Biography Brief of 
Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr.

A devout man of faith, Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., has dedicated his life to Christian service. Dr. Tolbert has been the pastor of Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana for almost 40 years, President of the National Baptist Convention of America, Int’l, Inc. (NBCA), member of Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, and President of North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF). Additionally, Dr. Tolbert serves as member of the Board of Supervisors for Southern University System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Chairman of Board of Trustees at Simmons College of Kentucky.

Dr. Tolbert is also a recognized civic leader. He served as a Commissioner for the Lake Charles Housing Authority, served 12 years as a representative of District “A” on the Lake Charles City Council, and served as a member of the Board of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation.

Dr. Tolbert's accomplishments reflect his dedication to his faith, education, and service. Dr. Tolbert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Historic Bishop College formally of Dallas, Texas, Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio and earned a Doctor of Ministry from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Dr. Tolbert is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity.

Having a heart for missions and doing his part to fulfill The Great Commission in Matthew 28, Dr. Tolbert has organized, lead, partnered and participated in many global mission trips spreading the Gospel of Christ in the Bahamas, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe.

Dr. Tolbert has been married to Matilda Edwards Tolbert for 35 years and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Candace, and Kayla. Dr. Tolbert’s favorite quote is “Every delay is in your favor when you are a child of God.”