Commencement services were held May 12 at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where Keith Zachary, a native of the Feliciana's who has familial ties to the community of Zachary, received a Doctorate of Ministry Degree.

Zachary is the son of Charles and Joyce Zachary of Slaughter and the grandson of the late Rev. S.W. Bradham, former pastor of Plank Road Baptist Church in Clinton, Second Baptist Church in Jackson and Chaplain at East Louisiana State Hospital.

He is also the grandson of the late Eugene A. Zachary, former principal of Pride High School.

Zachary served in the Air Force following his graduation from Jackson High School in 1974. In 1975, he married the former Jeanie Kay Walker. He and his wife have three children and six grandchildren.

After serving in the Air Force, Zachary attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles from 1987-89 when he felt a calling to "preach the Gospel."

Zachary then made the decision to attend Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Virginia. After many months of balancing family life and God's calling, he successfully obtained a Master of Arts in Religion degree and a Master of Divinity degree.

Zachary is now the Senior Pastor at the New Covenant Baptist Church in Denham Springs.