Lancaster, KY on December 3, 1945, and departed this earthly life March 6, 2012 with his devoted wife by his side.
He was united in holy matrimony to Mayme J. “Jeannie” Miller, as he called her, in 1970. He is the father of two children, Calvin and Cadonna. He was called to preach in February, 1975 at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church in Lexington, KY where he also had professed Christ, was baptized, and was later licensed and ordained to the Gospel ministry under Rev. Thomas H. Peoples.
Donald pastored three churches: Mill Street Missionary Baptist Church of London, KY, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Connersville, IN, and spent 20½ years as pastor at First Baptist Church of Hazelwood.
He received his degree in Theology from Simmons University, Louisville, KY, attended Earlham College School of Religion in Richmond, IN and Lexington Theological Seminary. He fulfilled his dream of becoming a Chaplain and became a Staff Chaplain at Bethesda Hospital, Cincinnati, receiving his 10-year service pin in December, 2011. He was really a shining light by touching so many lives.
Rev. Black received numerous cards of thanks for his prayers and encouraging words and for that great smile. No one hardly came through Bethesda that didn?t become acquainted with Rev. Black on that red scooter. He loved the staff there and often said they were his family away from home. He loved his family and adored his Jeannie; you hardly saw one without the other.
He and his wife owned and operated Beauty Salons in three locations. Later, he became a certified locksmith and owned and operated D&J Locksmith in Cincinnati. His greatest love was preaching and teaching the Word, never wavering. He would remark, “If the book doesn?t say it, don?t you say it.” He preached his last sermon in the same pulpit where he delivered the word of God for over 20 years. The title of his final text was: “Satisfied With Jesus.” Psalms 17:15 ? As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. After his sermon, some remarked that he had just preached his own Eulogy.
He endured 11 surgeries and three bouts with can-cer and multiple sclerosis since 1982, but never complained or asked, “Why me?” Instead he said, “Why not me?”
He served in the US Army with his tour of duty during the Vietnam Conflict and received an Honorable Discharge.
He was founder and president of the London and Laurel County branch of the NAACP in London, KY; was past Recording Secretary for the Baptist Ministers? Conference of Cincinnati, and was a member of Bethlehem District of Ohio, as well as many other organizations.
Rev. Donald L. Black leaves to cherish his precious memory: a very loving and devoted wife, Jeannie; one son, Calvin; one daughter, Cadonna; three grand-sons, E.J., Calvin Lavell and Anthony; one grand-daughter, LaBrea; one great-granddaughter, Ermony; one great-grandson, Trey; two brothers, Gerald and Stuart Douglass; three sisters, Theresa Foree (Don), Frances Morton and Jenny Foote (Gary); one son-in-law, Eric Odom; one daughter-in-law, Linda Black; two sisters-in-law, Josephine Miller and Cheryl Taylor; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and all of his church family.