Calvary Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va. - Join us for Worship 11:00 am Sunday!

Dr. Harry Gamble Dr. HARRY y. gAMBLE

Dr. Harry Y. Gamble, Sr. became the Senior Minister of Calvary Baptist Church on March 17, 1946. A native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, educated at Wake Forest University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was well prepared for challenges of ministry in Roanoke. Because of his outstanding service as a minister, The University of Richmond conferred upon him the Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1963.

Beloved pastor, community personality and leader, Dr. Gamble has left his mark on a city he dearly loved. Noted for his singular pulpit ministry, Dr. Gamble touched the hearts of people from all walks of life, and they will long remember his encouragement, his pastoral gifts and his caring spirit. Dr. Gamble retired in 1978, then continued to serve Calvary Baptist Church as Pastor Emeritus. His death in March, 2005, saddened and left a deep void in the Roanoke Valley. It is particularly fitting that his son, Harry Gamble, Jr. lead this year’s Lectureship to continue the Gamble legacy of thoughtful scholarship and spiritual renewal.

Readings By Dr. Gamble

VIRGINIA SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 144
Celebrating the life of the Reverend Dr. Harry Y. Gamble:

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Harry Y. Gamble, respected citizen of Roanoke and longtime pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, died on March 24, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Harry Gamble was born on June 17, 1916, in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and was the youngest of 12 children of James and Martha Gamble; and

WHEREAS, Harry Gamble attended Waxhaw public schools, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest University), and a bachelor of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his notable achievements in the ministry, Dr. Gamble received an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1963 from the University of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, before coming to Roanoke, Dr. Gamble served as pastor at the David’s Fork Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and at the First Baptist Church of Statesville, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gamble and his family moved to Roanoke in 1946 to assume the pastorate of Calvary Baptist Church, where he served with dedication for 32 years until his retirement in 1978; and

WHEREAS, after retiring as a full-time minister, Harry Gamble served as pastor emeritus of Calvary Baptist Church, an interim pastor of Virginia Heights Baptist Church, and a welcomed guest preacher at numerous Roanoke area churches and speaker at other community events; and

WHEREAS, to honor Dr. Gamble, the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church created a popular annual lectureship, “The Harry Y. Gamble Life Renewal Series,” which has attracted numerous distinguished ministers and teachers to the Roanoke community; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gamble will be fondly remembered for his inspirational ministry and generous nature and will be sorely missed by his family, his numerous friends and admirers, and the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an outstanding Virginian, the Reverend Dr. Harry Y. Gamble; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Dr. Harry Y. Gamble as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.