Elder Herbert Campbell “H.C.” VANDERPOOL, ThD, passed away September 1, 2011. He was founder and editor of the Baptist Banner for several years and founder and editor of the Missionary Baptist Literature for 33 years. He was the first chaplain of the Cumberland Valley School of Gospel Music and made 10 tours to the Holy Land, hosting 9 of them.
In addition, Elder Vanderpool preached 8,249 sermons and performed 447 baptisms, 198 weddings and 479 funerals. He wrote 16 Biblical tracts and authored 15 books. At the time of his death, he was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN.
Elder Vanderpool was born in the Stonewall community of Smith County, Tennessee on October 04, 1923. He was saved September 05, 1935. 1942 was also an important year in his life. In January of 1942, He became engaged to Alta Maynard, and in the spring he was ordained a deacon of Caney Fork Missionary Baptist Church, along with his father, Garland Vanderpool, and three others. In June of 1942, while plowing corn, God called him to the ministry. On September 05, 1942 He and Alta Maynard were married, a union that lasted until his death, on September 01, 2011, four days shy of their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary and the seventysixth anniversary of his Christian birth. They had one son, Bobby Kenneth Vanderpool, two granddaughters, Dawn Vanderpool Smith and Robyn Vanderpool Smith. They also cherished their only great grand child, Benjamin Kyle Smith.
He acknowledged his call to the ministry at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, TN, on April 25, 1948 and preached his first sermon on June 06, 1948. In May 1950, he was ordained to the work of the ministry. Although known to many as a historian, Brother Vanderpool’s strong point was that of a “Doctrinal preacher.” His ministry always came first in his life.
