Louie De Votie Newton

Who was Louie De Votie Newton?

Louis Devotie Newton was President of the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, Baptist preacher, and author, as well as vice president of the Baptist World Alliance.

Newton was born in Screven County, Georgia on April 27, 1892. He was raised on his parent's farm, and in July 1902 was baptized in a stream near Union Baptist Church. He graduated from Mercer University in 1913 and then taught history at the university before earning a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University. He joined the U.S. Army in 1917, and taught soldiers at camps near Macon during the First World War. From 1920 to 1929 Newton edited the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Christian Index newspaper. In 1936 Newton started writing a daily column titled "Good Morning" for the Atlanta Constitution and Savannah Morning News, while writing weekly columns for the Christian Index. He also published several books. Newton broadcast a radio show on WGST-Atlanta from 1929 until his death.

Newton became pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929.