Church

During the early years of World War II there was a heavy
migration of people who came to the West Coast to the ship
building industry in the Richmond, California. Among the
travelers were people of God.

On arriving, they found a need for a place to worship. The
Spirit of the Lord directed Reverend G. W. Dowthard to speak
to the people of God. He called a few friends together and
made membership with Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. After
obtaining letters, twelve friends and Reverend G. W.
Dowthard bonded together to organize Zion Hill Missionary
Baptist Church in the home of Reverend Dowthard on South
24th Street. Those present: Reverend G. W. Dowthard,
Brother Allison, Brother and Sister Harry Duncan, Sister
Hawkins, Sister Stevanna Herron, Brother and Sister Miles,
Sister Sanders, Sister Smithson, Brother and Sister James
Sullivan.

The moderator Reverend Holmes of General Baptist
Association, Stockton, California, organized the church the
first Sunday, September 9, 1943. Reverend Dowthard,
formerly from Chicago Illinois, was elected as Pastor. Those
present were Deacon and Mrs. Williams of Second Baptist
Church of Stockton California. Deacon Williams was the
General Secretary of General Baptist Association. Sister
Hawkins served as the first church clerk. Sister Stevanna
Herron was the assistant church clerk.

The Sunday Morning Services were held in the home of
Pastor Dowthard. God blessed our efforts. From the
beginning the congregation grew, and due to adverse living
conditions, services in the home were discontinued, forcing
the pastor to seek suitable accommodations. Pastor John J.
PreVol, of First Baptist Church of Point Richmond, a
Caucasian congregation, graciously opened its doors for
Zion Hill congregation to hold worship service on Sunday
afternoons following their services. First Baptist Church is
presently located at 770 Sonoma Street, Richmond, California.

Zion Hill purchased a plot of land on South 28th Street, and
held its first “open air worship” on that site on May 14, 1944.
In September of 1944 the church purchased a small building
where worship services were held. The first inspirational
program was held by the Mississippi Gospel singers. Sister
Lizzie Townsend was in charge of this special program.

In 1946 under the leadership of Pastor Dowthard, and
congregation, several other churches organized the Home &
Foreign Mission District Association. In the late forties Zion
Hill withdrew from the American Baptist Convention in order
to join the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Zion Hill continued to grow and prosper. Some of the families
from the forties were Jim and Georgia Griggs; Reverend L. E.
and Parilee Heard, their children Veralene, Johnnie, Marjorie,
and Charles. Samuel and Stevanna Herron; Sam and Ruby
Riley and son Calvin; Simmie Rydolph; John L. and Eunice
Shields; Seymour Simon; Ernestine Simon; Joseph and
Olevia Simmons; U.Z. and Lizzie Townsend, their daughters
Inez and Alberta; Lula Washington; Reverend Lonnie and
Odessa Wafer; Reverend James C. and Velma Chew, Sr., their
sons James, Robert; Abe and Clemmie Garner, their children
Albert, Geraldine, and Learlene; and many others.

A groundbreaking service was held at 712 South 28th Street
in 1950 to build a new sanctuary. On August 26, 1952 the
congregation marched into its new edifice for Dedicatory
Services. Pastor Dowthard became ill shortly after the
dedication, and was called from Labor to Reward in January
1953.

In March 1953 the assistant pastor, Reverend Ludie E. Heard,
accepted the call to serve as Pastor. Reverend James Chew
Sr. served as the Assistant Minister to Reverend Heard
faithfully until his death in December 1981.

The church continued to flourish under the leadership of
Pastor Heard and purchased the adjoining property on South
29th Street in August 1956. Zion Hill received its incorporation
papers December 28, 1956. The incorporation papers were
signed by the following Directors: Reverend Ludie E. Heard,
President, Sister Stevanna Herron, Secretary, Brother Herbert
Cotton, Brother Abe Garner, Reverend Lonnie Wafer, Brother
Samuel Herron and Brother U.Z. Townsend.

In July 1965, the Federal Government was seeking ways to
help low income people. Community leaders attempted to
form programs to meet the needs of the people. Pastor Heard
was very instrumental in meeting with city officials to
organize a Work Study Program in the Richmond area. He
served for several years as the Chairman of the Board. The
Work Study Program was the first and only of its kind in the
State.

Pastor Heard, Herbert Cotton, Georgia Griggs and Stevanna
Herron were instrumental in starting the following civic and
social programs: the South Side Center, the Well Baby Clinic,
Mainstream, Job Placement Centers, Senior Citizens
Program, and the Neighborhood Youth Center (NYC), to name
a few.

Through God’s grace Zion Hill was able to reciprocate the
kindness that was shown to them by First Baptist Church of
Point Richmond by allowing St John Baptist Church,
Richmond, California to fellowship with them while St. John’s
church was being repaired. St. John’s first worship service
with us was on Sunday, March 6, 1966.

Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church and its small band of
Christian believers kept on growing spiritually and monetarily.
Zion Hill ventured out in 1977 and purchased our present
location, at 5150 Bayview Avenue, Richmond, California.

Our first Sunday morning worship service was held April 17,
1977 with the Pauline DuPree Chapter in attendance. The
church was able to pay off a twenty-five year mortgage in five
years due to the perseverance of Pastor Heard and Zion Hill’s
hard working congregation.

Reverend L. E. Heard served well until his health failed in 1986
and after 38 years of service he retired in 1991. Under his
leadership Zion Hill became one of the leading churches in
the Bay Area. Pastor Heard has been recognized as one of
the pioneering pastors of the City of Richmond.

Reverend Lonnie Wafer served as interim minister until the
church elected Reverend John Cooper in December 1989 to
serve as interim pastor until a new pastor could be elected.

The church elected Dr. Robert K. Gordon as its new pastor
July 25, 1991. Pastor Gordon began his tenure on the First
Sunday, August 4, 1991. After serving Zion Hill for 12th years
he left to organize his own church

The church called Reverend Gerald Campbell, one of the
sons of Zion Hill as its new pastor, October 9, 2004