REV. JAMES BRUTON GAMBRELL, SR.

Following an illness of several weeks, Dr. J. B. Gambrell, nationally known Baptist leader and for years prominent in local civic and religious affairs, died at his home, 3909 Routh Street, yesterday at 10 a. m. Although 80 years of age, Dr. Gambrell was apparently in perfect physical health until an atack of heart trouble, brought on by the reaction from a strenuous speaking campaign in behalf of the Baptist denomination, visited him the latter part of February. Regardless of this attack, Dr. Gambrell took up his work again as soon as possible and was active in holding conferences and dictating articles.

Funeral services will be held from the First Baptist Church this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Dr. George W. Truett will conduct the services.

Dr. Gambrell is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Frederick Porter of Dallas, Mrs. S. R. Wiley of Dallas, and Mrs. F. A. Nisbet of Dallas; two sons, P. H. Gambrell of Macon, Ga., and J. B. Gambrell, Jr. of Tulsa, Ok.; one sister, Mrs. Annie G. Williams of Muskogee, Ok.; two brothers, Dr. J. H. Gambrell of Dallas and L. B. Gambrell of Drew, Miss.

He is also survived by the following grandchildren: Eric C. Gambrell, Judith W. Porter, Fairfax W. Nisbet, Jacqueline Nisbet, and Alexander Nisbet, and Mrs. Edgar Bruce of Macon, Ga. One great-grandchild, Patricia Gambrell Bruce, survives him.

James Bruton Gambrell, son of Joel Bruton and Jane Elvira Gambrell, was born in Anderson, S. C. Aug. 21, 1841. The next year his parents moved to Mississippi, where he grew up on the farm and attended the country schools.

In his twentieth year he entered the Confederate Army. He served in the Army of Northern Virginia twenty-eight months, nearly all of the time as scout for General Robert E. Lee, A. P. Hill, and others. He distinguished himself by his daring exploits. On one of his scout expeditions he met Miss Mary T. Corbell, Nansemond County, Virginia. One night a year later, Jan. 13, 1864, he found his way through the Federal lines to her home and they were married at midnight. Later he was transferred to the West by President Davis on special scout service, in which he rose to the rank of Captain.

At the close of the war he returned with his wife to the old home in Mississippi. He began preaching in 1867 in the church where his childhood days had been spent. He was ordained by Cherry Creek Church, Pontotoc County, Mississippi. He taught a country school and preached to country churches. Then he became pastor of the Baptist Church at West Point and later at Oxford, same State, where he took a course at the University of Mississippi. His wife was one of the most cultured women of that day and was a constant inspiration to him in his sturggles to get an education.

... Dr. Gambrell was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1917 being re-elected for four years, setting a precedent for protracted service.

....In 1919 Dr. Gambrell and Dr. E. Y. Mullins were commissioned to visit the Baptists throughout Europe to bear fraternal greetings and to make a survey of the needs of the various countries. They visited practically all the countries of Europe except Russia. Since his return from Europe, Dr. Gambrell has responded to calls from many points in Texas and other States to speak on present-day conditions and opportunities in Europe.

Dallas News
Transcribed by Carol Moore
06-11-1921
Dallas, Texas
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D. cert: son of Joel Bruton Gambrell & Jane Williams.

CEMETERY RECORD:

James Bruton, Sr. GAMBRELL
Date Born: 21 Aug 1841
Date Died: 10 Jun 1921
Cemetery: Oakland
Stone Type: Double
Spouse: Mary C. Gambrell
Date Buried: 11 Jun 1921
Age:
Section: 8
Subsection: Lot
Subsection Number: 179
Part of Lot: 179 NW1/2
Grave #: 04
Lot Part:
Lot Owner: Gambrell, J. B.
Funeral Home: Geo. W. Loudermilk FH
Tombstone Inscription:
Notes: [9. CSA, Battle of Gettysburg, Ministry after war, instrumental in developing Baptist Church in South. Was editor of The Baptist Standard.]