Rev. Algernon Stamps, Sr.

Obituary For Rev. Algernon Stamps, Sr.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., Bolton City Cemetery, E. Madison Street, Bolton, MS 39041.

Algernon Stamps, Sr. was born on August 20, 1934, to the late William and Theresa Stamps in Utica, Mississippi. He was the second child of eleven children who was affectionately called "brother" by his family. Algernon graduated from Utica High School and thereafter attended Tougaloo College. Finances forced him to leave Tougaloo and he joined the United States Air Force stationed in Alaska.

While in the Air Force, Algernon met the love of his life, Barbara Lloyd, at her father's café in Bolton, Mississippi. They married on June 7, 1959 and moved to Arizona. In his time in the Air Force, Algernon trained pilots to fly. During his time in the military, he lived in Detroit, Michigan, Newfoundland, Canada, and Omaha, Nebraska. After 13 years in the Air Force, he came back to Mississippi and worked at Vickers. He also went back to college and obtained his bachelor degree from Jackson State University. Upon his return to Mississippi, he came to his boyhood church, Brown Chapel, and found it abandoned and in a state of disrepair. He spearheaded a fund-raising effort to build a new church from the ground up. He later became the pastor of Brown Chapel. Also as a Methodist minister he pastored Tabernacle and Pleasant Hill in Hazlehurst, Mississippi and Lowes Chapel in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

In May of 1970, amidst student protesting at what was then Jackson State College, police opened fire killing two students. Black leaders called for a city wide boycott of white businesses in Jackson. Canterbury Grocery Store was a white owned business on Dalton street affected by the boycott. Always the visionary, Algernon Stamps saw the potential of this business and approached Mr. Canterbury about selling the store. At first Mr. Canterbury refused but he later agreed to sell. From this humble beginning, Algernon working with his wife, Barbara, ran the mom and pop store. During an interim from running the store, Algernon taught school in Puckett, Lexington, and Bolton, Mississippi. When large chain grocery stores threatened to close their mom and pop store Algernon shifted gears and created a huge home-made burger to take the place of selling groceries. The Washington Addition customers started referring to the burgers as super burgers and thus Stamps Super Burgers was born. Stamps Super Burgers grew in popularity and soon gained a reputation as the best burger in town.

Although his love for Stamps Super Burgers was deep, Algernon's greater love was for the Lord. Once again he rallied a congregation to raise money to build a church without incurring debt with a huge mortgage. The church was aptly named New Faith imbued with the faith that all things are possible with Christ. Reverend Stamps pastored New Faith with the same love and commitment as his faith in God. Rearing his six children in the church, Reverend Stamps instilled in them Christian values every step of the way.

After a lengthy illness, Algernon Stamps, Sr. departed this world on July 1, 2021 leaving his children and wife to cherish his memory. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Lloyd Stamps, daughter, Alice Stamps, son, Algernon Stamps, Jr., (Nikdra), daughter, Crystal Etheredge (Tod), daughter, Susan Pratcher (Lovell), son, Timothy Stamps and son, Philippian Stamps. Grandchildren, Tod II, Philippian, Jr., Alkebulan, Hannah, Abyssinia, Caleb, Taylar, Joey, Sarah, Sydney, Airiane, and Bishop. Grandson, William Lloyd Etheredge preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Vertie Sparks, sister, Martena Schuler, brother, Alvin Stamps, brother, Larry Stamps. Preceding him in death is his brother, Norcell Stamps, sister, Irma Stamps, sister, Hilda Britton, brother, Mark Stamps, brother, Melvin Stamps, and brother, Boris Stamps. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to The Algernon & Barbara Lloyd Stamps Memorial/Stamps Super Burgers Endowed Scholarship at https://www.jsums.edu/giveonline.

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