The BABBCENTER was named in honor of the late Rev. Roy Willard Babb and his widow, Marguerite Skinner Babb. Their lives as faithful Christian servants have exemplified the mission and purpose of this ministry.
Roy, born in Lenoir City, Tennessee on July 11, 1911, served as the pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Bloomington, Indiana; First Baptist Church, Winchester, Tennessee; and Edgefield Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He also served for several years as an associate pastor here at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville.
In service to his denomination, Roy served as moderator of the Duck River Association and as a Trustee for Belmont University, Baptist Hospital, and Lifeway Christian Resources. He served on the Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) Executive Board; as chairman of the TBC Camps Committee, TBC Committee on Arrangements, and the Nashville Baptist Association Missions Committee. Roy was very active in our church even after retirement from his staff position here in 1986 until his illness that eventually led to his death on September 13, 2005, at the young age of 94.
Marguerite, a Nashville native, has been a teacher at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee and an editor at Lifeway, focusing on church administration materials. Her denominational service includes the Presidency of the Tennessee Baptist Womans Missionary Union (WMU) and membership on the Executive Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Woman’s Missionary Union. In addition, she served as a Trustee of the SBC Home Mission Board, President of the SBC Minister's Wives Fellowship, and Chairman of the TBC WMU Centennial Celebration Committee. Here at First Baptist Church, Marguerite has served as a Sunday School teacher; WMU President; in the Prayer Room; and on the Long Range Planning, Pastor Search, Personnel, Deacon Nominating, and Constitution and By-laws committees.
The Babbs were married for just over 62 years and have joyfully served wherever the Lord led them. During their marriage, they traveled in 48 countries around the globe and in nearly all 50 of the United States.