Preacher was born on May 11, 1882, in
Fairfax, South Carolina. He graduated from Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina (now known as
Clemson University) in 1904 and found work as a
draftsman, a profession he would hold until 1909. In 1911, Preacher won a design competition and soon after began a successful architecture career in
Augusta, Georgia. Throughout his career, Preacher designed 417 structures in seven states, including 45
schools in Atlanta. == Selected works ==