Dr. Russell C. Barbour was born in Galveston Texas, December 8, 1897. He graduated from Morehouse College with a BA, he attended Colgate University and he received the Master of Arts Degree in Religion & Philosophy. In May 1944 Bishop College conferred upon him the Doctorate of Laws.

  Rev. Barbour was called as pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Galveston in 1921. While there, his talent for writing came to force and he was made editor of "The Colored American" a well-known Negro paper. Recognized as a leader of progressive thought, he became a political leader of Galveston and a moving spirit in the Texas Baptist convention.

  In 1929 after eight years at Galveston he came to Nashville, Tennessee as pastor of the First Baptist Church. During the fifteen years he labored and served as a quiet modest yet powerful minister. In 1930 during the Golden Jubilee Convention Rev. Barbour was elected editor of the National Baptist Voice. He served as both pastor and editor until the time of his death.

He was a favorite speaker in college, being Dean of the Chapel at Tennessee A.& I. State College and an annual lecturer at Bishop College School for Preachers. Equally gifted as a writer, he was the first Negro editor to be featured in the Christian Century.

  On Sunday morning August 6, 1944 he stood in his pulpit preaching from the text "Out of the Depths Have I Cried unto Thee, O God". He preached his final sermon on that Sunday morning. He passed on August 10, 1944.