W. Bernard Crump, a native of Amory, Mississippi, was born November 17, 1936. He
received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tuskegee University in 1960. While at
Tuskegee, he was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Bernard entered Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia in 1960 and later
graduated with the Master of Divinity Degree in 1963. Bernard was appointed to
Haven United Methodist Church in Clarksdale, MS in June 1963. While serving as
pastor, he was involved in numerous community programs. In 1986, he received an
Honorary Doctorate from Rust College.
In 1974, Bernard was appointed and became the first Black since the reconstruction
period to assume responsibility as superintendent of the Starkville District in the
North Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was also the
former pastor of the Oktibbeha-Clay Parish churches from 1980-2004. He was
elected as District 2 Justice Court Judge in 1984, where he served for almost 32
years.
Bernard is survived by the lovely...