[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF THE REVEREND SYLVESTER THADDEUS GILLESPIE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
contributions of the Reverend Sylvester Thaddeus Gillespie as the Grace 
United Methodist Church prepares to honor his service to the 
congregation on July 13, 1998. So often we reserve our strongest 
accolades and expressions of love for persons after they have passed 
away. I would like to break with that tradition in honoring a great 
preacher of the Gospel, the shepherd of the flock that is Grace United 
Methodist Church.
  Reverend Gillespie, born in Starkville, Mississippi, received his 
B.A. from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi and his M.Div. 
from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. He also attended 
the Command and General Staff College of the U.S. Army in Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas. From 1975 to 1995 Reverend Gillespie served as a 
U.S. Army chaplain, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was 
married to Barbara Bonney Gillespie, who passed away in 1994. Together 
they had two sons, Devokan and Damian.
  In addition to serving as Army Chaplain, Reverend Gillespie has 
ministered to a number of congregations. These include Mt. Zion 
Methodist Church in Clearwater, Florida; John Wesley United Methodist 
Church in Fayetteville, North Caroline; and the Wesley United Methodist 
Church in Los Angeles, California. In June 1991, he was appointed by 
Bishop Roy I. Sano to pastor Grace United Methodist Church.
  Not only in Reverend Gillespie loved by his congregation at Grace 
Island, he is admired and respected by many others. He is often 
requested as a guest speaker by churches in the Western North Carolina 
Conference of the United Methodist Church and for the Bishop Roy C. 
Nichols Preaching Series on Spiritual Renewal in Oakland, California. 
Just last year he received the Distinguished Leadership Citation for 
the development of a unique preaching/teaching ministry and church 
growth program from the Ebony Prophets of the California-Pacific Annual 
Conference of the United Methodist Church.
  More than Reverend Gillespie's accomplishments as a minister, he is a 
compassionate man who always find time to comfort and assist those in 
need. He makes monthly visits to serve communion to shut-ins, lifts the 
spirits and prays with the hospital-bound, even spends time with 
members of his past congregations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our 
appreciation for Reverend Gillespie's great works.

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