Reverend Dr. Sylvester L. Curry, Jr.

Reverend Dr. Sylvester L. Curry, Jr., the sixth child of the late Mr. Sylvester Curry, Sr. and Mrs. Dorothy Mae Hill Curry. Dr. Curry attended Excelsior Elementary School, Big Sandy, Texas, Fouke Hawkins High School, Hawkins, Texas, Dr. Curry finished high school at Big Sandy High, Big Sandy, Texas. Upon graduation from Big Sandy High School (1967), Dr. Curry enrolled at Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas. In July 1971 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. In 1987 Dr. Curry earned the Master of Religious Education degree from Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, Jacksonville, Texas. In 1998 he received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He served as the first black adjunct professor of religion at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, Jacksonville, Texas for 12 years.

After graduating from Jarvis Christian College, he was employed by the federal government from 1971-1983. In September 1983 Dr. Curry resigned from HUD in order to pastor New Zion Baptist Church, Winona, Texas full time. As the fifteenth pastor of New Zion the church has undergone many changes during the past thirty-four years of his pastorate. After Dr. Curry’s second sermon on Sunday August 1, 1992, as the new pastor, the “two Sunday” church began having worship service every Sunday. The Sunday School department had grown from three classes to eighteen classes. Dr. Curry has lead the congregation in building two new facilities, in 1985 and 1999 respectively. The church has a membership of over 600.

Dr. Curry served as moderator of Original East Texas Baptist Association (O.E.T.B.A.) for 11 years. Dr. Curry currently serves as President of Texas Educational Baptist State Convention (T.E.B.S.C.). Dr. Curry is the author of the book "Missing in Action: How to Minister to Inactive Members."

Honors bestowed upon Dr. Curry are induction in the Pioneer Hall of Fame at Jarvis Christian College, Pastor of the Year by the Civitan Club, Top Ladies of Distinction, and Original East Texas Baptist Association. In August 2002, Dr. Curry was inducted in the Elite News Religious Hall of Fame, Dallas, Texas. In 2016 Dr. Curry received the Preeminence Award in the field of religion from Jarvis Christian College.

Dr. Curry and his wife, Sis. Mary Price Curry, have been married for fifty years. They are the proud parents of three children, Debbie Curry-Burris (John), Channing Curry (Sheri) and Rodney Curry (Beatrice) and seven grandchildren.