Dr. James Blassingame, Vice President at Large

Motto: "I see every challenge as an opportunity to prove what God can do."

• Native of Seneca SC.
• "Baby" son of Deacon Luther and the late Juanita Blassingame
• Married to the former Shirley L. McFadden
• Father of three children, six grandchildren one daughter-in-law
• Bachelor of Arts Degree, Morris College, Sumter SC and Bachelor of Divinity Degree, Morris School of Religion, Sumter SC. Continuing Education at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ and a nine month internship in clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) with the SC Department of Corrections, where he provided pastoral care to inmates in maximum security prison including three months on Death Row. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC.
• Pastor Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Sumter SC since 1984. Through the grace of God and the ardent cooperation of the congregation, a new sanctuary costing almost one half million dollars was dedicated in 1991. A twenty year mortgage was liquidated in nine years. A new 17,000 sq. ft. Enrichment Center costing over 1 million dollars was dedicated on September 24, 2011.
• Substitute Elementary Teacher, Sumter School District
• Vice-President at Large, Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of S.C.
• Vice-Chairman, S.C. Fellowship, NBC, USA, Inc.
• Immediate Past Moderator, Sumter Baptist Missionary & Education Association Inc.
• Secretary, Morris College Board of Trustees
• First Assistant Secretary, National Baptist Convention USA Inc.
• Field Education Supervisor, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton N.J.
• Member of the following boards: National Baptist Convention, USA., Inc; Tuomey Healthcare System, SC Community Bank Sumter Advisory Board, Sumter Senior Services Inc. He represents the Third Judicial Circuit on the Pee Dee Citizens Committee on Judicial Qualifications and serves on the School Improvement Council of Lamira Elementary School, Sumter, S.C.
• Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
• Subscribing life member, NAACP
• In grateful acknowledgement and appreciation of his many contributions made to the church, community and his alma mater, Morris College conferred upon him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity on May 13, 2000
• Received the Marnie L. Duckett Founder's Day Award At Benedict College, March 11, 2006.
• Received several other honors and awards for service to humanity.