Jessie English was a trailblazing pastor and an influential bishop who encouraged others to enter the Christian ministry. She died last week at the age of 84. Wednesday afternoon, hundreds gathered in Roanoke to celebrate her life.
English raised nine children, and her relatives filled many of the pews, but she was also proud of her extended family, the men and women she mentored in the church, and many came from other states to attend her funeral.
English pastored for decades at Emmanuel Tabernacle Baptist Church on 12th Street in Roanoke. Her funeral was held in the larger sanctuary at Pilgrim Baptist Church, and it wasn't large enough to seat everyone who came to pay their respects.
Dr. Gloria Lewis is a minister in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "We came to celebrate not just the life of Bishop J. C. English," Lewis said during the service, "but we came to celebrate the victorious life, oh yes, the victorious life of Bishop Jesse Catherine English. Even in death she is still victorious."
Family and friends described her as a pioneer in the pulpit, first as a female pastor, and later as the first woman in Virginia to serve her denomination as a bishop.
Bishop E.M. Mitchell credited English as a major influence in his life. "I've been with her since the first day when she first went to pastoring," Mitchell said in an interview. "She was my mentor, and she was my friend, and she was my anchor, and it's just a tough day today."
A rousing service honored her lifelong ministry, her devotion to family and friends, and even her love of Dr. Pepper. "Every day she'd call me and say where's my sandwich, where's my Dr. Pepper?," said her son Samuel English. "Mom, I'm sending a special order up for your chicken sandwich, your hamburger and your Dr. Pepper."
There were other light-hearted moments during the two and a half hour service, but the testimony left little doubt, that Bishop Jessie English had a profound impact on many lives in western Virginia.
