Rev. DAvison A. Virgil
Christian, Pastor and Servant Leader
Rev. DAvison A. Virgil
Rev. Davison A. Virgil was joyfully installed as Pastor in October of 2021. After 7 turbulent years and and challenging issues facing the church, God sent the man needed to help bring stability and leadership to St, John's. Rev. Virgil is a native of Thomasville Georgia where he is the seventh child of nine siblings born to the late Rev. Washington Virgil and Lula Belle (Saunders) Virgil. From his marriage to his forever friend, Georgeanne (Brown) Virgil, he was blessed with two sons and three daughters.
It was at the age of 11 that Pastor Virgil accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was baptized and nurtured at the Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Thomasville, Georgia under his pastor the late Rev. A. J. Atkinson. He began serving the Lord early singing with the Providence M. B. Church Junior Choir. When his father, the late Rev. Washington Virgil, was called to pastor the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of South Miami, FL he continued to sing in the Youth Choir and Young Adult Choir. He continued to grow in his knowledge and understanding of the word of God under the pastorate of his father.
Pastor Virgil was educated in both the Thomasville City School and Miami-Dade County School Systems. He graduated from South Miami Senior High School. He would later matriculate at Albany State (College) University, where he was voted Student Government President, played in the brass section of the Golden Ram Marching Band and would receive a U. S. Army R.O.T.C. Scholarship. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Albany State (College) University.
While attending Albany State (College) University he attended the Union Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. J. A. Severson, where he sang in the Mass Choir and continued to grow in knowledge in the Sunday School Program. Upon graduating from college Army R.O.T.C. and accepting his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Chemical Corps, he was assigned to Ft. Stewart, GA, where he attended the Baconton Missionary Baptist Church and continued singing in the Mass Choir under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Smiley.
After leaving Ft. Stewart and completing the Chemical Corps Officer Advance Course at Ft. McClellan, AL, he was assigned to Ft. Sill, OK, and joined St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church on Easter Sunday 30 March 1986, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. J. L. Davenport. It was there that Rev. Davenport directed Rev. Virgil to teach the primary boys Sunday School Class. He also joined, sang with, and directed the St. John’s Mass and Brotherhood Choirs. In June of 1987 Pastor Virgil answered his call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and was licensed to preach in September 1987 under Pastor Davenport.
While serving as a minister of the gospel at St. John’s, Pastor Virgil was assigned to the Nursing Home Ministry, Prison Ministry, Hospice Ministry and also served as the Brotherhood President. Pastor Virgil continued to serve as a Sunday school teacher and would eventually be named the Director of Christian Education for St. John’s.
It was in 2008, that Pastor Virgil was called to serve as a Hospice Chaplain and was ordained under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Tyrone E. Turner, Sr. Subsequently, Pastor Virgil would be asked to serve as the Interim Pastor for St. John in January 2012 to June 2013 and then again in July 2020. It was while serving as interim that the Spirit of God moved in the hearts of the members to extend to him the call to become the seventh pastor of St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church.
Pastor Virgil served in the Regular and Reserve Army as a Chemical Officer for 21 years and 10 months, having earned various awards before retiring at the rank of Major.
Subsequent to his retirement Pastor Virgil served as a high school teacher with Lawton Public Schools, teaching the biological and physical sciences at MacArthur High School for nearly 22 years, and also served as an adjunct instructor with Cameron University teaching the biological science for 14 years.
Pastor Virgil has served in the Lawton/Ft. Sill Community in a number of capacities to include: member of the Lawton Public School District Educational and Improvement Committee, Grant writer and mentor for the Young Male Mentoring Program, Scout leader and administrator for Boy Scout Troop 106, Volunteer from Hospice of Lawton, Member of the Interdenominational Mass Choir, Sponsor for the MacArthur High School organizations to include: the African American Club, The Multi-Cultural Awareness Club and the Watu Wazuri Black History Interest Club.
Pastor Virgil is a member of the Lawton Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (LIMA); a recent member of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Association; and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Associate Editor-to-the Sphinx for the Eta Xi Lambda Chapter. He currently holds the position of Chapter Historian and serves as the Oklahoma District Area One Director.
Pastor Davison A. Virgil is a humble servant leader for God and we are so blessed that he is OUR Pastor.
It was at the age of 11 that Pastor Virgil accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was baptized and nurtured at the Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Thomasville, Georgia under his pastor the late Rev. A. J. Atkinson. He began serving the Lord early singing with the Providence M. B. Church Junior Choir. When his father, the late Rev. Washington Virgil, was called to pastor the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of South Miami, FL he continued to sing in the Youth Choir and Young Adult Choir. He continued to grow in his knowledge and understanding of the word of God under the pastorate of his father.
Pastor Virgil was educated in both the Thomasville City School and Miami-Dade County School Systems. He graduated from South Miami Senior High School. He would later matriculate at Albany State (College) University, where he was voted Student Government President, played in the brass section of the Golden Ram Marching Band and would receive a U. S. Army R.O.T.C. Scholarship. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Albany State (College) University.
While attending Albany State (College) University he attended the Union Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. J. A. Severson, where he sang in the Mass Choir and continued to grow in knowledge in the Sunday School Program. Upon graduating from college Army R.O.T.C. and accepting his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Chemical Corps, he was assigned to Ft. Stewart, GA, where he attended the Baconton Missionary Baptist Church and continued singing in the Mass Choir under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Smiley.
After leaving Ft. Stewart and completing the Chemical Corps Officer Advance Course at Ft. McClellan, AL, he was assigned to Ft. Sill, OK, and joined St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church on Easter Sunday 30 March 1986, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. J. L. Davenport. It was there that Rev. Davenport directed Rev. Virgil to teach the primary boys Sunday School Class. He also joined, sang with, and directed the St. John’s Mass and Brotherhood Choirs. In June of 1987 Pastor Virgil answered his call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and was licensed to preach in September 1987 under Pastor Davenport.
While serving as a minister of the gospel at St. John’s, Pastor Virgil was assigned to the Nursing Home Ministry, Prison Ministry, Hospice Ministry and also served as the Brotherhood President. Pastor Virgil continued to serve as a Sunday school teacher and would eventually be named the Director of Christian Education for St. John’s.
It was in 2008, that Pastor Virgil was called to serve as a Hospice Chaplain and was ordained under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Tyrone E. Turner, Sr. Subsequently, Pastor Virgil would be asked to serve as the Interim Pastor for St. John in January 2012 to June 2013 and then again in July 2020. It was while serving as interim that the Spirit of God moved in the hearts of the members to extend to him the call to become the seventh pastor of St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church.
Pastor Virgil served in the Regular and Reserve Army as a Chemical Officer for 21 years and 10 months, having earned various awards before retiring at the rank of Major.
Subsequent to his retirement Pastor Virgil served as a high school teacher with Lawton Public Schools, teaching the biological and physical sciences at MacArthur High School for nearly 22 years, and also served as an adjunct instructor with Cameron University teaching the biological science for 14 years.
Pastor Virgil has served in the Lawton/Ft. Sill Community in a number of capacities to include: member of the Lawton Public School District Educational and Improvement Committee, Grant writer and mentor for the Young Male Mentoring Program, Scout leader and administrator for Boy Scout Troop 106, Volunteer from Hospice of Lawton, Member of the Interdenominational Mass Choir, Sponsor for the MacArthur High School organizations to include: the African American Club, The Multi-Cultural Awareness Club and the Watu Wazuri Black History Interest Club.
Pastor Virgil is a member of the Lawton Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (LIMA); a recent member of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Association; and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Associate Editor-to-the Sphinx for the Eta Xi Lambda Chapter. He currently holds the position of Chapter Historian and serves as the Oklahoma District Area One Director.
Pastor Davison A. Virgil is a humble servant leader for God and we are so blessed that he is OUR Pastor.
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