A Celebration of the Life of Rev. Dr. Ndugu G.B. T'Ofori-Atta, 1924-2012

Rev. Dr. dugu G.B. T'Ofori-A1ta
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$ R e v . Dr. Ndugu G.B. T'OforiAtta (a.k.a. George B. Thomas), a preacher, educator and former pastor, died on Wednesday, January 11 , 201 2 at his home In Atlanta, Georgia following health challenges and a subsequent period of Illness. He was 87.
Dr. T'Ofori-Atta, affectionately known as or. T., was professor emeritus of Area Ill: Persons, Society and Culture, where he taught Sociology of Religion as well as courses In the department of Mlsslology, Evangelism and Religions of the World at the Interdenominational Theological Center (lTC) In Atlanta, GA. There he founded and directed the Religious Heritage of the African World (RHAW) program . An ordained minister of the AME Zion Church, Dr. T'Ofori-Atta worked as a missionary In the former Belgian Congo In the 1950's and 60's where he made Important links to the Klmbangulste Independent African Church movement. He was a founding organizer of The Pan African Christian Conferences.
Born on July 11, 1924 In Stowe Township of McKees Rock, PA., about 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Dr. T'Ofori-Atta was christened George Benjamin Thomas, the second of four children born to George McGarner Thomas and Naomi Sykes Thomas. In the 1940's, following a three-year stint In the U.S. Army, Dr. T'Ofori-Atta received an A.B In 1950 from Linc oln University later a S.T.B. In 1953 from Boston University and S.T.M. In 1954 a gain from Boston University. Ever learning and growing he earned a Diploma In 1960 from the School of African Studies, Brussels, Belgium; Additional Studies In 1965 at the School of International Relations, American University In Washington, DC and then In 1975, he went on to receive his Doctor of Ministry at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
The 1960's and '70's saw Dr. T'Ofori-Atta deepening his connection to and relationship with Africa, spending significant periods of time In Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Congo. By the 1970's, T'Ofori-Atta and his family had moved to Atlanta where he joined the faculty of the Interdenominational Theological Center where he began educating students using wholistlc theological approaches through African and African-American knowledge and experiences. Some of his publications Include ChrlstKwanza; and Mother Zion: African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church- The Birth Story a Denomination co-authored with Dr. George W. McMurray.
Among his many appointments were pastorates at Mt. Washington In Pittsburgh, PA; Charleston In West VIrginia; Rush Church In Cambridge, Mass; and In North Carolina East Spencer In Salisbury and St. Paulin Hickory. In Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. T. twice served
at Shaw Temple In the '70s and 80's, and three times at Bush Chapel In Winder, GA. He
also served as Presiding Elder of the North Georgia Conference In the 1980's under Bishops Arthur Marshall and Cecil Bishop.

Rev. Dr. Ndugu G.B. T'Ofori-Atta
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Dr. T. first retired In 1999, but was called back after one day to serve as the first pastor of Faith AME Zion Church In Atlanta. While serving as pastor of Faith under Bishops Joseph Johnson and Clarence Carr, he was appointed as Director of Strategic Planning for the AME Zion Church in the State of Georgia. At the 2006 Annual Conference, Dr. T. was officially retired from active ministry.
Some organizational affiliations Include: The Concerned Black Clergy (current Historian); The Open Door; ASCAT; Founding member (along with Mrs. Josephine Foggle) of the The Howard Thurman Circle; Chair/High Council of Elders of the World Africa Dlaspora Union; American Friends Services Committee; Veterans of Hope; Hebrew Israelites; Shrine of the Black Madonna; the Klmbangulste Church (Congo); All African Conference of Churches; World Council of Churches and a career long affiliation with The Martin Luther King Fellows, Inc. which Included International travel and scholarship.
Dr. T'Ofori-Atta was preceded In death by his parents George McGarner Thomas and Naomi Sykes Thomas; siblings Edward Eugene Thomas and Josephine Thomas Kyles; and his first wife, Farrel Harmon Thomas. He Is survived by his wife. Allee Pippins T'Ofori-Atta; sons, George Ghana Thomas (Carylon) of Montgomery, AL; Eric Allen Shako Thomas and Arthur Pippins of Atlanta, GA; daughters Roseanna Lorraine Ablna Thomas Brannon of Atlanta, GA, Akua Pippins Hicks (lsalah)of Decatur, GA, and Akosua Alsha T'Ofori-Atta at Howard University In Washington, DC. He Is also survived by his sister, Naom~ Thomas; sisters-In-law, Savannah Lane, Joyce Lomax, Rose Johnson: Eight grandchildren: Emmanuel Shamar Pinkett, George Daniel Ofori-Atta Thomas, Benjamin Ghana Allen Thomas, Gabriel Eliot Kwame Thomas, Nathaniel VIncent Wesley Ndugu Jonathon Thomas, Nlchelle Lorraine Ablna lmanl Brannon Ward, Klra Farrel Brannon Leggins (Jecorey), Christina Rose Brannon Carter; great-grandchildren and extended family members, and close friends.

Rev. Jawwad J. Love. Presiding

The Prelude

''Save a Place for Me" by Matthew West

The Processional

The Libation

Rev. Paul Menellk Harris, Rev. James Anyike, and Rev. Angela Waters

The Invocation

Mr. Joe Beasley

t;' The Song of Praise

"0 Mboka Nkamba"

Klmbangulste Church

The Scriptures

Proverbs 22: 7-4 Isaiah 6: 7-8 Galatians 5: 7, 76-7 7, 22-25

Rev. Curtis Kyles Rev. Ernest Augcomfar Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Lartey

The Prayer of Comfort

Dr. Willie G-dman

Solo

"On the Battlefield'

Ms. Myrna Clayton

Tributes (Please Limit Tributes to 2 Minutes)

Interdenominational Theological Center President Former Students Chaplain of The Concerned Black Clergy of Metro Atlanta The New England Peace Pagoda The Valleydale Association Religious Heritage of the African World (RHAW) Shrine of the Black Madonna AME Zion Georgia Conference Clergy Faith AME Zion Church Shaw Temple AME Zion Church Pastoral Remarks

Dr. Ronald E. Peters Apostle Leon Holllngshed
Rev. Dr. Gloria Wright Sister Clare Carter
Mrs. Geraldine Chenault Dr. Carolyn McCrary
Rev. Ewafe Omo Oba-Donkor Rev. Dr. Roe Noll, Jr. Mrs. Doris Jones Mr. Charles Tunstall Rev. Jawwad J. Love

Dance

Hillside Truth In Motion

The Tributes Friends of the Family

Dr. Melva Costen, Dr. Eduard Loring, and Rev. Murphy Davis

Family

Presiding Elder Robert Hickey; T'Ofori-Atta Grandchildren

South Atlantic Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church

Bishop Kenneth Monroe

The Acknowledgements

Presiding Elder John Paul Ruth

The Obituary

"Going Home" by Dvorak

(Read Silently)

The Choral Selection

"Take Me Back'

Gospel Choir Reunion

The Eulogist

"Precious Lord" by Ben Branch {Bread Basket)

Dr. Vincent Harding

The Recessional
A Repast will be seNed at Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church Immediately to/towing the seN/ce.

Drummers