Morris College graduate Rev. Dr. Jamey O. Graham, Sr. was elected as the 18th President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina on May 9, 2024.
“Words cannot express the deep gratitude I have in my heart for your strong prayers, support, and your vote of confidence in electing me as the 18th President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. As President, I vow to be your servant leader in moving our convention and Morris College forward in the unity of faith through fellowship,” Graham said.
The objective of the BEMCSC is to promote the cause of Christ everywhere, and especially in South Carolina by aiding Christian education, and by establishing a high-grade and well- equipped college which shall give theological and literary training to our young men and women.
The Convention is comprised of 1,100 Baptist churches and 230,000 individual members across the state of South Carolina. Convention auxiliaries include Congress of Christian Education, Brotherhood Convention, Ushers Convention, Music Ministry, and Young Woman’s Auxiliary (YWA).
Dr. Jamey O. Graham, Sr. is a native of Andrews, South Carolina. He received his public education in the Georgetown County School District. Dr. Graham furthered his education by enrolling in Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina where he graduated number one in his class and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a teaching certification in Social Studies. While at Morris College, Dr. Graham served as Student representative to the Board of Trustees. He served as President of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, and State President of the Student South Carolina Education Association. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Dr. Graham is a graduate of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (CRCDS) where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to his studies at CRCDS and McCormick Theological Seminary, Dr. Graham studied abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, which afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the Holy Land.
In addition to serving as President of the BEMCSC, he is the Pastor of Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where he has served more than twenty years. Under his leadership at Saint John Baptist Church, the surrounding community is being helped through the Food Pantry and Benevolence Ministry. Dr. Graham has also served as Moderator of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Association as well as, Regional Vice President of the BEMCSC. Dr. Graham has also served on the Advisory Board of the South Carolina Community Bank. Dr. Graham is a longstanding member of the NAACP.
He is married to the former Ms. Yvette Dukes of Kingstree, South Carolina, who is a Third Grade Teacher at Polo Road Elementary School. Together they have three children, Jamey O’Neal Graham, Jr., Jayda Oren Graham, and Jasmyn Olivia Graham.
Dr. Graham’s love for preaching the gospel with clarity and power affords him the privilege to conduct revivals, seminars, and other workshops for church growth and development. He is a gospel preacher and a Christian gentleman. He loves the Lord and his soul’s desire is to be like Jesus.
