Detroit Church Mourns the Loss of Pastor and Son Who Died Days Apart from COVID-19

A Detroit, Michigan church is mourning the loss of its pastor and his son from COVID-19 just days from one another.

Rev. Nathaniel Slappey Sr. who served as pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church for 50 years, died on April 30 from COVID-19 complications at the age of 80.

Two days later, on May 2, his son, Nathaniel Slappey, Jr., a girls’ basketball coach and graphic design artist, would also succumb to the novel coronavirus. Last weekend would have been his 50th birthday.

“I never would have thought in a million years that I would bury my husband and a son on the same day,” Josephine Slappey, who along with Slappy Sr. had five children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, told the Detroit Free Press.

Meanwhile, Slappey Jr, leaves behind his wife Toy and their three sons.

Slappey Sr. is known for establishing the Early Start Mission program at his church which worked to get youth off of the streets as well as to feed and clothes those in financial crisis.

Wallace Mills, who now serves as the pastor of New Ebenezer Baptist Church, revealed how Slappey Sr. impacted his life as a teenager.

“I was one of the mischievous fellows growing up. I was always getting into fights,” Mills told the newspaper.

“One day he sat me down and he told me: ‘You don’t always win battles by fighting. You win battles by sharpening your mind and then making a difference in your community,'”…