The Branch is sad to report on the passing of Life Member Earl Strother.

The Reverend Doctor Earl Strother
A Life Well Lived

On the Sunday afternoon before Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President, Robert and Naomi received the special gift of Earl. In the rolling, coal rich mountains of Southern West Virginia in Williamson he made his inaugural début. Earl was born in a small rental apartment with a rear alley address (the alley behind the alley). Before the umbilical cord was severed and still dripping in amniotic fluid, his Grandmother Mini held him in her arms and proclaimed “this one is mine”; and she loved and nurtured him into adulthood. Earl Strother never had a shortage of love. His Mother stated “the only thing I had in this world were those two little boys and I thought they were made of pure gold”. His Mother was grateful to Roy Rodgers and Audie Murphy she recalls “they were my baby sitters. All I needed two dimes at the end of the week. Robert and Earl would go to the movies and stay all day.” A prominent event occur citywide Kindergarten First Grade Pageant. His Mother purchased a handsome white sailor matching set and proudly walked him to the auditorium. An altercation occurred back stage with one of his classmates moments before his presentation and appeared before the whole city dissolved covered in dirt. Mischief describes remainder of his childhood and early adolescences with friends like Billy, Ernest and others. Their remising entertained bystanders for decades. Around and about the age of seven years the Reverend Earl Strother received his first ecclesiastical summoned while participating in a pediatric version of gabbling with brightly colored marbles. Decades later his elder brother who witnessed the event would described it. A very young Earl stood up stated to the other participants that he could no long play. As a preteen he was baptized by Reverend L.A. Perkins in Williamson WV.

Eighth grade he met his RUTH and immediately the love sparks flew. The Senior Play after a fiasco with previous City Wide Christmas Pageant he was not considered. Earl learned all of the male roles. Yes at the last minute he was able to perform and gave a stellar performance that was remembered for years. His life love and later wife had the leading female role.
Earl’s unique leader ship skills and philosophy of including every one and acknowledging the unique individual value in all of humanity was evident in his later adolescent years. With segregation there were no opportunities for Black African American Athletes playing for energetic less talented zealous players were nonexistent. Earl gathered the rejected players and formed a team. He named them the Renkidinks. They became competitive and developed a following. The phase developed, “watch out for the Renkidinks”
As a young man Earl enlisted in the United States Airforce and served in the Korean War. Among the Veteran he was a celebrity. He inspired people of all generations often stopping to shake his hand telling their children who he was enlightening them on our countries history and thanking him for his service.

His post High School education began at West Virginia State College. Years later he was to have a Doctorate Degree Conferred upon him. (His Doctorate Bars were proudly on display on his Clergical Pulpit Garments.) He also attended Simmons Theological Seminary, Franklin University, and Trinity Seminary. In addition to his Conferred Doctorate Degree he had associate degree from Franklin University, and Bachelor and Master Degree from Trinity Seminary.

Reverend Strother’s Grandfather Father and Father in Law were all minister. This made his first Sermon in the mid sixties a spiritual filled experience to remember. Reverend Strother had his Father seated to his right and his Father-In –Law to his left. That great beginning launched an enhanced life of service including an invitation followed by an afternoon in the Whitehouse and an invitation from the Government of Israel followed by two trips to Israel. Reverend Strother served multiple terms as the President of the Minister Alliance of Columbus Ohio, and Vice President of the State Convention. He created and authored The “Young Davids” hand book for the Young Laymen for the State of Ohio. He was a member of multiple prestigious organizations including the Pastor’s Conference of Columbus Ohio. The last couple of decades although retired he provided guidance and instructions to the young ministers and laymen at Park Avenue Baptist Church his church in Southern California.

Reverend Strother was known as a bi-vocational pastor. His pastoral career began with the historical First Baptist Church in Renville Ohio. He pastured that congregation for 19 years. Traveling one-hundred fifty miles round trip on Sundays not including the week day trips tending to the congregation’s needs. His Country Preacher ministry inspired the song entitled “Country Preacher”. While pastoring in Renville, Ohio, he was active in the Providence Association at one time served a Vice Moderator. He transitioned to an urban environment pastoring the Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio.

His second vocation was the United States Post Office. He earned his 65 year National Association of Letter Carriers of USA Pin. Reverend Strother served as Chaplin for the local chapter of the Postal Union. He organized a Postal Singer Group and Postal Softball team. In addition a profoundly active community schedule he responded to personal crisis for individual members of the community. On Sunday Morning before driving the one-hundred fifty mile round trip he visited the sick at multiple local hospitals.

God gently called Reverend Earl Strother home to eternal life quietly and comfortable in his bed at home Monday Evening November 23, 2020. He is preceded by his parents Robert and Naomi, bothers Robert, Ronnie, Frankie, grandson Tytus and his lovely wife Ruth. Children Gerald Germaine and Doretha, brother Bill sisters Sallye and Stephanie with a host of grandchildren great grandchildren nieces and nephews remain to miss his wisdom love and guidance.

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