Pastor of New Vision Missionary Baptist Church passes

Rev. Thomas Ferrell, Jr., 72, who helped found New Vision Missionary Baptist Church at 3851 Montgomery Road, died October 29 at his Westchester home following a 14-month bout with cancer. According to his daughter, Rev. Ferrell continued to preach every Sunday at the church throughout 14 months of chemotherapy. The Enquirer states he was an advocate of HIV/AIDS prevention and supported IV-CHARIS, a faith-based HIV/AIDS services organization. In June, his congregation participated in the Faith In Action 5K walk for the cure of HIV/AIDS.

Rev. Ferrell received the call to minister in 1977 and became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Walnut Hills in 1978. In 1995 he became pastor of Kennedy Heights Missionary Baptist Church. In 1999 he help found New Vision Missionary Baptist Church in Norwood and was its pastor until his death.