The Reverend Dr. Emmett S. Aniton, Jr. was born March 8, 1940, to the late Emmett S. Aniton and Mrs. Estella Aniton Woods of Oneonta, Alabama. He is a product of the educational system of Oneonta. He graduated from Southside High School in 1959. In 1964, he completed his theological training and received a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Selma University of Selma, Alabama. While in the United States Army, Pastor Aniton served a tour in Quinon, Vietnam.

Later, he matriculated to Alabama A & M University in Normal, Alabama from which he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1971.  His extensive travels have taken him throughout the United States, Japan, and Korea. Prior to coming to Columbus, Pastor Aniton pastored the First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Alabama from 1966 – 1979. He was given by God to Friendship Baptist Church in November 1978. His pastoral duties began in April 1979, and he has served willingly and faithfully as our spiritual leader up to the present time. Friendship has experienced tremendous growth spiritually, numerically, financially, and physically under the administration of our divinely led Pastor.