Elder Will Mack

Supt. Rev. Will D. Mack was born on April 27, 1926 to the late Earline Mack and the late Rev. Solomon Bates of Autagaville County, Alabama. He was educated to Grade 6. At the age of 16 years old, Supt. Mack got a job in the local industrial plant. Shortly thereafter, he falsified his age and joined the United States Navy during World War II and served until he was honorably discharged. When he returned home to Alabama, he traveled the country, building smoke stacks with his elder brother, Tom. Upon witnessing the tragic death of his brother, Supt. Mack began to seek comfort. It wasn?t until he found Christ in April of 1959 that he found peace of mind.
One year earlier, he married Orvetta Caver in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She became his rock and leaning post. To their union, five children were born. While with Orvetta, he learned to lean on the Lord as never before. She stood by his side for better or for worse, in sickness and in health until his passing April 22, 2012.
Supt. Mack received his training in churchmanship under Elder Peter P. Mann of Buffalo, New York, Bishop O. E. Shelton of Akron, Ohio, and Elder Malachi Johnson, Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1963, he permanently moved to Ohio and became the pastor of Christ Temple Church in New Miami, Ohio. He joined the Cincinnati Bricklayers Union-Local 18. Although he was a brick mason by professional trade, his love was the ministry.
Two years later, he and the Christ Temple membership worked brick by brick to remodel the old two-story building at 139 Cain Avenue. With his wife Orvetta by his side, he built the ministry of Christ Temple Church, which would impact the lives of thousands. In addition to serving as pastor at Christ Temple, he also served as pastor of Temple of Hope in Madisonville-Cincinnati, Ohio, and Christ Temple #2 in Dayton, Ohio.
In 1975, Supt. Mack led Christ Temple as part of the Cincinnati District to join the Ohio Northwest Jurisdiction of the Churches Of God In Christ, and he was officially appointed as district superintendent. He grew the district from three churches to 18 churches, which became known throughout the state of Ohio as the Cincinnati-Dayton District.
In 1981, the Lord spoke to Supt. Mack and told him that it was time to move. The church raised $20,000, and began to construct the new Christ Temple Church, located at the corner of Second and Pershing Avenue. On Easter Sunday 1984, Supt. Mack preached his first message in the new church edifice, ?Move No More.? Supt. Mack served as pastor of Christ Temple Church until his passing.
Realizing that many first ladies of local churches had no pension plan or death benefit from the Church, Supt. Mack started the Ohio Pastors, Elders, and Ministers (OPEM) Conference. The purpose of the conference was to create fellowship among the pastors but more importantly, to begin a fund to support the widows of Ohio Pastors, Elders, and Ministers in the Church Of God In Christ.
Supt. Mack successfully and faithfully served on every level in which a man can serve in the Church Of God In Christ ? lay member, deacon, Sunday School teacher, minister, elder, pastor, District Superintendent, administrative assistant to the Bishop, and member of the national Advisory Board of the Elder?s Council of the Churches Of God In Christ. He traveled across the nation, preaching the Word of God and teaching people how to seek and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Supt. Mack loved the Lord and people. He believed the Word of God. He welcomed everyone in need into his home often times providing shelter for the needy, weary, and worn. He also would give of his own funds to help people in need. He personally loaned funds to churches for the building of the Kingdom of God. He assisted in the start-up of 20 churches from southern Ohio to the state of Michigan. He was especially partial to the children of Hamilton?s Second Ward, opening Orvetta Hall on Pershing Avenue to provide food programs and summer camps to help low- to moderate-income families. He was a community leader and activist, speaking up for the poor, disadvantaged, and down-trodden in Hamilton. For his leadership and love for the community, he received numerous accolades and awards from the city of Hamilton, its Mayor, and City Council. His loss will be greatly felt by the community at-large.
Not only did he preach about salvation and the importance of having the baptism of the Holy Ghost, he also preached about racial equality and economic empowerment. To be an example in the community, he opened the Rib Crib Restaurant in 1994. Together, Supt. Mack and Mother Mack operated the business for five years until he became ill. During his sickness, Supt. Mack believed that God was calling him away from the business and into more consecration and service at Christ Temple.
As ?Uncle Will,? he was highly regarded by his immediate family as well as his entire extended family as the family?s patriarch. He was called upon as a father, brother, uncle, cousin, counselor, spiritual advisor, prayer warrior, and role model of what a man of God should look like and be. Everyone would remember his parting slogan, ?Stay Sweet! Stay with the Lord.?
Supt. Willie D. Mack was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and his daughter, Ola, and son, Will, Jr. He leaves to celebrate his homegoing: his wife of 54 years, Orvetta Caver Mack; five sons: Walter L. Mack and Lester L. Mack (Rita) of Dayton, Ohio, Richard C. Mack (Andrea) of Liberty Township, Ohio, Paul A. Mack (Queen) of Mason, Ohio, and Phillip W. Mack (Karla) of Forest Park, Ohio; three daughters: Anna Marie Burns of Atlanta, Georgia, Kimberly R. Mack of Hamilton, Ohio, and Lisa Mack of Middletown, Ohio; one brother, Theordore (Pearl) Mack of Atlanta, Georgia; one sister, Stella Patton of Dothan, Alabama; 14 grand children and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, relatives, the beloved Christ Temple family and Rhema Life Fellowship.