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Reverend Theophilus Caviness
Maker interview details
Interview
- June 16, 2004
Profession
- Category:
ReligionMakers
- Occupation(s):
Pastor
Birthplace
- Born: May 23, 1928
- Birth Location: Marshall, Texas
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Blue, Pink
- Favorite Food: Squash, Greens, Vegetables
- Favorite Time of Year: Spring
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Los Angeles, California; Honolulu, Hawaii
Favorite Quote
"Do You Understand Me? Do You Read Me Real Well?"
Biography
Renowned pastor and civic leader the Reverend Emmitt Theophilus Caviness was born on May 23, 1928 in Marshall Texas. His parents were Lula Page and Will Stone Caviness. Reverend Caviness earned a bachelor's of arts degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. He also holds a bachelor's of divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Grove, Missouri; an honorary doctorate of divinity from Virginia Seminary and College, and an honorary doctorate in law from Central State University in Ohio.
Caviness has served as the spiritual leader of several congregations, including St. Mark's Baptist Church in Picton, Texas; Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Madison, Illinois; and St. Paul Baptist Church in East St. Louis, Illinois. Since 1961, he has served as senior pastor of the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio's Glenville Community. He has also been a both a member and officer in the Baptist Minister's Conference of Cleveland and Vicinity, the Baptist Pastor's Council, the Planning Board of the Inter-Church Council, the Ohio Baptist General Convention, and the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
Caviness has a long history of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. He currently serves as the president of the Cleveland Branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
In addition to his work in the religious community, he served on the Executive Board of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Cleveland, the Planning Board of the Glenville Area Council, and the Sewer Board of Cleveland. He also worked as the executive assistant to George V. Voinovich, former mayor of Cleveland.
Reverend Caviness was married for forty-one years to concert recording artist and minister of music, James ("Jamie") Pitts Caviness. He currently resides in Bratenahl, Ohio.
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating of Reverend Theophilus Caviness's interview
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists his favorites
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his mother
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness names his paternal grandparents
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists his siblings
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness describes his mother
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness describes his father
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness describes his hometown of Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his father's various jobs
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls the schools in Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his educational experience in Marshall, Texas and his mentors Melvin J. Banks and Dorothy Beatrice Godspeed
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the educational motivation he received from teachers in his early life
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls the sights, sounds and smells of growing up in Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls preaching his first sermon in 1946 at the Galilee Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists the various colleges he attended and the dates of graduation
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his initial experience in Illinois and lists the various places he lived in while there
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains how he met his wife
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his children and godchild
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains how his interest in history as a student led to his later political activism
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls the early influences that led to his vocation in the ministry
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains his drive to focus on studying given the lack of other opportunities during the 1950s in Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains the distinct independent nature of the Baptist Church compared to other denominations
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness describes the evolution of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. Inc. and its various offshoots
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists the various presidents of Baptist organizations that graduated from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls various leaders of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists the various positions he has held as a member of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains how he came to pastor at Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls helping his friend Dr. Albert T. Rowan become pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the decline in East St. Louis, Illinois from the 1950s until the present
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls what he enjoyed about Chicago, Illinois
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his early impressions of Cleveland, Ohio in 1961
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness remembers hosting Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in 1967
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his roles in local government in Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about finding the balance between civil and religious authority
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his role model Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., pt. 1
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his role model Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., pt. 2
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains nonpartisan political philosophy
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness remembers Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls the riots in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio in 1968
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls the aftermath of the 1968 riots in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls HistoryMaker the Honorable George Forbes
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his peacemaking role while the executive assistant to Mayor George Voinovich of Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls paying HistoryMaker The Honorable George Forbes's water bill
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness describes the partnership that HistoryMaker The Honorable George Forbes and George Voinovich
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness reflects upon his commitment to service
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his positions during Michael White's mayoral tenure in Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his accomplishments with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission during the 1990s
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about receiving publicity for his flamboyant style during his time on the Ohio Civil Rights Commission
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about endorsing Marvin McMickle's, Stephanie Tubbs Jones', and Jeff Johnson's congressional campaigns
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his support for U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness recalls his initial involvement with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in East St. Louis, Illinois
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his involvement with the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the contribution of women leaders in the Civil Rights Movement
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains the Baptist churches' philosophy towards Biblical interpretation
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness shares his perspective on gay marriage
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness explains why human rights is the great challenge of the 21st century
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness shares his philosophy of doing the best you can to help others
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about his family
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness lists the various scholarships started at Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the students helped by scholarships sponsored by the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Children's Choir
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness talks about the funding for the various scholarships sponsored by the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness reflects upon his legacy
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness narrates his photographs, pt. 1
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness narrates his photographs, pt. 2
- Reverend Theophilus Caviness narrates his photographs, pt. 3