Street In Deer Park To Be Renamed For Late Baptist Pastor

DEER PARK, NY — A community leader and pastor of the First Baptist Church of Deer Park will be commemorated with an honorary street renaming. Bishop Winfred J. Pippen was the pastor of the church on Washington St., soon to be named after him.

Pippen was influential in the local community during his long tenure as pastor, beginning in 1998. He died in October at age 76. Known for community outreach and advocacy, Pippen was born in Alabama before attending New York Theological Seminary.

Pippen opened a Suffolk County Legislature session in March 2019 where he inspired lawmakers with what Legislator Tom Donnelly called, at the time, "a hopeful appeal for courage, wisdom and peace." Pippen was honored by the Deer Park Community Association the same year at a Black History Month event.

Pippen is survived by his widow Mary and two daughters.

The Town of Babylon voted on December 2 to rename the street.