Pastor Nolanda Y. Love

The Honorable John J. Kennedy – friend, brother, neighbor, exuberant problem solver and encourager since a youth, was born to be great – and great he was! Although a little younger than me, we were blessed to have a longtime friendship and for a season, attend church together in Northwest Pasadena. Affectionately called “John,” he meant the world to My husband, Joe and me, our sons, the Smiths and extended Love families. He was the people’s advocate, and always willing to make things happen for everyone, from the smallest to the biggest cause, which included; securing greatly needed legal assistance, the right to vote, housing, and equal opportunities for our citizens. Councilmember Kennedy believed in partnership; and I admired his amazing collaboration with others, in particular his sister, Lena Kennedy. He became one of the shining treasures of our beautiful City that he loved.

Quite significant to John’s life, was his faith. He loved the Lord, the Word and was a man of prayer. It was not at all unusual for me to receive a text or phone call from him asking me to intercede on behalf of someone else, to share a scripture or on other occasions to pray for him. My heart smiled whenever I opened my phone to a wonderful inspirational/ spiritual message for the day from John.

Our relationship with John was a two-way street, and we always appreciated his efforts to inform and include us. I valued being able to pour into him and be a significant spiritual influence in his life. My husband’s mentoring led way to spirited conversations about various topics especially government, business and politics.

I will miss that booming voice, big grin and infectious smile on that handsome face of our very own world changer. I can imagine he’s read and presented thousands of resolutions and declarations to include the special visits he made to celebrate “Mother” Maggie Love and also Aunt Corrie Harris, on their 100th birthdays. While we are sad at his passing, we honor his memory forever, and are so grateful to call him brother and friend!

Who I am and much of what God has enabled me to do has been influenced and accomplished because I met a young man named John Jackson Kennedy. I believe I was introduced to John by his mother, Sister Leola Sudduth Kennedy, my near home state lady from Starkville, Mississippi. She shared with John and me some strong faith values. John answered the question: “…What does the Lord your God require of you, but

Reverend John B. Bledsoe

to fear the Lord your God to walk in all his ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”

(Deuteronomy 10:12).

John was a loving, caring, serving, and laboring person who sought to help others. John had so much love for God, parents, family, faith, community, the City of Pasadena, and so many more. Thanks be to God for the life, love, labor, and legacy of John J. Kennedy. Rest in the Lord, John Jackson Kennedy.

The Reverend Philis Griffin, MDiv

Reflection on John J. Kennedy

The first time I met John J. Kennedy was at his family home on Hammond Street in Pasadena in 1971. John was a young boy, and I was a teenager. Upon seeing John, I said to myself, “He must be Lena’s little brother” because he had the same beautiful sandy complexion as his siblings. Fast forward to 2019, I was the strategist for the Mega Reunion: Decade of the Seventies. John was voted and accepted the invitation to be the reunion’s keynote speaker. Within two minutes of John’s address, I knew in my spirit that John was more than a politician. He was a powerful preacher, a public theologian, a soul committed to serving humanity, and a servantleader dedicated to transforming the city he deeply loved, Pasadena. Shortly thereafter, John and I became prayer partners and confidants. And, like many of his close friends, I received my daily text of Christian music, scripture, and devotion. Without question, John J. Kennedy had a pastor’s heart, a disciplined spirit, and he embodied the mind of Christ (John

1.12-13; Romans 12.2). He was a gentle giant, a man of integrity, an intellectual, and a person full of compassion and wisdom. Above all, John was my friend. Oftentimes, he told me that “God has allowed our paths to cross for a greater purpose than our friendship.” He was right!

The Dakar Plateau, Pasadena Sister Cities program is the reason our lives intersected, and is perhaps the most unique aspect of our friendship. In other words, John was the visionary of the alliance which set into motion a dream whose time had come – my dream to move to Dakar. I count it all joy that God entrusted John with a vision that impacted my life, and that John trusted me to fulfill my mission in Dakar to the glory of God!