Pastor Kevin W. Thorpe Sr

Candidate Visit: Sunday September 14, 2025

BIOGRAPHY

Kevin W. Thorpe Sr. was born to Slater and Elouise Thorpe on November 15^th, 1973

He is a ministerial son of the historic Mt. Ararat Baptist Church of Jacksonville.  He is a Jacksonville native and a 1991 graduate of Jean Ribault Senior High School.  From 1997 to 2001 He served as the Transportation manager and Mechanical Maintenance Director for the USF Dugan Freight Line, Jacksonville office. He has served as the Senior Pastor of Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Gainesville, Fl since 1998.  Under his leadership the church has grown significantly and has successfully completed two building projects, resulting in a 500 seat sanctuary and an educational and ministry office complex.

Pastor Thorpe holds an, AA and BA in Pastoral Ministries and a MA in Pastoral Ministries.

He has worked with civic, educational and faith-based councils and groups throughout the greater Alachua County area.  Some of those organizations are:  

The MLK Jr. Commission of Florida, 

The Action Network, Past Chair

PICO United Florida, Past Co Chair

Santa Fe Community College East Gainesville Initiative, 

Gainesville H.I.P.P.Y. (Home Instruction For Parents of Preschool Youngsters), Past Chair

University of Florida Psychology Department, Co Investigator

American Cancer Society, 

Envision Alachua Task Force, 

The African American Accountability Alliance, 

Eastside High School Advisory Committee, 

The Rotary Club of Gainesville, 

CDS Behavioral Services, 

Florida Defenders of the Environment, 

The City of Gainesville’s Economic Task Force, Chair

North Central Florida Foundation for Affordable Housing, Co Chair

The Cade Museum and The Harn Museum. 

Gainesville Alachua County Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors For each of these organizations Pastor Thorpe has served as either the Chair, Vice Chair, General Board Member or Advisory Board Member.  He currently serves as a member of the 100 Black Men of Greater Florida Gainesville, and a co-investigator of UF Health Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative.

Twice, at the request of the Alachua County NAACP, he has sat with local law enforcement to review dashcam footage in incidents of suspected excessive use of force.

Pastor Thorpe has also served on two hiring panels for Alachua County: The Director of Court Services and the Director of Equal Opportunity.  

He was recognized by the Alachua County Board of Commissioners and City of Gainesville by having the month of November declared “Pastor Kevin W. Thorpe Leadership month.”  He has served as a frequent guest chaplain for the University of Florida football team and has twice hosted the entire football team, coaching staff and support staff during morning services at Faith Church.

He also owns and operates Suits By Thorpe, a tailor-made clothing company that provides custom made suits, blouses and dress shirts for a host of clients throughout the country and the Florida Gators Football Team.  

He is proudly married to Mrs. Phoenicha J. Thorpe and the proud father of Kevin W. Thorpe Jr.  Pastor and Mrs. Thorpe are expecting the arrival of their second son, Peston Joshua Thorpe in October of 2025.

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