Rev. John S. Moore, 87, of Richmond, formerly of Lexington, passed away Friday, January 27, 2006, following a long illness. Moore, who served as a Baptist minister in Virginia for 40 years, was pastor of Manly Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington for 27 years, from 1957-1984. Following his retirement in 1984, he resided in Richmond where he served as president of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, and was a long-time editor of the Virginia Baptist Register, published by the society. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Richmond.

A native of Memphis, TN, Moore was a graduate of Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama, and Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to accepting the position in Lexington, he held pastorates in Pamplin, Virginia, and at Amherst Baptist Church. While in Lexington, Moore was a member and chairman of the board of directors of the Stonewall Jackson Hospital; served on the board of directors of the Rockbridge Mental Health Association and the Rockbridge Mental Health Clinic; was president of the Rockbridge-Buena Vista Mental Health Association and a former chairman of the mayor’s Committee on Race Relations. He also served as president of the Lexington Ministerial Alliance and Pastors Conference of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. In 2005, he received his 60-year Masonic Veteran’s emblem at Westhampton Lodge No. 302 in Richmond.

Moore maintained a deep interest in both history and Baptist history. He was a member of the Rockbridge Historical Society and published numerous historical articles over the years. He co-authored several books including “Meaningful Moments in Virginia Baptist Life 1715-1972” and wrote the “The History of Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, 1820-1995”. While editor of the Register, (1972-2001) he authored many of the articles that were published. He also was a past president of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, a member of the board of directors of the Southern Baptist Historical Society, and a member of the American Society of Church History. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1988.

Moore was predeceased by his wife, Martha Paulette Moore and his sister, Lorene Moore Berry. He is survived by three children: Sterling H. Moore of Richmond, John Marshall Moore of Roanoke, and Paulette M. Catherwood of Cambridge, England; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

The family will receive visitors Monday, January 30, 2006, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Woody Funeral Home, 1711 Parham Road, Richmond. Funeral services will be held at Second Baptist Church, River and Gaskins Roads, Richmond, Tuesday, January 31, 2006, at 11 a.m. with burial to follow at Westhampton Memorial Park in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to either the Second Baptist Church Building Fund, 9614 River Road, Richmond VA 23229, or the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, P. O. Box 34, University of Richmond VA 23173.