Nelson Merry

Nelson G. Merry played a vital role in shaping the Black church as a nurturing institution that empowered communities. Born into slavery in 1824, he was later freed by the First Baptist Church in Nashville. Rev. Merry preached at the First Colored Baptist Church and became its ordained minister in 1853. He led the congregation through slavery, the Civil War, and Jim Crow, expanding its membership to over 2,000. Rev. Merry was a prominent figure in the Tennessee Colored Baptist Association, founding numerous Black Baptist churches and inspiring faith and service. His impact extending beyond his lifetime was marked by a school being established in his honor providing secondary education for the Black community until 1965.