b'OBITUARIESRev. Dr. Alvin Jones Gay,Dec, 29 1936July, 5 2019"I have fought a good fight, I haveafter receiving his Honorable Dischargefrom King Baptist Church after thirty kept the faith: henceforth there is laidfrom military service, the Lord spokeyearsofloyalty,faithfulness,and up for me a crown of righteousness,to Pastor Gay\'s heart and called him todevotion!In 2000, Pastor Gay and his which the lord, the righteous judge,preach the Gospel.On May 15, 1961,family moved to Texarkana, Arkansas shall give me at that day\'\' he was licensed by Reverend Paul E.and joined the Lonoke Baptist Church Davis of Longview Baptist Church inwhere he was privileged to participateII Timothy 4:7-8 Benton, Louisiana. in the ground-breaking Ceremony for PastorGayrelocatedtoLincoln,the new Lonoke Baptist Church under Nebraska where he attended the Unitedthe pastoral leadership of the late Dr. W erejoiceinthehomegoingTheologicalSeminaryofNebraska.C.K.Yarber.OnJanuary3rd,2003, Celebration of Pastor Alvin JonesOnApril9,1967,hereceivedhisPastor Gay was installed as the 15th Gay.He was born on December 29,Certificate of Ordination by ReverendPastorofMacedoniaBaptistChurch 1936,tothelateRooseveltGay,Sr.W. Leaks of Lincoln, Nebraska and hisinTexarkana,Texas.Hefaithfully and Donzell Coleman, the fifth of tenDoctorate of Divinity Degree from theservedover13yearsinstitutingthe children.Pastor,ashewasoftenAmericanAcademyofProfessionalschurchmotto;\'\'AUnitedChurch\'\'. referredto,acceptedChristatanArts,Inc.thesameyear.HelaterDuring his 13-year tenure, Pastor Gay early age and joined Longview Baptistmoved to Colorado Springs, ColoradoservedasthePresidentoftheThird Church in Benton, Louisiana. where he served as Associate Pastor atSundayFellowshipofChurchesfor AfterHighSchool,hejoinedthethe Emmanuel Baptist Church. overnineyears.InNovember2015, UnitedStatesArmyandservedhisBeing a business-minded individual,due to his declining health, Pastor Gay countryfrom1959to1961.Shortlyhestartedaprosperousjanitorialofficially retired as Pastor but not asRev. Dr. Alvin Jones Gayservice and moved to Denver, Colorado.a preacher. Shortly after his pastoral In 1969, again, God spoke to Pastorretirement, he and his family reunitedGay and Ronald Wilson.Gay,andgavehimthevisiononlywiththeLonokeBaptistChurchinHeleavestocherishhismemories God understood!Thus, on April 26,Texarkana, Arkansas until God\'s finalandawaithisgloriousresurrection; 1969, he organized and founded Saintassignment took him to Glory! his loving wife, Debra, one daughter, King Baptist Church.On August 10,PastorGaywasendowedwithaBrandiM.GayofColoradoSprings, 1969,hewasinstalledasPastorbybeautifulspirit!Hewasmild- Colorado;step-son,MarquesD. thelateDr.T.J.Marigna,Pastoroftempered,notquicktospeakbutBrighamofAurora,Colorado;ahost Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Churchwhenhedid,itwasonpoint,veryofgrandchildren;twosisters,Lenora inColoradoSprings,Colorado.GodlovingandcaringandthatspiritMooreofShreveport,Louisiana; truly, and fruitfully, blessed!touched the lives and hearts of many!andTheresiaHarrisofLincoln, In1977,aDedicationServicewasHe was a devoted husband and a greatNebraska;onebrother,WallaceGay held, officially changing the name fromprovider that brought much laughter(Gwen) of Shreveport, Louisiana; half-Saint King to King Baptist Church, inand joy to his beloved wife, H. Debrabrother,JeanKnighton;niecesand honorofthelateDr.MartinLutherGay.Theyweremarriedforover28nephews, Michael Gay, Yolanda Gay, King, Jr.Pastor Gay received personalwonderful years and enjoyed workingMichelleGay,JacquelineAshford, gratitudefromthelateCorettaScotttogether throughout his many churchCharlesMoore,CarolynWest, Kingforhonoringherhusbandasministries and life. LaRhondaMagras,SheliaLoadholt, such.ACongressionalTributewasThoseprecedinghimindeath;hisSonyaJagenberg,ShandeniaPiper, bestoweduponPastorGaybytheson, Alvin Keith Gay; six brothers andDemarcusGay,WansettaWeital. Honorable Hank Brown from the 101stsisters,RaleighGay(Mary),OrlandoBridget Williams, Cyntay Gay, Robert Congress for being the first Pastor inGay(Lois),LeversDingle,RooseveltWilson, Erica Wilson, Brian Gay and the state of Colorado to organize andGay,Jr.(Florence-living),DorothyDorothyHindman;manycousins, buildinsuchmagnitudeandtimeWilson,TommyGay(Marcia-living);other relatives and friends; and all of frame!niecesandnephews,ReginaldGay,his church families!In February 1999, Pastor Gay retiredMarrilDingle,DexterGay,Anthony Harvest Festival Day: A Celebration of CommunityA fter460yearsofbeingcials, community activists, business owners, churchtus, similar to the Federal Indian Bureau of today or unpaid labor, denied land,leaders, and educators. Politicians may attend, butthe old Black Freedmen Bureau established in 1865 wealth,rights,privileges,theymustfunctionwithinclearparameters:theand disbanded a few years later.humanity,andsocialcohe- onlypurposetheywillbeallowedtoaddressthe3)Toreversedestructiveelementsof60years siveness, Dr. Claud Andersonaudience will be to state what they intend to deliverofsocialintegrationandpoliticalcorrectnessby callsforBlackstobuildonin tangible and measurable benefits solely to Black PowerNomicsPrinciplesandpeople and Black communities. It is a time to stateContinued on BOCNEWS.comtocelebrateanewholiday,publicly that a minority Harvest Festival Day. This willsolutionisnolonger beanopportunityforBlacksacceptableforaBlack touniteandtakecreditforproblem.Ifcandidates beingtheenginethatdrovedo not accept that chal-thisnationseconomicandlenge,theyshouldnot culturaldevelopment.Blacksbeallowedtoaddress are exceptional people and Harvest Festival Day istheaudience.The achancetopubliclyproclaim,recognize,appreci- parameters and conse-ate and celebrate their gifts and achievements. It isquences must be clear; an occasion for Blacks to remind the nation of theirifnothingispromised exceptionalisminracialtreatmentandachieve- ordelivered,therewill ments;tostatethatMinoritydoesnotequatetobe no Black votes, sup-Black. It is a day for entertainment, opportunities toport, or money.explore entrepreneurship, demand political account- GoalsofHarvest ability and reparations; a chance to practice GroupFestival DayEconomics and Group Politics. 1) To instill a sense of StateofBlackAmerica:TheCivilRightsandcommunity,bybring-socialintegrationmovementsfailedtochangetheingBlackfamiliesand racial status quo. The wealth and income gaps areneighborstogetherto widening. Both national political parties take Blackenjoyrecreationaland votersandtheirneighborhoodsforgranted,ener- entertainmentactivi-getically pursue policies detrimental to Blacks andties,andtoproclaim silentlywitnessaggressivegentrificationofeveryhistorical exceptionality majority Black city.that distinguishes them Initiative: Dr. Anderson asks Black Americans tofromotherpopulation proclaimthesecondSaturdayinAugust,Harvestgroups.FestivalDayandholdcelebrationsnationwide.2)Tolayamoral, Events should be joyful comings together at blocklegal,andpolitical clubs, picnics, parks, neighborhood and school par- annualplatformfor ties. Events should run from sun up until sun down descendantsofslaves, Sponsors&Participants:Festivalsitesmaybeto be placed in a feder-selected and organized by local residents, public offi- al-protectedclasssta-BODY OF CHRIST NEWS AUGUST 2019 15'