Reverend Dr. Cordell E. Simpson, I

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Reverend Simpson received his formal education in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. After high school joined the United States Army where he served for four years in the 101st Airborne Division.
 
In 1978, the Lord called him to preach the gospel, he has pastored in three states: Rising Star Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama; Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Rome, Georgia; and Bethel Baptist Church, Alcoa, Tennessee. He has pastored for a total of 35 years.
 
Reverend Simpson earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Birmingham Baptist Bible College and a Masters in Counseling, Masters of Divinity, and Doctorate of Divinity from the International Bible College and Seminary in Independence, Missouri where his hard work merited him a place on the Dean’s list with a 4.0-grade point average. He has also studied at Beason School of Divinity and the Birmingham Theological Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Dr. Simpson entered the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program at University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), Knoxville, Tennessee in August of 1998; completing a residency of four units. Dr. Simpson retired from the pastoral ministry in August 2001 and was hired as the first African American staff chaplain for the Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute, Hospice Chaplain, and Coordinator for the pastoral care for Black clergy. In 2006, Dr. Simpson received a call from God to leave UTMC to become the twelfth pastor of Eighth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. Reverend Simpson joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center as staff chaplain; he was the first African American to hold this title.
 
He continues to practice evangelism in the community and abroad. Dr. Simpson has led six missionary journeys to Nigeria, Africa where he and the team provided food, medication and other supplies for widows in the villages, the School of the Blind, and Clothe the Naked in the Adamawa Mountains of Nigeria; organized and facilitated pastor’s conferences; and preached revivals in 16 Nigerian states leading many to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.
 
Dr. Simpson is also active in the Stone River District Association, a member of The TBME Convention of Tennessee, and The National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

Reverend Simpson resides in Nashville with his wonderful wife, Cynthia. He is the proud father of four children; Yolanda, Aleshia (Walter), Cordell II, and Jacqueline (Kerry).