We Regret to Inform You Of The Passing of
Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw
Which occurred on March 6, 2026
In lieu of floral arrangements,
please make contributions to the William J. Shaw Achievement Award.
For further information, including parking instructions,
please visit the White Rock Baptist Church Facebook page.
A day of repose will occur on
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Viewing: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
White Rock Baptist Church
5240 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
A second viewing will be held on
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Viewing: 9:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m.
Private Entombment: Laurel Hill West Cemetery
WebCast -&- Live Stream Information:
Zoom Phone Number --- 1-646-558-8656
Zoom Meeting Number --- 225 246 022
-OR-
Zoom Web Address --- https://zoom.us/j/225246022
_____________________________________
YouTube -&- Facebook Stream Information:
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteRockBaptist --- White Rock Baptist Church Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/MonumentalBC --- Monumental Baptist Church Facebook Page
https://www.youtube.com/@WhiteRock284 --- White Rock Baptist Church YouTube Page
https://www.youtube.com/@mbc_philly --- Monumental Baptist Church YouTube Page
Celebrating The Life of Rev. Dr. William J. Shaw
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Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw lived a life defined by faith, scholarship, courage, and enduring love. From his earliest days, his life bore the clear imprint of a divine calling.
Born in Marshall, Texas, the youngest of six children to Henderson and Effie Shaw, he often reflected that although his parents had limited formal education, they “lighted the fires of learning” in his soul and nurtured within him a love for God and things divine. Through their devotion, he learned to hear the voice of God calling him into ministry.
At seven years old, he was baptized by Reverend M.C. Williams. At eleven, upon the recommendation of Reverend V.M. Bailey, he was licensed to preach. By fifteen, he was serving as supply pastor in his home church. At seventeen, he was ordained Pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Harrison County, Texas. What others might have called youth, God had already called readiness.
His intellectual gifts were evident early. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school before entering Bishop College, where he completed his degree in Philosophy and Religion with a minor in World History, graduating summa cum laude at nineteen. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1957 and later received his Doctor of Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1975. His formation was further enriched through his participation in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Program in Black Church Studies, an experience he deeply valued.
In 1956, he accepted the call to pastor White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia. What began as a pastoral assignment became a decades-long covenant. For nearly seventy years he faithfully shepherded the congregation, becoming one of the longest-serving pastors of a single church in the region. He preached with conviction and compassion, grateful for a congregation that sustained him with prayer and partnership.
Though widely respected for his leadership, titles and positions never defined him. He remained, at heart, a pastor. His ministry reflected a deep belief that pastoral care belonged to the whole church community. He established the “Sheepfold Ministry,” training lay members to extend pastoral care by visiting the sick, comforting grieving families, and ensuring that no member walked through hardship alone.
His ministry and influence extended well beyond the pulpit. From standing against Tastykake alongside 400 other black ministers to demand justice for black workers, to establishing the Exodus to Excellence program in service to Philadelphia’s youth, Dr. Shaw lived by his conviction that the gospel requires both proclamation and action.
His moral leadership also shaped civic life. He served in numerous leadership roles throughout Philadelphia, including board service with Community Legal Services, the Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Hospital Medical Center, and the Philadelphia Airport Advisory Board. In each setting, he advocated for justice, access, and dignity for those often overlooked, believing that institutions must serve the common good.
In addition to his civil service in the city of Philadelphia, Dr. Shaw served the Baptist community on both a state and national national scale, he provided visionary leadership as President of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention from 1978 to 1982 and went on to serve as the sixteenth President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. from 1999 to 2009.
Guided by his principles of Vision, Integrity, Structure, and Accountability (VISA), he led the NBC, USA, Inc. into renewed stability, retiring more than $1.125 million in debt, establishing retirement security for clergy and church workers, strengthening fiscal accountability, and modernizing the Convention’s operations. Above all, he called the Convention to remain Christ-centered in mission and spirit.
He assumed leadership during a pivotal moment in the Convention’s history and became widely respected as a steady and principled reformer who restored confidence, unity, and institutional trust.
His contributions to Christian leadership and ethics are widely recognized as evidenced by his receipt of many awards including the Unitas Award from Union Theological Seminary, the T. B. Maston Foundation Christian Ethics Award from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the History Maker award from the Philadelphia Tribune. Not to be forgotten, is the resolution passed by the City of Philadelphia, renaming the portion of 53rd street occupied by WRBC, in his honor.
2009 held further recognition of Dr. Shaw’s national impact and influence when President Barack Obama appointed him to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The following year, he was appointed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, further extending his voice for justice and religious liberty on the global stage.
Reverend Dr. William J. Shaw was a preacher of righteousness, a champion for justice, a scholar of depth, and a shepherd of souls. He lived strong in conviction yet gentle in spirit; a visionary leader grounded in humility. His life was a testimony that faith must be lived; in the pulpit, in the public square, and in the quiet acts of compassion that shape the soul of a community.
Although pastoring, ministerial duties, and faith based activism were paramount, at the center of his life was enduring love.
He shared 67 devoted years of marriage with his beloved wife, Camellia L. Shaw, who preceded him in death on September 10, 2025. Their union was a living witness to faithfulness, grace, and partnership in ministry. In his own words, he considered himself immeasurably indebted to her and to their son for their understanding and constant devotion during the many demands of ministry.
Dr. Shaw was preceded in death by his siblings, in birth order: Bennie Harold Shaw, John D. Shaw, Vivian L. Sephus, and Laura Sloan Singleton.
He leaves to cherish his legacy:
his son, Timothy Shaw;
his daughter-in-love, Simone Bey;
his sister, Wyrtress Floyd;
his granddaughters, Lillian Shaw, Brittany Pinner, and Breanna Shaw;
his great-grandchildren, Zanaira, Nyela, Ezekiel, Adele, and Xavier;
along with extended family, dear friends, colleagues, and the countless lives shaped by his ministry.
For nearly seventy years he stood in the pulpit proclaiming hope, justice, and the love of God. Today his voice is quiet, but the witness of his life continues to speak.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
