The sanctuary, both overflow corridors and the basement of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church were all at capacity Saturday morning for the final services for the Rev. Dr. William Gillespie.
Rev. Gillespie passed away Friday, June 3, 2011 at the age of 80 after more than a half-century of service to his parishioners and the St. Louis community.
At his Homegoing service, he was praised by leaders of the institutions he had served – including his home church, Harris-Stowe State University and Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club.
An emotionally overwhelmed Martin Mathews, co-founder of Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club, fought back tears as he touched upon a friendship and partnership with Rev. Gillespie that spanned 55 years.
“As I look at all of you, we are not here to say goodbye to Rev. Gillespie, we are here to celebrate his life,” Mathews said.
“Thank all of you for supporting a man with that courage. Let us celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Gillespie and hope we can see him again.”
The story of Rev. Gillespie arriving at a dilapidated church with a basement full of water and a sanctuary empty of parishioners has been told several times since his passing. He arrived in St. Louis in 1956 with no money, no members and no home.
“I know for real that Rev. Gillespie was a man of courage and determination because in 1956 he visited my home at 4672 Ashland and told me that he was going to be the pastor of Cote Brilliante and that he didn’t have members,” Mathews said.
The transition from that empty, abandoned church to the overflowing building of mourners was evident.
“As we know, what began as a solitary ministry grew to impact this community and the larger church for which he came to be recognized,” said the Rev. Craig Palmer, interim executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, which administers Cote Brilliante.
“I want to offer recognition by this presbytery of Dr. Gillespie’s faith and preaching the word of God and his commitment to justice (especially in the area of racial equality), to education to and what the role of the church and the community can be.”
One of the many “fledgling” pastors Gillespie had mentored was present to bear witness to the legacy of ministry he leaves behind.
“To encourage a fledgling pastor from California with stars in her eyes by saying to her, ‘My dear, you’re going to do great things for God’ – that’s love to the utmost,” said the Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams.
She stood before the crowd as current pastor of the church Rev. Gillespie built.
“He came to love Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church to the utmost, to love the St. Louis community to the utmost. He came to love Harris-Stowe State University to the utmost and to love Mathews-Dickey to the utmost,” Rev. Newbern-Williams said.
“Dr. Gillespie cherished his family. He walked this neighborhood, shook hands with anyone who would get in the way, and encouraged everyone with whom he came in contact. He lived his life as a servant who loved to the utmost. When one builds a ministry based on justice, mercy, service and with love for humankind. That’s love to the utmost. And that was Rev. Dr. William G. Gillespie.”
