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On Sunday, September 15, 2019, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 1345 West Burleigh Street, hosted a street naming ceremony in honor of their late pastor the Honorable Rev. Willie D. Wanzo, Sr. Rev. Wanzo was the pastor of one of Milwaukee’s most prominent Black churches, Metropolitan M.B.C. and served as their pastor for more than four decades.
The section of street at the corner of West Burleigh Street from North 13th Street to North 14th Street in the 6th Aldermanic District was re-named to honor Rev. Wanzo. At the ceremony was Mayor Tom Barrett, along with Rev. Wanzo’s family, church family, religious leaders and local officials.
Rev. Wanzo moved to Milwaukee in 1951, arriving from his birthplace of Pine County, Mississippi. He joined Metropolitan under the leadership of Rev. A. W. Wise, serving as a deacon, assistant Sunday School teacher and supervisor.
Rev. Wanzo accepted his call to the ministry in 1955 and he served as assistant pastor of the church from 1955 to 1972 under the late Rev. E. M. Kelley. He was appointed interim pastor in August 1972 and installed as pastor in August 1973.
