Pastors of the Atlanta West District Reverend Raphael Allen Reverend Larry Ervin , II Reverend Phillip Bannamon Reverend Larry W. Hudson , Sr. Reverend David Bishop, IV Reverend Brian A. Spann Reverend Phillip Chisholm Reverend Thomas Stegall Ministers' Spouses Widows and Widowers Organization Stewardesses of Allen Temple We thank God for giving us friends who have responded in many tangible ways during the homegoing of our love one. We appreciate you for comforting us during this period. ~tc@;2? ~1krz ~rotlyrn., c']u.c_ FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MORTICIANS 889 M. L. King, Jr. Drive, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 3031 4 923 McDaniel Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30310 404-522-6924 404-522 -2591 U KO Graphics & Printtra. Inc. 404-52:3-1560 Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - 11:00 A.M.- 1645 Simpson Road, Northwest Atlanta, Georgia Bishop William Phillips Deveaux, Presiding Prelate Sixth Episcopal District The Reverend Dr. Roosevelt Morris, Presiding Elder Atlanta West District Pastor Claude Ray James Officiating "A precious one from us is gone, A voice we love is still. A place is vacant in our hearts Which never can be filled. " On October 22, 1914, Benjamin Gay was born to Reverend Berrian and Arianna Gay of Valdosta, Georgia. He attended public schools in Valdosta. On September 19, 1937, Benjamin married Johnnie Morgan. Together they reared one daughter, Deborah. In 1946, Benjamin was called by God to preach. His first assignment was an abandoned Mission, and during his time, he was recognized by Bishop W.A. Fountain as a promising young man that needed more training. Bishop Fountain offered him an opportunity to move to Atlanta and attend Morris Brown College. In Atlanta , he was appointed to St. John A.M. E. Church, Fairburn, Georgia where he later sent for his wife to join him . Reverend Gay enrolled in Morris Brown College and Turner Theological Seminary where both were on the same campus. Bishop Fountain continued to further Reverend Gay's career by making sure he was in school and challenging him to pastor a larger church. The Bishop moved him to Trinity A.M. E. Church, Atlanta. Under his leadership, the church 's debt was paid, central heating was installed, and the first parsonage was purchased and furnished. His tenure at Trinity was seven and a-half years. Reverend Gay continued attending school and graduated from Morris Brown College and Turner Theological Seminary. His next appointment was Antioch A.M. E. Church , Decatur Georgia, under Presiding Elder, Dr. S.H. Rome. While at Antioch, Reverend Gay was among the group of Pastors, Dr. William Holmes Borders, Dr. M. L. King, Sr., Dr. E. R. Searcy, Reverend E.P. Yore, Reverend Benjamin Bickers and others who desegregated the Atlanta Transit System. In 1958, Reverend Gay was appointed to pastor Bethel A.M .E. Church Albany, Georgia, where he called together and organized the pastors of Albany and surrounding areas to fight against discrimination and segregation in public places. He worked with the student Non-violent Coordinating Committee to organize boycotts and demonstrations, which led to the organizing of the Albany Movement. The violent treatment by the police force was noted and brought to the attention of Dr. M. L. King, Jr. He, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Dr. Andrew Young , Dr. C. T. Vivian and others went to Albany. The street demonstrations took on new life with the arrival and leadership of Dr. King and Or. Abernathy. More than seven hundred people were arrested. Reverend Gay was arrested three times. His tenure at Bethel ended after six and one-half years. In 1965, Reverend Gay gladly accepted an assignment at St. Philip A.M.E. Church, Savannah, Georgia, where he served as chairperson of the Labor and Industry Committee of the NAACP. While serving on this committee, he, along with the help of others, continued fighting for civil rights. They also saw to it that African- Americans were placed as cashiers and clerks in the downtown stores for the first time. He and others saw to it that the new law that required the desegregation of all public facilities was complied with ; which included rest rooms, nursing homes, and drinking fountains. He also served as Secretary of the Savannah Transit Authority. During his tenure at St. Philip for eighteen years, he ran for Bishop, renovated the church, purchased additional land around the church and built a beautiful parsonage. After St. Philip, he was appointed to Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, Atlanta, Georgia. Under his leadership stained glass windows were installed in the sanctuary, the roof was repaired, the parking lot was resurfaced and floodlights were installed. The church debts were paid up to six months in advance. After six years at Allen Temple, Reverend Gay was appointed to the pastorate at Flipper Temple A.M.E. Church Atlanta, Georgia. During his tenure, two fifteen passenger vans were purchased , a new marquee sign installed, and he inaugurated the Program for feeding the homeless. In 1990, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the East Atlanta District. In 1991, family, friends and community joined him in mourning the passing of his lovely and devoted wife Johnnie. In 1995, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the West Atlanta District where he served until his retirement in 2001. Reverend Gay departed this life peacefully in the early morning of May 31, 2005. He was a role model and a spiritual guide for many. He leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Deborah Gay Pope; two grandchildren, Chauncey and Courtney Pope; two sisters, Martha Nicholson and Mildred Wade; five sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Braynon, Annie Baker, Frances Gay, Robbie Morgan, and Erma Morgan; nieces, Mary Frances Bannerman, Barbara Allen (Earl), Dorothy McCray, Jackie Washington, Gloria J. Allen (John), Eloise Gay Dukes (Mitt), Miriam Nicholson Williams, Helen Ruth Jones (Bernard), Cecilia Cuttino, and Cornelia Majors; nephews, Moses Gay, Jr., Michael Gay, Samuel Lamar Gay, Jr. (Eleanor), Kenneth Julian Gay (Annette), JosephS. Gay (Darlene), Victor Glen Gay (Sharon), Thomas J. Baker (Patricia), Edward Donald Baker, Harold Lamar Baker, Theodore Roosevelt Baker (Chevonne), Johnny Fred Morgan, and Vernon Morgan; and numerous other relatives and devoted friends. THE PRELUDE ...................................................................................... Brother Claude Dunson THE PROCESSIONAL, #502 ..................................................................... "Lead Kindly Light" THE HYMN, #315 .............................................~ ............................................ Allen Temple Choir '1n The- Hour of Trial" THE INVOCATION ............................................................................. Pastor Claude Ray James THE SCRIPTURE: The Old Testament, Psalm 23 ...................................... Presiding Elder Samuel W. Wicker The New Testament, Revelation 21:1-7 .............................. Presiding Elder Charlie Tatman The Epistle, St. John 6:35-40 ..................................... Presiding Elder Dr. Roosevelt Morris THE SELECTION, #450 ......................................... ... .. .................................. Allen Temple Choir "Blessed Assurance" THE REFLECTIONS: The Reverend GabrielS. Hardeman, Sr., Retired Presiding Elder Bishop McKinley Young, Eleventh Episcopal District Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., Ecumenical Officer THE SOLO ............ ........ ... ... ...... .... ................ ... ............................................. .... Mr. Henry Porter THE SOLO ............................................... .. ........... ... ... ... ....... .. ....... ............. . Mrs. Camille Pierce 'We Shall Behold Him" THE SELECTION, #448 ....... ...................... ...................... ............... .... .......... Allen Temple Choir '1t Is Well With My Soul" THE EULOGY ....... ................................................................ Retired Bishop John Hurst Adams THE SELECTION, #483 .......... .. .................................................................... Allen Temple Choir '1'm Goin' To Trust In The Lord" THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................... .. ....................................................... Dr. Betty Clark THE RECESSIONAL, #372 ................................................................. "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" Lincoln Memorial Cemetery 2275 Simpson Road, Northwest Atlanta, Georgia