Necrology, September 2021 

 "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,

we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

 

- Listed In Sequential Order -

The Reverend Andreas Anthony Oliphant, age 53 years, an Itinerant deacon for 3 months in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, served the following churches as a supply pastor in the Boland Annual Conference, 15th Episcopal District: GD Van Stavel AME Church, Van Wyksvlei and Elim AME Church, married to Mrs. Deirdre Oliphant for 26 years

The Reverend Jeremiah Witbooi, age 49 years, an Itinerant Elder for 2 years in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving with distinction: WC Legolie AME Church, Calvinia and Hope AME Church, Kraaifontein in the Boland Annual Conference, 15th Episcopal District and served as a member of the Conference Board of Trustees

Mr. Jeff Herndon, the brother of The Reverend Dr. J. Wayne Rogers, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Hope, AR, West Arkansas Annual Conference, Twelfth Episcopal District

Sister Eleanor Neal Parker of Macon, Georgia, the sister of Lady Sharon E. Williams and sister-in-law of Rev. Ronald E. Williams, Sr., Pastor of New Bethel AME Church, Orlando, Florida, Eleventh Episcopal District

Mr. John P. Ashworth, IV, a member of Greater Bethel AME Church, Nashville, TN, son of the late Rev. John P. and Mrs. Josephine Ashworth, Retired Pastor and First lady, Thirteenth Episcopal District

Mr. Idus "Cicero" Hartsfield, brother of Supervisor Penny Hartsfield White and brother-in-love of Bishop John Franklin White, Episcopal Team of the Fourth Episcopal District

Rev. Mary Georgina Akende Muyunda, served as Pastor in charge of Beautiful Gate in the Livingstone Presiding Elder District, Southeast Zambia Annual Conference, Seventeenth Episcopal District; mother of four, Alvin, Paul, Naomi and Tilipo, with 18 grandchildren

Reverend Derwood Doyle Wilson, age 86 of Huntsville, Alabama, the grandfather of Reverend Maurice Wright, II, Servant Pastor, St. John AME Church, Huntsville, Alabama in the Northwest Alabama Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District, and the Director of Music and Christian Arts Ministry of the AME Church

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ann Efiom served as the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston from 2010 to 2016 after which she served as the pastor of Greater St. James AME Church in Gary, Indiana, she was also the chief equity officer for the city of Evanston, Fourth Episcopal District

Elder Olivia C. Johnson, the sister of Rev. Claude Harrison and sister-in-law of Rev. Aquinette Harrison, Pastor of New Bethel AME Church, Lacoochee, Florida, Eleventh Episcopal District

Mr. Thomas Cornelius Robertson, the brother of Mother Carrie R. Grady, Ret. Episcopal Supervisor, the uncle of Rev. Carey A. Grady, Pastor of Reed Chapel AMEC, Lancaster District, Columbia Annual Conference, Felita Grady Hicks, Columbia Annual Conference WMS President, and uncle-in-love of Rev. George Hicks, Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Lancaster District, Columbia Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District

Retired Episcopal Supervisor Lucinda Crawford Belin, wife of Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr., the 104th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; mother of Rev. Dr. Henry Allen Belin III (Rita), Pastor of First AME Church: Bethel, New York, NY, Rev. Dr. Toni Belin Ingram (Ramond), Presiding Elder, Augusta North Augusta District and Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President / Publisher AME Sunday School Union

Mrs. Leila McDaniel Hughes, the mother of Mrs. Pradensia Drayton, Area Consultant and mother-in-law of Reverend Dr. Sandy W. Drayton, Presiding Elder of the Georgetown District of the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mother Seretha Bookert Reeves, the mother of Reverend Dr. Maxine Sumpter, Pastor of Youngs Chapel AME Church, Irmo, SC, Columbia District, Columbia South Carolina Annual Conference and Reverend Rhudene Toomer, Pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church, Kinard, SC, Newberry District, Columbia South Carolina Annual Conference, she was the mother of the Church at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Irmo, SC of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The Mr. Gennie Florence, Sr. age 87, the father of Lady M. Gail (Florence) Hunter and father-in-law of Presiding Elder Bruce W. Hunter, the Presiding Elder of the South Birmingham Huntsville Bessemer District in the Northwest Alabama Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District.

Minister Patricia Jones Kelly, mother of Minister Lisa Lauray and Minister Laray Lauray; the daughter of The Late Rev. F.W. Jones, Sr., former secretary of the East Florida Conference, sister of The Rev. Charles M. Jones, Sr, Retired Pastor (Carrie), East Florida Conference, Rev. Alfred D. Jones (E. Mae, President of South Conference, Clergy Family), Retired Pastor South Annual Conference, Bishop Dr. Alvin L. Jones, Sr. (Mae),  Bishop Frank W. Jones, Jr., (Peggy), Apostle Faith Miracle Church, Jacksonville, Florida; and other nephews, nieces and cousins pastoring in the Eleventh Episcopal District

Presiding Elder Albert Moore, Jr. who retired from the former Northeast Teas Annual Conference of the Tenth Episcopal District

Mr. Eskew McKinsley Roberts, Sr., the brother of Reverend J.C. Roberts, Presiding Elder of the Albany North District, Sixth Episcopal District

 

For inquires concerning the Necrology Listing email: OEasleyL@amecfic.net.

On behalf of Social Action Commission Chair, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Mrs. Jacquelyn DuPont-Walker, Director/Consultant-Social Action Commission, we extend profound sympathy to all bereaved families. "We wish you the peace that comes from knowing God Is There and pray that He will keep you in His Promised, Gentle Care."

 

In Sympathy and Prayer,

Ora L. Easley, International Administrator