IL HR0963

Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of Bishop Charles W. Gillespie Jr., who passed away on October 2, 2022, at age 92.

Bishop Gillespie was born July 4, 1931, in Sandusky, graduated from Attucks High School in 1948, served in the Korean War, and later moved to Detroit where he married Addie Mae Brooks in 1961.

Ordained as an Elder in 1970, Bishop Gillespie returned to Carbondale in 1976 and founded the March of Faith Outreach Ministries Fellowship, which grew to over 200 churches across four continents by the time he served as Presiding Bishop from 1998 to 2017.

Bishop Gillespie was known as "The Dancing Bishop," "The Singing Bishop," and "The Marrying Bishop," and was remembered as a man of strong character, natural leader, and mentor who delivered messages of hope, healing, and restoration.

House of Representatives extends condolences to Bishop Gillespie's surviving wife of 62 years (Addie M. Gillespie), son, siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the March of Faith International Fellowship community.