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'''Leander Louis Clover''', known as '''L. L. Clover''' (April 4, 1902–May 3, 1975),[1] was an American [[Baptist]] Association minister who in 1951 established [[Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary]] in Minden, Louisiana. He founded and served as editor of the ''Missionary Baptist News'' for nearly twenty-three years.[2]

'''Leander Louis Clover''', known as '''L. L. Clover''' (April 4, 1902–May 3, 1975),[1] was an American [[Baptist]] Association minister who in 1951 established [[Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary]] in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]]. He founded and served as editor of the ''Missionary Baptist News'' for nearly twenty-three years.[2]

==Background==

==Background==

Clover, who was of Choctaw descent, was born in rural Curtis in Clark County near Arkadelphia in southern Arkansas to Josiah Manley Clover (ca. 1859-1916) and the former Agnes Walton (born ca. 1882; date of death unavailable). Josiah Clover died when Leander was still thirteen. Leander also lost a younger brother, Joe Cole Clover, who died in 1906 at the age of two. Reared in Clark County, Clover attended public schools and subsequently received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, the successor to an earlier institution in Sheridan in Grant County, Arkansas. Clover was the pastor of five Missionary Baptist churches in Arkansas, including the New Prospect congregation in Colt in St. Francis County near the Mississippi River.[2]

Clover, who was of Choctaw descent, was born in rural Curtis in [[Clark County, Arkansas|Clark County]]  near Arkadelphia in southern [[Arkansas]] to Josiah Manley Clover (ca. 1859-1916) and the former Agnes Walton (born ca. 1882; date of death unavailable). Josiah Clover died when Leander was still thirteen. Leander also lost a younger brother, Joe Cole Clover, who died in 1906 at the age of two. Reared in Clark County, Clover attended public schools and subsequently received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, the successor to an earlier institution in Sheridan in Grant County, Arkansas. Clover was the pastor of five Missionary Baptist churches in Arkansas, including the New Prospect congregation in Colt in St. Francis County near the [[Mississippi River]].[2]

In 1948, he moved to Minden, Louisiana, to succeed Julian Pope at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. On September 26, 1957, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the former Eastern Baptist Seminary in Somerset in Pulaski County in southeastern Kentucky, which had been established by the evangelist and author [[I. K. Cross]]. On May 19, 1958, Clover obtained a Doctor of Theology degree from Texas Baptist Institute at Henderson, Texas.[2]

In 1948, he moved to Minden, Louisiana, to succeed Julian Pope at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. On September 26, 1957, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the former Eastern Baptist Seminary in Somerset in Pulaski County in southeastern Kentucky, which had been established by the evangelist and author [[I. K. Cross]]. On May 19, 1958, Clover obtained a Doctor of Theology degree from Texas Baptist Institute at Henderson, Texas.[2]

For fifty-two years until his death, Clover was married to the former Tommie Brooks (1905–2002), a native of Ellis County, Texas, near Dallas. The couple had no children.[15] Other than his wife, Clover's only survivor was a half-sister by his father's previous marriage, Mattie Lee Coleman (born 1891; date of death unknown). Mrs. Clover remained in Minden for the remaining twenty-seven years of her life. A devotee of exotic birds, she died at the age of ninety-seven in a Minden nursing home. The couple is interred at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Minden.[14]

For fifty-two years until his death, Clover was married to the former Tommie Brooks (1905–2002), a native of Ellis County, Texas, near Dallas. The couple had no children.[15] Other than his wife, Clover's only survivor was a half-sister by his father's previous marriage, Mattie Lee Coleman (born 1891; date of death unknown). Mrs. Clover remained in Minden for the remaining twenty-seven years of her life. A devotee of exotic birds, she died at the age of ninety-seven in a Minden nursing home. The couple is interred at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Minden.[14]

LMBIS operated under Clover at 903 Shreveport Road in a separate facility across from the Calvary Church at 1000 Shreveport Road in Minden. In 1996, Calvary Church voted to relocate its facilities to 1400 Homer Road in the far eastern side of Minden. Construction began late in 2002, and the new facilities, including a modern LMBIS, building on Seminary Road were dedicated on November 2, 2003.[3] Numerous Missionary Baptist pastors in the Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas region are LMBIS graduates, including Richard Derek Methvin (born 1960), the pastor since 1998 of Eastside church in Minden. A degree from the institute is unaccredited but recognized by all Missionary Baptist congregations within the denomination. [16]

LMBIS operated under Clover at 903 Shreveport Road in a separate facility across from the Calvary Church, then located at 1000 Shreveport Road in Minden. In 1996, Calvary Church voted to relocate its facilities to 1400 Homer Road in the far eastern side of Minden. Construction began late in 2002, and the new facilities, including a modern LMBIS, building on Seminary Road were dedicated on November 2, 2003.[3] Numerous Missionary Baptist pastors in the Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas region are LMBIS graduates, including Richard Derek Methvin (born 1960), the pastor since 1998 of Eastside church in Minden. A degree from the institute is unaccredited but recognized by all Missionary Baptist congregations within the denomination. [16]

The LMBIS yearbook ''The Key'' in its "In Memoriam" section in 1975 lauded the departed Clover’s "conservatism, determination, ability, and longsuffering that inspired and inaugurated a fortress of biblical truth in Minden." Clover wrote in the yearbook: "We are living in a world that is turning from doctrinal truths, rejecting the Bible, and forgetting about God. Therefore, I wish for each of you the power to think deeply and to respond nobly to the responsibilities that rest upon you."[17]

The LMBIS yearbook ''The Key'' in its "In Memoriam" section in 1975 lauded the departed Clover’s "conservatism, determination, ability, and longsuffering that inspired and inaugurated a fortress of biblical truth in Minden." Clover wrote in the yearbook: "We are living in a world that is turning from doctrinal truths, rejecting the Bible, and forgetting about God. Therefore, I wish for each of you the power to think deeply and to respond nobly to the responsibilities that rest upon you."[17]