Rev. Gilbert ‘Gil’ Caldwell Death – Dead | Obituary – Passed Away
Gilbert Caldwell Death – Dead: A great loss was made known to InsideEko. As friends and families of the deceased are mourning the passing of their loved and cherished Gilbert Caldwell.
Having heard about this great loss, the family of this individual is passing through pains, mourning the unexpected passing of their beloved.
This departure was confirmed through social media posts made by Twitter users who pour out tributes, and condolences to the family of the deceased.
In Memory of Rev. Dr. Gilbert H. Caldwell
On behalf of the family, in deep grief but with great thankfulness for a life well-lived, I am writing to inform you that our beloved friend, Rev. Dr. Gilbert H. Caldwell, peacefully passed away this morning at 9:30 a.m. (EST) in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Details and time of a Zoom Memorial service honoring Gil will be announced later. Those details will include information about memorials, in lieu of flowers.
We thank God for this great man and his lasting legacy. As people of the Resurrection, we affirm God’s love and ask for strength to carry on Gil’s commitment to justice, equality, and equity for all people.
With love and condolences to all of you. The family is most grateful for your prayers and look forward to your joining a virtual memorial service celebrating Gil’s life and ministry.
Don Messer
Prayers for the family of the Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, who passed away peacefully this morning, Sept. 4. He lived in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Caldwell was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, walking alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to an article about him from United Methodist Communications, Caldwell met King while attending Boston University for seminary. Later he joined the 1963 March on Washington and spent a Freedom Summer supporting voter drives in Mississippi as well as marching from Selma to Montgomery.
Caldwell served as senior pastor of five predominantly black churches and four mostly white churches over the span of six decades. In the legacy Rocky Mountain Conference, he served Park Hill UMC in Denver from 1997 to 2000. He retired in 2001. Caldwell was also the author of four books and his writings appeared in publications from the Boston Globe to the Huffington Post.
Bishop Karen Oliveto said, “Gil was a spiritual giant, knowing that to be faithful to the gospel requires much. A civil rights leader, he understood the intersectionality of oppressions long before others were talking about it, always standing with the marginalized to extend God’s love and justice in the world. Now he passes that mantle to all of us. Rest in peace and rise in power, good and faithful servant.”
A Zoom memorial service honoring Caldwell will be announced later. More details will be shared through the Mountain Sky Conference News.
Please pray for the family and loved ones of the Rev. Gilbert Caldwell on his death yesterday, September 4, 2020. Across his lifetime, this United Methodist pastor was always involved in the fight for justice whether it be in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s or, much later, in the gay rights movement. Rest In Peace with all the saints of God, Gil!’
“The Rev. Dr. Gilbert ‘Gil’ Caldwell, a civil rights icon who was a part of the Selma “Bloody Sunday” march and the March on Washington, has died Friday, reports the Asbury Park Press.
Caldwell first met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1958 while he was a student at Boston University. He actively participated in the 1963 March on Washington, the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer, the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, and the March in Boston protesting public school segregation, 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
Rev. Caldwell was a founding member of the United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church, and the Black Methodists for Church Renewal ministering around the country, including Boston, Brooklyn, and New Haven, Connecticut.
He was also a member of the Board of Preachers and Scholars at the Martin Luther King International Chapel, Morehouse College.
Caldwell authored two books and numerous book chapters, newspaper, and magazine articles.
In 2007, Caldwell moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey after retiring. While not an Asbury native, he continued to push for civil rights in the city, including hoping to heal the divide between the east and west sides, and for the Black church and clergy to be more open to the LGBT community.”
We are still working on getting more details about the death, as a family statement on the death is yet to be released.