Davis Sessums (July 7, 1858 - December 24, 1929) was a bishop of Louisiana in The Episcopal Church.[1][2]

The Right Reverend

Davis Sessums

D.D.
Bishop of Louisiana
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseLouisiana
ElectedApril 10, 1891
In office1891–1929
PredecessorJohn Nicholas Galleher
SuccessorJames Craik Morris
Previous post(s)Coadjutor Bishop of Louisiana (1891)
Orders
OrdinationAugust 13, 1882
by Alexander Gregg
ConsecrationJune 24, 1891
by Charles Todd Quintard
Personal details
Born(1858-07-07)July 7, 1858
DiedDecember 24, 1929(1929-12-24) (aged 71)
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
BuriedMetairie Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsAlexander Sessums & Mary Runnels
SpouseAlice Castleman Galleher
Children2

Biography

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Sessums was born on July 7, 1858, in Houston, Texas, the son of Alexander Sessums and Mary Runnels. He was educated at Sewanee: The University of the South and graduated with first honors in 1878. He studied law at the University of Virginia.

He was ordained deacon on February 5, 1882, and priest on August 13 of the same year by Alexander Gregg, Bishop of Texas. He served as rector of Grace Church in Galveston, Texas and later in 1883 he became rector of Calvary Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1883 he transferred to New Orleans and became rector of Christ Church, the present day cathedral. He remained in this post until 1891, when on April 10, he was unanimously elected Coadjutor Bishop of Louisiana. He was consecrated on June 24. That same year he was elected and succeeded as diocesan bishop after the death Bishop Galleher on December 7. During his episcopacy he was instrumental in establishing New Orleans oldest parish church into the Cathedral church of Louisiana, it being the church he served as rector between 1883 and 1891. In 1892, he conducted services at the General Convention in Baltimore.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Mr. Sessums Chosen: elected assistant bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana" (PDF). The New York Times. April 10, 1891. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  2. ^ "Bishop Sessums Recovering: Louisiana prelate has just undergone a severe surgical operation" (PDF). The New York Times. September 30, 1899. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  3. ^ "THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION; WILL HOLD ITS NEXT SESSION AT DENVER". The New York Times. 1892-10-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-16.