Century of Black Mormons: Russell Dewey Ritchie’s father was born into slavery and later converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Russell Dewey Ritchie’s father was born into slavery and later converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1909, when Russell was 11, his father was denied priesthood ordination and temple admission.

Russell was not ordained to the LDS lay priesthood as a teenager but he was as an adult.

He became a deacon in 1970, at age 71.