Rev. Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

The Reverend Dr. Emmett Scott Aniton, Jr., was born March 8, 1940, to the late Emmett Scott Aniton, Sr., and Estella Aniton Woods of Oneonta, Alabama. He is a product of the educational system of Oneonta, Alabama.  He graduated from Southside High School in 1959.  In 1964, he completed his theological training and received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Selma University of Selma, Alabama.  While in the United States Army, Pastor Aniton served a tour of duty in Quy Nhon, Vietnam.  Later, he matriculated to Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1971. 

His extensive travels have taken him throughout the United States, Japan, and Korea.  Pastor Aniton is affiliated with numerous religious, civic, and educational organizations.  They include:

  • Mount Calvary District Association
  • Board Member- Fourth Street Towers
  • Past President- Mount Calvary Congress of Christian Education
  • Instructor- General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia-Congress of Christian Education
  • Past Assistant Auditor- General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia
  • Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA)
  • Past President- Muscogee County Clergy Association
  • Metro Columbus Urban League
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
  • Past Instructor- American Baptist Theological Seminary (Off-Campus)
  • Past Board of Directors- Pastoral Institute
  • Past Board of Directors- Liberty Theatre
  • Past Moderator of the Mount Calvary Baptist Association (2012)

Additional honors for outstanding community service:

  • NAACP Religious Affairs Award (2007)
  • Rainbow PUSH Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
  • The PUHL (Peace, Unity, Honesty, and Leadership Award – 2009)

Before coming to Columbus, Reverend Aniton pastored the First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Alabama from 1966 to March 1979. He was given by God to Friendship Baptist Church in November 1978.  His pastoral duties began in April 1979, and he has served willingly and faithfully as our spiritual leader up to the present time. Friendship has experienced tremendous growth spiritually, numerically, financially, and physically under the administration of our divinely-led Pastor.

During a special ceremony in May 2011, Reverend Aniton received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Saint Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.
On April 7, 2024, Reverend Aniton retired as Senior Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church after serving faithfully for Forty-five years. He received the title of Pastor Emeritus on July 27, 2024.