2021 Special Commemorative Edition

••• OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINIS T RIES IN NOR T H AMERICA •••

SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

A Celebration of Life HENRY J. FORDHAM III & SHARON E. (WRIGHT) FORDHAM

REFLECTION

The Versatility of Henry J. Fordham

By Shawn Fordham, Son

DEDICAT ED T O EL DER HENRY FORDHAM III AND T O MRS. SHARON WRIGH T FORDHAM

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THE VERSATILITY OF HENRY J. FORDHAM Shawn Fordham

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PUBLISHER’S TRIBUTE Dana C. Edmond

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MY REFLECTIONS ON ELDER FORDHAM Pete Palmer

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FAMILY TRIBUTES Donovan Fordham Leila Danielle Fordham Saundra Brooks Walter Fordham, Jr. Diedra Brooks Tramel

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TRIBUTES FROM FRIENDS Richard Dickens Barry Black Wintley Phipps Carolyn Ward-Moore Ruby Burrell

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STATEMENT Regional Conference Presidents, ORCM/RCRP

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can almost feel it when you look at the detailed veins straining in the hands of a man who seems to be desperately in need of an answer.

I do not know what motivated my father to do this work, but it is one that has stood out to me throughout my life. My father could see beyond a person’s words or the facade displayed for the public. If you were in pain, he knew it.

And if he knew you were in pain, he wanted to do whatever he could to help you feel better or help you get through it.

That’s the father I knew. t

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RESOLUTION Regional Conference Presidents, ORCM/RCRP

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AN OBJECT LESSON IN GRACE Darriel Hoy ________________________ Shawn Fordham, middle son, sustained injuries in the fire that took the lives of his parents.

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MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Pine Forge Academy

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GENERAL CONFERENCE TRIBUTE President Ted Wilson

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hile I listen to the accounts that people have of my father as a pastor, it mirrors what I witnessed myself. I have also tried to pattern my own ministry after his.

But I would like folks to know that part of what made his ministry so unique was that he was so versatile. That versatility is also what made his ministry so effective. In just about all things that you could think of, Daddy could do it and do it well. As a senior in high school, he was listed as the most versatile male student.

He could bowl, play the organ, the piano and even play the trumpet. He could skate and throw horse shoes with accuracy, But Daddy was also an artist and a marksman with a bow and arrow. As a marksman, he taught himself how to use a power bow.

When I was a teenager he would hang a softball from a rope on a tree branch, stand several yards away and still hit the ball with consistency. It was a talent that he honed and developed. He did the same with photography. He had an eye for it.

He just wanted to continue to get better, competing only against himself. He enjoyed sharing his experiences with others.

Daddy was also an artist. He could sketch with pencil, draw with charcoal and he could paint with the touch of a professional.

One of his charcoal sketches, which I have had framed, is of two hands clasped together in prayer. What’s interesting about this work is that the hands praying are not in the typical prayer pose we would normally see. These hands are clasped tightly, almost like a fist, resting on the Bible. There is an anguish expressed in these hands that goes beyond words. You can see that in the grip. You

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M AG A Z I N E

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NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION TRIBUTE Dr. G. Alexander Bryant, President, and Mrs. Desiree Bryant

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COLUMBIA UNION TRIBUTE Dr. Dave Weigley, President

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FAMILY PHOTO MONTAGE

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OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY CONDOLENCES Dr. Leslie Pollard, President

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WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY TRIBUTE

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WHAT DO YOU SEE? Henry Wright

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GRAVESIDE TRIBUTE Henry Joseph Fordham IV *** It has been our honor to pay tribute to the lives of these God’s servants, Elder Henry and Mrs. Sharon Fordham. We are also very thankful for the contributions and assistance rendered by our Allegheny East Conference colleagues. We will hold them and our global Seventh-day Adventist family all up in prayer for comfort and strength in the days to come.

Dana C. Edmond Publisher Phyllis Lee Chief Financial Officer Darriel Hoy Communications Director Pete Palmer AEC Vice President for Administration LaTasha Hewitt AEC Director of Communications Kyna Hinson Editor Bryant Taylor Associate Editor Howard I. Bullard Art Director/Designer Clarise J. Nixon Copy Editor Patrice T. Conwell Proofreader Elaine Allston Consultant Jill R. Edmond Consultant Melonie Gurley Consultant Wanda Lott Consultant

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MOMENTS OF MEDITATION PUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY

President Henry J. Fordham III—

Published by the Office for Regional Conference Ministry in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 (256) 830-5002 Website: https://adventistregionalministries.org PUBLISHER Dana C. Edmond EDITOR Kyna Hinson ASSOCIATE EDITOR Bryant Taylor ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Howard I. Bullard COPY EDITOR Clarise J. Nixon CONSULTANTS Phyllis Ware Lee, Elaine Allston, Wanda Lott EDITORIAL For all correspondence and letters to the editors, write: OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRY 7000 Adventist Boulevard Huntsville, Alabama 35896 or fax to (256) 830-5078 We reserve the right to publish and edit your submissions and letters.

REGIONAL CONFERENCE OFFICES ALLEGHENY EAST CONFERENCE PETE PALMER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION LaTasha Hewitt, Communications Director P.O. Box 266 Pine Forge, PA 19548 (610) 326-4610. www.myalleghenyeast.org ALLEGHENY WEST CONFERENCE MARVIN BROWN, PRESIDENT Benia Jennings, Communications Director 1080 Kingsmill Pkwy. Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 252-5271. www.awconf.org CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE ROGER BERNARD, PRESIDENT Cryston Josiah, Communications Director 3301 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, KS 66104 (913) 371-1071. www.central-states.org LAKE REGION CONFERENCE GARTH GABRIEL, INTERIM PRESIDENT Paul Young, Communications Director 8517 South State Street Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 846-2661. www.lakeregionsda.org NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE DANIEL LAMARTINE HONORÉ, PRESIDENT JeNean A. Lendor, Communications Director 115-50 Merrick Blvd.

Jamaica, NY 11434 (718) 291-8006. www.northeastern.org SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WILLIAM L. WINSTON, PRESIDENT James Lamb, Communications Director 3978 Memorial Drive Decatur, GA 30032 (404) 792-0535. www.southatlantic.org SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE BENJAMIN JONES, PRESIDENT Roger Wade, Communications Director 715 Youngs Lane Nashville, TN 37207 (615) 226-6500. www.scc-adventist.org SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE DR. MICHAEL OWUSU, PRESIDENT Arnaldo Cruz, Communications Director 1701 Robie Avenue Mt. Dora, FL 32757 (352) 735-3142. www.secsda.org SOUTHWEST REGION CONFERENCE CARLTON P. BYRD, PRESIDENT Taryan Ramsarran, Communications Director 2215 Lanark Avenue Dallas, TX 75203 (214) 943-4491. www.southwestregion. adventistchurchconnect.org • 2021 REGIONAL DIRECTORS/COORDINATORS ROSTER Pacific Union Conference Virgil Childs, Vice President for Black Ministries Regional Ministries for African American Affairs 2686 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village CA 91361 805-413-7388 • www.pucregionalsda.com Arizona Conference Kingsley Palmer, VP, Assistant to the President for African American Ministries 13405 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 991-6777 • azconference.org Central California Conference James Scarborough, Director, African American Ministries 2820 Willow Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 • (559) 347-3169 cccafricanamerican.adventistfaith.org/ Nevada Utah Conference O’Neil Madden, Director, Regional Ministries 10475 Double R Blvd., Reno, NV 89521 (775) 322-6929 • nucadventist.com Northern California Conference Willie Johnson, Director 401 Taylor Blvd., P.O. Box 23165 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925) 685-4300 • info@nccsda.com www.nccsda.com Southeastern California Conference Robert Edwards, V.P., Black Ministries Department 11330 Pierce Street, Riverside, CA 92505 (951) 509-2298 • seccblackmin.adventistfaith.org/ Southern California Conference Royal Harrison, Director, Greater Los Angeles Region 1535 E. Chevy Chase Dr., Glendale CA 91206 818-546-8610 • scc.adventist.org/

My Tribute to A Fallen Soldier Dana C. Edmond

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ell before dawn, my cell phone rang at 3:19 a.m. I looked down at my watch as I stumbled across our hotel room in Spokane, Washington to answer the phone.

At first, I thought it was my smart phone alarm going off. Then I realized my phone was ringing. Had I not been so sleepy, I would have remembered the rule that I had as a parent when I had teenage children living at home: “There is no such thing as a good call at 3:00 in the morning.” This one wasn’t either.

On the other end of the line was Elder Pete Palmer, Vice President for Administration, Allegheny East Conference. He was calling me to tell me that his Conference President and fellow administrator, Elder Henry J. Fordham, and his wife, Mrs. Sharon Fordham, had been killed in a fire in their home.

His passing meant that five Regional Conference Presidencies changed hands in 12 months—two because of tragic, unexpected deaths. I do not believe that we have ever had that much turnover in Regional Ministries or experienced that much loss in so short a time. But God is still in control.

Vice President Palmer’s call to me set in motion a number of calls and texts from me: texts to the Regional Presidents Council informing them of the tragic loss of Elder and Mrs. Fordham; a call to the President of the Regional Presidents Council, Elder William L. Winston, also President of the South Atlantic Conference; texts to our office staff, with a separate text to my fellow Executive Director, Dr. William T. Cox, giving them the same information; texts to former Allegheny East President, Elder Alvin M. Kibble and former Regional Conference Retirement Director, Elder Joseph McCoy, to make certain that they were informed. Amidst it all, I received an incoming call that came from a stunned and stricken member of Elder Fordham’s staff.

Then I made a series of calls and texts back and forth with our new Communications Director, Pastor Darriel Hoy. This was her first crisis and she handled it as expected—very well, with diligence and professionalism, despite the fact that she, like me, was on the West Coast at the time, and it was still very early on a Sunday morning.

She and I worked on a statement of condolence from our office on behalf of the Regional Presidents and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan. You will see a lot of tributes on social media about the Fordhams. If you did not have the privilege of knowing them (and I did not know Mrs. Fordham—so this tribute is more about him), believe what you are reading. He was a special person, and I believe she was, too. Here’s why: 1. He was a kind man. I am glad that I had the opportunity to tell him this while he was alive, but I said on a number of occasions that out of all the people that I deal with in this position, no

it again at our board meeting. I just wish Elder Fordham could be there in one of his famous three piece suits and berets to make that presentation with me.

I remember our historic African and African-American Leaders Summit in Kenya in 2019.

The Assistant to the President for the East Central African Division, Elder G. Emmanuel Pelote, and I spent months working on the agenda for the meeting. We took turns waking each other up with phone calls that were in the evening in one of our time zones but were in the middle of the night in the other person’s time zone.

We got about halfway through our carefully planned agenda when Elder Fordham raised his hand in the back of the room and said, in essence, “We need to talk about the misconceptions that we have about each other. I heard that you guys Elder Dana Edmond, center, speaks to Allegheny East pastors, while President think…” and it opened up an honest dialog that Fordham and Communications Director, LaTasha Hewitt, look on. blew a huge hole in our schedule. But it did exactly what we wanted in terms of building a bridge between us and our African brothers. That bridge still exists today. one was nicer and more kind to me than Elder Fordham.

3. He was secure enough to empower other people. He invited me to Rarely did a conversation with him end without him thanking me for provide an orientation for the Executive Committee of Allegheny East the work I was trying to do—“I appreciate you, buddy,” he would say. and then to stay over and make a presentation at his Pastor’s Meeting.

I appreciated him for another reason: He was one of the few adminAt those meetings, the Ministerial Director and the Communications istrators in the world less tech-savvy than I am! He rarely responded to Director (who is female) were more visible at that meeting than he was; text messages and I learned how to make sure his administrative assishe did not feel the need to be in the spotlight. He empowered them. tant knew whatever it was I needed from him because I am not sure he I’ll miss Elder Fordham; I miss him already. I’ll miss going to his ofalways read my emails and his voice mail was always full. fice and having him show me the latest artifact he brought home from But he always returned my calls. He and his administrative assistant one of his trips. His office looked like a museum. I was fascinated by his almost always saw to it that my office received whatever we were reship collection. I am a semi-collector, too, and mine consists of model questing. cars from the 1950s and 60s.

If he could not come to a meeting that we called, usually either he or It is still hard to believe that they are gone. I confess that every time his administrative assistant would let me know. I always told him, “ElI see a picture of Elder Fordham, I stare at it—almost as if, if I look at it der Fordham, you don’t owe me any explanations as to why you can’t long enough, he and Mrs. Fordham will come back. But I know in my be present.” He would always respond, “I want to support you.” And heart that is not true. he did.

Thankfully, what is true is that one day soon, Jesus will come back 2. He was down to earth. He did not say a lot in our meetings, but for us. And when He does, His coming will bring the Fordhams back to when he did speak, you got the point. us. “And so shall we ever be with the Lord” in that land where the only I remember I was making a presentation at PELC about gentrificathing that will die, is death. tion and the movement of Caucasians into the inner city. When it came I know that he and Mrs. Fordham would want you to time for questions, Elder Fordham raised his hand and in his typical be there, too. t plain-spoken way said in essence, “THEY call it gentrification; I call it ________________________________________________ ‘D-Negro-lezaition’”—meaning it was a way to move out black people, except he didn’t say “Negro.” It broke up the place.

Dana C. Edmond, Director, Office for Regional ConThen, he gave the best solution that I have heard to how we need to ference Ministries, is publisher of Regional Voice Magaddress ministering to the upper-income Caucasians that are moving azine. into our neighborhoods and who must receive the gospel. I’ll present REGIONAL VOICE • SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

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AEC STATEMENT

AEC LEADERS

My Reflections on Elder Fordham

By Pete Palmer

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begin my reflections on Elder Henry J. Fordham III with one of the first times I heard him preach in the early 1990s. I don’t remember the details of the sermon, but I remember being impressed with his passion and his ability to connect with people from the pulpit. It was his ability to connect with people that made him one of the most beloved leaders in our Allegheny East Conference territory. It was his gift for making people feel cared for and loved that made him my favorite ministerial director when I joined the ministry later in the 90s.

I remember working as an intern on camp pitch, which for those who are not familiar, is the time when the ministers would go to our campground in the late spring and early summer to prepare the grounds for camp meeting by pitching family tents, big tents for meetings, shoveling mulch, setting up chairs, putting out cots, etc. One day I was working on an assignment when I was called off that assignment to check the family tents to make sure that each tent had two cots. For the record, I thought it was a pretty “ridiculous” assignment, but I had gotten used to being assigned tasks that I didn’t think made sense. I went up the first two rows of tents and when I began the third row of tents, I pulled back the tent flap and I saw snakes everywhere. There was a cobra sitting up as if to strike, I believe there was also a rattle snake and other snakes that I didn’t take time to identify. I immediately dropped the tent flap and yelled. By the time I dropped the tent flap I realized that the snakes were stuffed and then I heard the laughter from senior ministers who had set up the prank. And standing there laughing was Elder Fordham from whom they had borrowed the stuffed snakes from his menagerie of stuffed [preserved] animals. He had bear rugs with the heads sitting up, small stuffed bears, elk heads on the wall, etc. They were all over his

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Elder Pete and Mrs. Dahlia Palmer speak at the funeral. office. He was not just a taxidermist’s best friend. He collected all kinds of artifacts.

I remember about two years ago, when he showed me a six-foot sarcophagus that he picked up somewhere and had slipped into his office in the wee hours of the morning.

While Elder Fordham was one of the kindest and gentlest souls I have ever met, there was another side to him. He was a fierce defender of all kinds of people. Just as he collected all kinds of stuffed animals and artifacts, he also collected relationships. He made friends easily and treasured those relationships. And even when he was being advised to give up on a particular relationship, he would hold onto people, even those who did not appear to have his best interest at heart. Even when we as administrators had to make difficult decisions to terminate employment or take disciplinary action, Elder Fordham had the ability to empathize with these workers. Which of us can forget that at a worker’s meeting (pre-COVID) when he

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went around the room and prayed one-onone with pastors? As he prayed with us, he wept with those who were weeping and rejoiced with those who were rejoicing.

My favorite memory of Elder Fordham as an administrator speaks to the relationship many of us as pastors had with him throughout his varied roles in the office.

I was in a difficult situation with one of my churches. I asked Elder Fordham to come to the church board meeting and explain the position of the administration as it relates to the challenges we were facing as a pastor and church board. Elder Fordham was asked to give the opening remarks and he began by telling a nature story about a male grizzly bear who had adopted a bear cub. He explained this was quite unusual, since male bears have been known to eat cubs. One day as the cub was out playing, the cub happened upon a mountain lion. The cub, being fearful of being eaten by the mountain lion, reared back on its hind legs and growled

in its cub-like voice and bared its teeth.

Surprisingly, the mountain lion turned around and walked away. Then the lens widened to show the male “papa” bear was behind the cub and was the real reason that the mountain lion backed off. He turned the meeting back over to me to chair. He didn’t explain. He didn’t comment further. He didn’t editorialize because he didn’t have to. His point was clear. Papa bear was here. For those of us who were fortunate enough to have Elder Fordham as our ministerial director, or as our executive secretary or as our president, we have lost our Papa bear.

Personally, I have lost a friend, a mentor, and a spiritual father. Professionally,

Top photo left to right: Stewardship Director, Dr. Marcellus Robinson; VP for Administration, Pete Palmer and Ministerial Director Dr. Gene Donaldson gather at the fence firefighters placed around the Fordham property.

I hope to have half the compassion and empathy that Elder Fordham showed as an administrator. t ___________________________________ Elder Pete Palmer is Vice President for Administration of the Allegheny East Conference ofSeventh-day Adventists.

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FAMILY T RIBU T ES

FAMILY T RIBU T ES

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This tragedy is unthinkable.

’m an only child, but I soon learned I had eight cousins who were like my brothers and sisters.

Our childhood was the best. We didn’t have much financially, but our wealth was the times we spent together.

We faced racism in our little school in Germantown, Ohio. I remember about the second or third grade, Sherry and I were getting our little chocolate milk, and we heard giggles. Somebody said, “Y’all don’t need to drink chocolate milk, ‘cause you’re chocolate already!”

Well, you know in third grade, we kind of let that slide.

And then we signed up to be Brownies—that’s the little club [you join] before you become a Girl Scout. And we heard these little giggles again. “You don’t have to sign, ‘cause you’re Brownies already!”

I looked up and the next thing I knew, my cousin Sherry had stepped away from me, and went over to this little circle. They thought they were cute. I don’t know what she said, but I know we never heard those kinds of remarks again!

And the nine of us—we excelled in that school! t

Saundra Brooks

Cousin

We’ve been shaken.

We’ve been shook.

We’ve been woke up!

There is no drug, no sex, no money that could make me feel better.

But our parents left us something.

And it’s not in the will.

They left us Jesus.

And they left us God Himself.

So that’s what we’re going to lean on.

And I would like to say to my beautiful parents: “Well done, faithful servants.

Well done, faithful servants!

Sleep in peace.” t

Donovan Fordham, Son

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utch and I had several things in common, but I thought about two things. We were both born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And I’m still a Pittsburgh Steeler fan! Butch became an Eagles fan! But I didn’t hold it against him!

The second thing [we had in common was this]. Butch had two sisters and no brother. I had two sisters and no brother. So we began to consider ourselves as “Cousin-Brothers.”

One thing you might know if you’re a part of this family, is that family name is very important to us. And before Butch married; before I married, we used to talk often about: “We’ve got to keep this family name going!”

Well, I had two sons. Butch did better than I did—he had three!

One thing you might not know about Butch is [he] was a fierce competitor at playing games! He liked to play Monopoly. He could play Scrabble. He could play Uno. He could play Checkers—whatever it might be!

When I was at Oakwood College and he was at the academy, [Oakwood Academy], he would come to my room and we would play two-hand Rook up until the wee hours of the morning.

Every family reunion, we would have a tournament, and

Mama and Papa— You guys won.

They had everything.

They had faith in their beliefs.

They had love.

They had family.

They had each other. t

Leila Danielle Fordham, Granddaughter

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Butch and I were always partners. And I do recall the last family reunion when we played, we won the trophy!

I can’t imagine a family reunion without my Cousin-Brother. I can’t imagine one.

But I just look forward to the great reunion when we’ll meet together again, and see each other. t

Walter Fordham, Jr.

“Cousin-Brother”

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resident Henry J. Fordham and First Lady Sharon Fordham were family to me.

My nuclear family (Elder C.D. and Mrs, Walterene Brooks, and brother Charles) started a love affair with the Wright family that transcended into a yearly pilgrimage to Germantown during the Thanksgiving weekend for 20 years or so. Oh, how I looked forward to that occasion and experience! . . . Mother and Sherry would talk daily. . . . They talked about life’s issues, life’s battles and how the Lord had given them victories. They would share songs that had touched their souls. They spoke about how good God was.

During Sherry’s illness, I wanted to be there for her and Butch the way they had been for my parents. I would call Butch just to check on Sherry and let him know how hard I was praying. He’d thank me and tell me that perhaps she was resting, and he would tell her that I had called and that I loved her and I was praying.

At times, I would receive a call from Butch—out of the blue! I’d be at work and I would drop everything when I would see Butch’s name on my cell. I’d pick up and he would say “Hey Dee Dee, Sherry just wanted to speak to you.”

And when I did talk to her, she spoke like this” “Diedra, you know the Lord is coming soon. He’s got to!”

She spoke of being sealed.

And ready.

How important it is to be right with the Lord, and the conditions we’re seeing in this world.

And she allowed me to pray with her and for her.

She would say ‘Amen,’ then tell me again how special I was to her.

At the last time I prayed for her, she said, “I’m all right now. God is good!

I just want to trust His will for my life.” t

Diedra Brooks Tramel

Niece

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FRIENDS TRIBUTES

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FRIENDS TRIBUTES

he first time I read the article, (a friend sent a text with the news) I read to find out all the facts—and I was devastated.

But then I read the article [again], I read it with faith—the substance of things hoped for—the evidence of things we cannot see!

(Hebrews 11:1, KJV) t

Rev. Richard Dickens, Pastor

New Metropolitan Baptist Church, Baltimore ***

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ho can a pastor turn to when he or she is grieving?

I have, in my brief life, turned to my brother and sister by another mother, Butch and Sherry Fordham.

When my mother was in a coma in 1987, . . . I was in Australia. I got back to Baltimore as quickly as I could. And when I got to the hospital, although my mother was in a coma that she never came out of, her pastor, Elder Fordham, was there, sleeping in the [hospital] Family Room, watching over her as I tried to get to her.

When my mother died, I was at the precipice of agnosticism—and Butch and Sherry pulled me back.

They gave me enough spiritual fitness so that when my brother died on my birthday in 2005, I had a little more Christianity inside of me.

Butch and Sherry were there for me again. And when my sister died in 2019, they were there for me.

In fact, I’ve heard Elder Fordham preach more eulogies than any preacher I’ve ever known!

So when I heard the devastating news—and that’s what it was to me, a reflex was to turn to Butch and Sherry.

But I was forced to turn to the One that was sung about today when I heard the lyrics, “Christ is all. He’s everything to me.” t

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herry and Butch and the kids and I go way back. I helped take care of the babies during those days when Sherry needed help managing the home. We established a wonderful friendship.

God is faithful. He used this couple. Henry was the kind of guy who didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He actually milked cows [at the college dairy]. Sherry worked in the dorm. They did whatever [was needed] at Oakwood to keep the family going. I was just proud to have been a part of that.

The very weekend of July 18, I was to be with them, helping Butch take care of Sherry.

During her rehab days, Henry would say “Sherry is preaching in rehab! She’s telling everybody about the love of God. She’s Pastor Wintley Phipps, singing “It is Well.” telling everybody about Jesus and how He is faithful—in rehab!”

And then when I had some difficulties getting my flight out, Henry said, “Don’t worry about it.”

He said “I’m the one that signed up for better or for worse; for richer or for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part!”

He told me that two days before they left us.

God is always faithful. I never worry about it.

Sometimes His answers are faith-building for the rest of us.

And sometimes when His answer just can’t be found, God says “Trust Me.” t

Carolyn Ward-Moore

Friend

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haron’s story is one of unbreakable faith and confidence in prayer that her grandmother instilled in her as a child.

It was there when she met and married Henry.

It was there as she became the spiritual anchor for her family, It was there as she raised her children, lost her daughter and raised her grandchildren.

I believe it was there until she took her last breath.

Sharon would always tell me, “Rube, when my time comes, I want to be ready for the Kingdom.”

Well my dear friend, the life you lived speaks for you. t

Dr. Barry Black, Chaplain

Ruby Burrell

United States Senate

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Friend and Co-worker U. S. Social Security Administration

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ORCM/ RCRP

ORCM/ RCRP RESOLUTION

REGIONAL PRESIDENTS COUNCIL OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRIES REGIONAL CONFERENCE RETIREMENT PLAN

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST OFFICE FOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE MINISTRIES

ELDER HENRY J. FORDHAM III RESOLUTION

7000 Adventist Boulevard • Huntsville, Alabama 35896 Phone (256) 830-5002 • Fax (256) 830-5078

Whereas, the Regional Presidents Council, the Office for Regional Conference Ministries, and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan join the children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, colleagues, and members of the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in mourning the profound loss of ELDER HENRY J. FORDHAM III, and

Statement on the Loss of Elder and Mrs. Fordham

Whereas, ELDER HENRY FORDHAM served with distinction as a member of the Regional Presidents Council and as the President of the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Whereas, ELDER HENRY FORDHAM loved Christ and lived the Great Commission by going and making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commanded him, and

July 18, 2021

Whereas, ELDER HENRY FORDHAM loved, served, and prioritized his first congregation – his wife, children, grandchildren, and other family, and

The Regional Presidents Council, the Office for Regional Conference Ministries, and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan Office are devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved brother and colleague, Elder Henry Fordham, President, Allegheny East Conference, and his wife, Mrs. Sharon Fordham.

Elder Fordham was a valued member of the Regional Presidents Council. His kindness and humility endeared him to his fellow leaders. Additionally, the sacrificial service of his wife, Mrs. Sharon Fordham, was a blessing to our church. They will be greatly missed, and they will be forever in the hearts of those of us who had the wonderful privilege of knowing them and serving with them.

The Regional Conferences, the Allegheny East Conference, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church have suffered an enormous loss. Our hearts and prayers go out especially to their children and their large extended family, as well as to his Allegheny East administrative colleagues, Vice Presidents Pete Palmer and Lawrance Martin, the office staff, the workers, and the constituents of the Allegheny East Conference.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

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Whereas, ELDER HENRY FORDHAM was an inspiration and example of victorious Christian living described in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed yet not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in his body,” and Whereas, we believe that we shall enjoy the fellowship of ELDER HENRY FORDHAM again according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, when “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Regional Conference Presidents Council, the Office for Regional Conference Ministries, and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan hereby recognize and celebrate the life and ministry of ELDER HENRY J. FORDHAM III, and we pray that all who are mourning will take comfort in the words of Jesus Christ found in John 14:1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.”

WE FURTHER RESOLVE that a copy of this resolution be given to the family and a copy be kept in the Regional Conference archives.

Elder William L. Winston, President, South Atlantic Conference / President, Regional Conference Presidents Council Elder Marvin C. Brown, President, Allegheny West Conference Elder Roger Bernard, President, Central States Conference Elder Garth Gabriel, President, Lake Region Conference Dr. Daniel Honore, President, Northeastern Conference Elder Benjamin Jones, President, South Central Conference Dr. Michael Owusu, President, Southeastern Conference Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, President, Southwest Region Conference Dr. Kenneth Manders, President, Bermuda Conference Dr. Leslie Pollard, President, Oakwood University Elder Virgil Childs, Vice President for Regional Ministries, Pacific Union Conference Elder Byron Dulan, Vice President for Regional Ministries, North Pacific Union Dr. William T. Cox, Executive Director, Regional Conference Retirement Plan Elder Dana C. Edmond, Executive Director, Office for Regional Conference Ministries Elder Darriel Hoy, Communications Director, Office for Regional Conference Ministries / Regional Conference Retirement Plan 12

Whereas, ELDER HENRY FORDHAM was a pastor’s pastor, providing spiritual care, encouragement, and the ministry of presence to his peers and mentoring generations of new pastors, and

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Be at peace in the everlasting love of the Lord.

Respectfully submitted on this 8th day of August 2021 by the Regional Presidents Council, the Office for Regional Conference Ministries, and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan.

Elder William L. Winston, President, South Atlantic Conference / President, Regional Presidents Council Elder Pete Palmer, Vice-President for Administration, Allegheny East Conference Elder Marvin C. Brown, President, Allegheny West Conference Elder Roger Bernard, President, Central States Conference Elder Garth Gabriel, President, Lake Region Conference Dr. Daniel Honore, President, Northeastern Conference Elder Benjamin Jones, President, South Central Conference Dr. Michael Owusu, President, Southeastern Conference Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, President, Southwest Region Conference Dr. Kenneth Manders, President, Bermuda Conference Dr. Leslie Pollard, President, Oakwood University Elder Virgil Childs, Vice-President for Regional Ministries, Pacific Union Conference Elder Byron Dulan, Vice-President for Regional Ministries, North Pacific Union Conference Dr. William T. Cox, Executive Director, Regional Conference Retirement Plan Elder Dana C. Edmond, Executive Director, Office for Regional Conference Ministries Elder Darriel Hoy, Communications Director, Office for Regional Conference Ministries / Regional Conference Retirement Plan REGIONAL VOICE • SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

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TRIBUTE

PFA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

An Object Lesson In Grace

By Darriel Hoy

W

hen I first met Elder Henry Fordham, I couldn’t believe the cool dude rocking a beret was my conference executive secretary! Over the next few months, I became better acquainted with Elder Fordham.

I learned that he was a servant-leader. He rolled up his sleeves and pitched in whenever, wherever, and however he was needed. Elder Fordham was a true gentleman.

I will always remember him yielding his seat at the front of the sanctuary to make room for the two females new to ministry who were content to be seated at the back of the sanctuary. I later realized that Elder Fordham was more than a gentleman— he was a catalyst for cultural change who modeled the equitable treatment of women pastors to others. He very publicly demonstrated his support for us when he escorted Pastor Paula Olivier and me out of the serving line to the head table where he and the senior ministers had already been seated and served.

I value the moments I spent with Elder Fordham one-on-one and in small circles.

But there is one experience that I treasure above all others. It was a defining moment that shaped me as a person and as a pastor.

It was a crisis, and it was fitting that Mrs. Fordham was right there by Elder Ford­ ham’s side.

We were at church, and the unimaginable happened. Elder Fordham had momentarily left his keys in the ignition and the van running while he assisted his family inside the church. He intended to come back immediately and park the vehicle in the church parking lot; however, he never got a chance to do so. Before he could return, someone stole the van!

A handful of people were there in the room when Elder Fordham announced that his van had been stolen and that 14

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Elder and Sis. Fordham had “good religion,” and they brought tears to my eyes as they began to speak with the man who stole their vehicle. a member had gotten a glimpse of the young man who had stolen it. Someone offered to call 911, but Elder Fordham said not yet. He had left his cell phone in the van, and Mrs. Fordham was now calling his number. There was a pregnant silence as doubt permeated the room. With the exception of the Fordhams, we were all thinking, “No thief can be that dumb. He’s not going to answer the phone in the van he just stole.” But it was more than naive optimism that prompted Elder and Mrs. Fordham to call Elder Fordham’s phone.

It was steadfast faith. Elder Fordham had either just read an article or watched a crime show that said people who steal cell phones almost always answer the calls because it’s a habit or reflex to answer a phone when it rings. Elder Fordham was convinced that God had supplied him with this new knowledge for this particular situation, and so Sis. Sharon dialed his number. And we all cheered when the thief answered the phone!

My grandmother used to say religion is who you are and what you do after the sermon has ended. Elder and Sis. Fordham had “good religion,” and they brought tears to my eyes as they began to speak with the man who stole their vehicle. Mrs. Fordham initiated the conversation, and if I had not known she was talking with a thief, I would have thought she was speaking with her next-door neighbor. She greeted the young man, asked him how he was doing, shared who she was, and coaxed him to speak to Elder Fordham.

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In the same manner, Elder Fordham continued the conversation with the thief.

He could have threatened to call the cops.

He could have cussed, screamed, and hollered. He could have guilt-tripped the young man about stealing from a pastor—a man of God. But instead, Elder Fordham took the phone from Mrs. Fordham and said, “Hey buddy.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Elder and Mrs. Fordham demonstrated that they stood on the firm foundation of Christ the Solid Rock. As Elder Fordham talked with the van thief, he shared that he was a grandfather who was helping to raise his grandchildren. He explained the significance of his daughter Danielle’s van to his grandchildren and creating a stable environment for them.

I wish that Elder Fordham’s conversation with the young man who stole their van could have been recorded. I didn’t fully appreciate the conversation at the time because I was angry and offended that some stranger had disrespected the Fordhams. As I heard Elder Fordham pleading with this thief to keep the cell phone and return the van, all that was “hood” rose up in me. I wanted to find this thief and give him a beat down that he would never forget. Please understand that I was sitting in church with these violent thoughts filling my heart!

Elder and Mrs. Fordham’s words, actions, and very nature were an indictment of my character. As I listened to their conversation with the thief, I learned lessons that I’ll never forget. I believe the trajectory of my ministry was forever changed.

First and foremost, Elder and Mrs. Fordham weren’t at war with the young man who stole their van. But how could they not be? Why weren’t they boiling with rage and angry about this injus-

tice they were forced to suffer? Because throughout this whole ordeal, Elder and Mrs. Fordham were talking with God. I heard them. They asked, “Lord, what do you want us to do?” And I believe that the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts and guided their steps, their voices, and their actions.

In this moment of crisis, I absorbed from Elder Fordham that pastoring isn’t a position, it’s a lifestyle. You can’t turn on and turn off when you want to be a pastor.

Elder Fordham wasn’t the wronged person having a conversation with a thief. He was a pastor having a heart-to-heart conversation with one of God’s children. He was a shepherd recovering a lost a sheep. He was a people-lover bringing out the best in a person who others had written off. As he

talked with the thief, he repeatedly called him buddy and brother. If you’ve ever wondered about Jesus’ conversation with the thief on the cross, if you’ve ever imagined what Jesus said and what Jesus sounded like talking to that thief as they both hung on those cruel crosses, I can tell you. Because the Holy Spirit gave Elder and Mrs. Fordham Jesus’ words, His gentleness, His voice, and His heart of reconciliation as they spoke with the thief in their van.

Elder and Mrs. Fordham’s experience taught me that yes, bad things happen to good people. But the Fordhams refused to be pitied and viewed as victims. They taught me that faith is the “secret sauce” that elevates us from being victims to being victorious over every circumstance in life. When Christ is your foundation,

when Christ is your hope, when Christ is your destination, then “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

I wasn’t privy to all the details, but God gave Elder and Mrs. Fordham their van back. I don’t know what happened to the thief who stole their van, but I believe that thief met God through the Fordhams that day. I know I did. t _______________________ Pastor Darriel Hoy is Communications Director for the Office for Regional Conference Ministries and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan.

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GENERAL CONFERENCE TRIBUTE

NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION TRIBUTE

A Tribute to Elder Henry and Mrs. Sharon Fordham

By Dr. G. Alexander Bryant And Mrs. Desiree Bryant NAD President And First Lady Dr. Bryant They truly modeled to us that your first congregation and your highest spiritual responsibility is to your family. He modeled to us what it meant to honor your wife and be there through thick and thin . . . even “unto death do us part.”

Mrs. Bryant Their legacy of compassion and love is indelibly etched in our minds and so many others.

Dr. Bryant To Joey, Shawn and Donovan, and the entire Fordham and Wright families: We were profoundly shaken as we heard the news of the passing of our brother and sister, Elder and Mrs. Fordham.

We extend our deepest sympathies on behalf of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. We stand here today to represent not only our Division, but the entire Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Our Regional Conference Presidents, who have a special bond in connection to Elder and Mrs. Fordham, sent a special resolution—as well as all denominational employees of our Church. I’m going to ask anyone employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church if you would please join me in standing to honor this family today—along with your spouses.

Mrs. Bryant We stand here today to pay our respects and to acknowledge that we have had a great man and a great woman walk among us, and to give tribute to their legacy— which will far outlive their mortal bodies.

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Dr. Bryant The impact of their ministry has traveled far beyond the territorial lines of Allegheny East Conference. It’s been to Africa, Asia, Russia, South America and has reached every corner of this Division for a global influence and a global legacy.

They modeled for us that ministry was not comprised in our titles or positions— but in how we stoop to help those that are wounded, disenfranchised and less fortunate. They indeed modeled how to reflect the compassion of Christ through an administrative lens. No matter what level he rose to, he never lost his shepherd’s heart. That’s who he was.

Mrs. Bryant She never lost her caring and compassionate spirit. That’s who she was.

Dr. Bryant He never forgot that ministry was staying in touch with the people.

Mrs. Bryant She always thought to express a word of encouragement—no matter who you were.

Dr. Bryant We, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, owe this family a debt of gratitude for sharing your father and your mother with us.

Today, this tragedy is only bearable as we recall how deeply Elder and Sister Fordham believed that this is not the end of the story.

Mrs. Bryant This is not the last chapter of the book.

Dr. Bryant This is not the last stanza in the song.

Paul says, “I would not have you ignorant . . . concerning them which are asleep.”

He didn’t say we would not be sorrowful, but he said, “Don’t sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, KJV).

We have the same hope burning in our hearts that Elder and Sister Fordham had in theirs. The hope in the soon return of Jesus. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them . . . to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, KJV). t _____________________________________ Dr. and Mrs. G. Alexander Bryant delivered this official, yet very personal tribute at the funeral for Elder and Mrs. Henry Fordham.

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COLUMBIA UNION TRIBUTE

Words of Condolence

By Dr. Dave Weigley, President Columbia Union of Seventh-day Adventists

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n behalf of the Columbia Union Family— To the Fordham Family; To the Wright Family, We send our deepest regards, sympathy and condolences.”

“Mrs. Becky Weigley would be with me today, but with the new surge (Delta variant of COVID), she is immunocompromised because of her fight with cancer as well. She wanted to be here.

She sends her love.”

Dr. Weigley went on to tell of shared global travels he had with Elder Fordham—once to India. He told of the artifacts Elder Fordham kept from those travels. He also couldn’t pass by someone with a financial need. He would give, even though that meant he would soon be surrounded by others with needs!

Of Mrs. Fordham, Dr. Weigley said: “Sharon was one of those unbelievable people who was so gracious and kind.”

He recently called the couple when Mrs. Fordham was hospitalized. It was not a good day for her. But when she heard Elder Fordham talking, she told him to ask, “How’s Becky?” t

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OAKWOOD UNIVERSIT Y TRIBUTE

WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSIT Y TRIBUTE

WAU Names Religion Department after Elder and Mrs. Fordham July 19, 2021

Oakwood University

Our Washington Adventist University community feels the immense weight of the tragic loss of our Board Trustee Elder Henry J. Fordham, and his wife Sharon. The loss of a great university supporter and servant leader of this magnitude motivates WAU to honor Elder Fordham and his wife for their lifetime of ministry.

August 8, 2021

With the support of the President’s Cabinet and the WAU Religion Department, President Weymouth Spence announces the naming of the Henry and Sharon Fordham Department of Religion at Washington Adventist University.

Office of the President

To the Entire Fordham Family, Friends, and Relatives Concerning the passing of President Henry and First Lady Sharon (Wright) Fordham Your Oakwood University family unites to express our heartfelt sympathy over the painful loss of our beloved President and First Lady of the great Allegheny East Conference. Elder and Mrs. Fordham were loved as a model couple--a loving husband, a generous and caring wife, a revered father, a cherished mother, a doting uncle, a proud auntie, caring grandparents, committed servants, and a model pastoral couple. The Fordham’s legacy of service was as distinguished as their resumes of professional accomplishments. They lived a life of caring, loving, and supporting—giving others a second chance when it was needed most; standing up for people of color in difficult conversations, and carrying the torch of ministry both far and wide. Prudence and I remember their many visits to the Oakwood University campus. The Fordhams enriched every life they touched. For 47 years the Fordhams served God’s work. Forty-seven years of ministry by this wonderful couple will intensify the burden of our loneliness. But be assured that God’s Spirit and the untiring love of our church family will surely bring peace and comfort to your family. And to Henry, Shawn, and Donovan, as well as the beautiful grandchildren, may the warm and living memories you treasure of Pastor and Mrs. Fordham keep you through this difficult time. Please know that each of you are in our thoughts and prayers as you gain strength from the fond memories you cherish of Pastor and Mrs. Fordham.

At Oakwood University, the passing of the Fordhams is felt by the entire alumni family. The Oakwood University Board of Trustees will always remember the sterling service of President Fordham. Butch and Sherry’s faith looked for the day of blessed resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:52 states, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” To that end, we join our faith to theirs. And we extend to your family our prayers, knowing that your weeping is for this night of sadness, but God’s joy will come in the morning of his resurrection. Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

Very sincerely,

Elder Fordham has been a fervent WAU supporter as a board trustee and president of the Allegheny East Conference. The ministry of Elder Fordham and his wife, Sharon, has been a fantastic example of unwavering and dedicated Christ-centered compassion for their communities and extended far beyond our local borders to touch the whole world. The gravity of their sudden absence cannot be understated. As the WAU community, we want to honor this legacy and motivate future generations to rise to the challenge of this couple’s stature in Christian ministry.

We continue to pray for the Fordham family and the larger church community that mourns this unexpected loss. We all look forward to the day when we join Elder Fordham and Sharon as we all see the face of Jesus when He returns.

Washington Adventist University is Montgomery County’s only four-year private college. Part of the Seventh-day Adventist system of higher education, Washington Adventist University has been educating college students since 1904 on a 19-acre campus in suburban Takoma Park close to the nation’s capital. Approximately 1,000 students of all faiths participate in the university’s nine graduate and 42 undergraduate programs. The 2019 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington Adventist University among the best regional colleges in the north.

Media Contact: Richard Castillo, 405 802-5661, rcastillo@wau.edu

Drs. Leslie and Prudence Pollard and the Oakwood University Family

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EULOGY

GR AV ESIDE

What Do You See?

Remarks By Henry Joseph Fordham IV

Eulogy, Delivered by Elder Henry Wright, Cousin of Mrs. Sharon Wright Fordham

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wo good people, covered by the blood of Jesus, have shockingly and unexpectedly and tragically gone to sleep.

We’re jarred by it. We are shaken by this.

Death is the unconquered foe of mankind—without Jesus.

There is not a person sitting under the sound of my voice—and I know we piously say, “I’m not afraid to die.” [But] you’re not being truthful with yourself. Death unnerves us.

The only thing that you take to the grave that is of any value is your connection with the Life Giver.

And so the Lord uses your life and your existence to keep calling you back to the fact that He is the Source of your life.

Without Him you can do and be nothing!

Therefore the only purpose of life on earth right now is to prepare for Eternal Life.

We get upset about death. But God is so calm. . . .

At the last trump, those who are dead shall rise up.

I have a trumpet that has the power to manipulate molecules, no matter where they have died!

They shall come forth!

Mortal, having put on immortality.

Corruption now devoid of corruption and full of incorruption.

And I [God] can do that with a Trumpet!

Death is the only thing that will make you stop. Don’t sit here pious today. You know when you heard about it, you paused and asked yourself, “Had that happened to me, would I have been ready?”

You know you did it! God knew you would do it!

God arranges these absences in your life, at particular points in your life, 22

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because He knows that particular absence will affect you for the rest of your life.

We can’t shake this one. I don’t know where you are [emotionally].

I’m just as shaken today as I was on the eighteenth.

This sermon’s title is “What Do You See?” The text is Isaiah 1:6: “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (KJV) When you see the King, you are undone.

Verse 5: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Are you ready?

You don’t have to sit here and worry

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because Jesus has paid it all.

Verses 6 and 7: “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”

Everything has been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. t *** Space allows only excerpts to be shared here. To hear this moving message in its entirety, go to the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists website to play the service.

_____________________________________ Elder Henry Wright has served as a pastor, professor in Religion and Theology and senior administrator in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

t’s been rough. It’s been a terrible grief—something that none of us could ever imagine.

And I know I’m not alone.

We’re just trying to get our legs under us. And it’s hard.

But I’m standing amongst a group of people who are feeling the same things that I’m feeling.

I know my family. [Some have] started us down the road of healing. You have no idea what that means to us.

The Lord took away our sister, our girl [Danielle, who died in 2003]. She was kind of the glue between the brothers, that, you know, softened them. Then He decided to take the other two pieces that . . . kept the brothers in check.

Well the Lord, in taking my parents, decided that we needed something to get into the Kingdom that we did not yet have. And that we could not get it with my parents alive. That’s how I feel about my family.

There’s a lesson that we are supposed to get—not just me and my brothers— but everybody here, every cousin; every member of the Allegheny East Conference! There’s a lesson here that we— Have mercy if we miss it!

That my parents would have died in vain!

The Lord has done this, allowed this, for a reason.

But if we leave this site committed to making sure we recognize that lesson when it comes, more people would have been saved in their deaths than ever would have been if they had lived.

And that needs to be our commitment for everybody here.

Take the lives of my parents with you.

Know that the Lord is in control.

It hurts. I’m hurt.

My brother Shawn is hurt.

We’re hurt. We’re hurt.

But the Lord will see us through.

He will.

I have no doubt, He will see us through! *** Here he pauses to give thanks to Elder Pete Palmer, Allegheny East Vice President for Administration, for his kindness and faithfulness to Elder and Mrs. Fordham, especially when the sons could not be with them. He ends his thanks with an embrace for the “fourth brother.” Then he ends his remarks with these words: I just want to thank everyone involved in helping just to boost us up.

Just because the service is over, don’t forget us!

Keep us in your prayers.

Give us the occasional call; occasional prayer—“Just thinking about you.”

Believe me, we’ll need it. Because now that the service is all over, and people begin to go back to their normal lives, we are now faced with a void. Now it’s time that we face the void. And we’re not ready! We’re just not.

But the Lord will see us through.

A song was cut from the service, family. We’re going to do that now!

He then led the group into a rousing rendition of the song, “Lo, This is Our God,” by the beloved Seventh-day Adventist Christian composer and musician, Eleanor Wright. The words to the chorus are: Lo, this is our God How we have waited How we have waited Lo, this is our God Our God will save us.

He will save us. t

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