Local clergy pitch in to purchase Easter suits
By Gerald Pace
For the St. Louis American
This Saturday about 1,200 people gathered for the homegoing celebration of the Rev. Delancey Moore, the 54-year-old East St. Louis pastor who was killed in the storm on April 2 while shopping for Easter suits for seven children. Cars lined Bond Ave. outside Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where Pastor John Rouse officiated the funeral service.
To complete the Rev. Moore’s last act of service on behalf of the children, the Rev. Marvin Wiley of Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood, IL and the Rev. F. James Clark of Shalom Church City of Peace each contributed $1,000. About 50 clergy from various denominations were present at the service.
Moore is survived by his wife, Debra Moore, an assistant professor of political science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; a daughter, Marcia L. Byrd; and two sons, Delancey Moore II and Darrington Moore.
“The Hebrew custom was that when a husband died the brother stepped in and took care of the family,” Debra Moore said. “Mayor Carl Officer has done that for us. He was a brother to my husband and now he is a brother to me.”
Officer, who was a childhood friend of the late Rev. Moore, spoke at the packed funeral service.
“He counseled not only inmates but the children and family of inmates,” Officer said of the Rev. Moore. “There are things that he’s done for people that may never make it to television stations, radio, and newspapers.”
Many turned out to pay their respects to a man that touched many lives during his life through his work in the ministry and the criminal justice system. Moore served the Illinois Department of Corrections as parole supervisor.
“We are glad to have his legacy in our department,” Roger Walker, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, said. “We have lost a great man and a great employee. He did God’s work and everywhere he worked he left a part of himself there.”
Bishop Carlos Malone, Sr., an East St. Louis native who is now pastor of Bethel Full Gospel Baptist Church in Miami, FL gave the eulogy. Malone said that just a few weeks before his death, Rev. Moore asked him to perform his eulogy. Malone said he agreed, but had no idea that he would have to return so soon to fulfill his promise.
The atmosphere of the funeral was very celebratory and many individuals light-heartedly reminisced about the Rev. Moore. Many of his friends and co-workers told funny stories.
“Seemed like when it was my time to pay for lunch we went out, but when he paid we grabbed something and ate back in the jail,” St. Clair County Sherrif Mearl Justus joked. “It’s not how you die or how long you live, but it’s how you live that makes the difference.”
Mt. Zion pastor, the Rev. John H. Rouse remembered the Rev. Moore as one of his “sons in the ministry.”
“He was my friend,” the Rev. Rouse said. “He never hung up the phone or stopped talking to me without saying, ‘Dad, I love you.’”
