Rev. Dr. Walter McKelvey Sr.

Obituary Reverend Dr. Walter Henry McKelvey, Sr., husband of Loretta Felder McKelvey was born May 31, 1941, in Greenville, SC, he was the youngest child of the late Eliza Thompson McKelvey and Joseph L. McKelvey. He attended Brutontown Elementary School and Sterling High School in Greenville before enrolling at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA, where he completed the Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1963. He and Bettie Holmes of Cleveland, OH., entered into holy matrimony in 1966, and became the parents of Angela Cleo and Walter, Jr. Bettie preceded him in death. Thereafter, he completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Divinity at Gammon Theological Seminary/Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, the Master of Arts in Evangelism at Scarritt College in Nashville, TN and the Doctor of Ministry at Drew University in Madison, NJ. He received the Doctor of Divinity (DD), Honoris Causa from Gammon Theological Seminary/Interdenominational Theological Center in 1984 and was Certified in Executive Management by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1991. At an early age, Walter joined St. Matthew Methodist Church in Taylors, SC and was an active member there for many years. He served as a Student Pastor at Deep Creek and Mt. Pleasant UMCs, Anderson, SC (1960-61) and Duluth UMC, Duluth, GA (1965-66). He was appointed Pastor of St. Stephens UMC and Dillon Parish, Dillon and Clio, SC (1966-69). He then served one year as Pastor of Bethel UMC in Morristown, TN and College Chaplain/Recruiter for Morristown College before being appointed Pastor of Lennon-Seney UMC (1970-79) and St. Matthews UMC in Greensboro, NC (1979-82). Walter served as District Superintendent, High Point District, Western NC Annual Conference from 1982-88. After serving as Director of Congregational Development for the Western NC Annual Conference (July 7-Dec 31, 1988), he became Vice President for Public and Church Relations at the United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN (1989-95). Before becoming President of Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA in 1997, Walter served as Pastor of Simpson-Gillespie UMC, Charlotte, NC (1995-97). He served Gammon Seminary and the community faithfully for 13 years, (1997 - 2010). He retired but returned to ministry as Pastor of Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, Bamberg, SC and I DeQuincey Newman United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC. He lovingly attended Francis Burns United Methodist Church until he was called home. Walter was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was active in many organizations affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the wider community. Walter was a quiet, loving, and supportive husband, father, sibling, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He enjoyed reading as well as fresh water and salt water fishing. In addition to his parents death, those who preceded him in death were brothers: Thomas and Lewis McKelvey and nine half sisters and brothers: Christine Goodlett, Willie Mae Donaldson, Charlotte McKelvey, Charles McKelvey, Edmond McKelvey, Floree Elkins, Josephine Davis, Pauline Bennett, and Julia Fulford. Those left to cherish precious memories include his loving wife Loretta of Columbia, SC; children Angela Cleo Jenifer (Theodore), McDonough, GA and Walter H. McKelvey, Jr. (Wangui), Atlanta, GA; grandchildren Victoria, Nia, Naomi Grace and Noelle; sisters Grace L. Gary, Simpsonville, SC and Mary E. Welch, Nashville, TN; mother-in-law, Lorraine Felder, Sumter, SC; brothers-in-law Joseph Felder, (Angela), Ft. Washington, MD; Jason Felder, West Columbia, SC; sisters-in-law Danielle Edwards (Sheldon), Charlotte, NC; Leona Moten, West Columbia, SC ; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. All of us will hold Walter Henry McKelvey, Sr. warmly in our hearts with love. The Alpha Phi Alpha Omega Service will be 12:30 PM Tuesday at Francis Burns United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 7100 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Walter H. McKelvey, Sr. Scholarship Fund at the Gammon Theological Seminar, 653 Beckwith Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30314 gammon-itc.og To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Walter McKelvey Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store. The service will be live streamed from Francis Burns’ Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/FrancisBurnsUMC/

Rev. Dr. Walter McKelvey Sr.

May 31, 1941 - August 15, 2022