Remembering Body, Spirit, Soul of Howard Creecy

The homegoing services for Rev. Howard Creecy, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and pastor of Olivet Church was revealing, as well as, emotional. A thousand people came to wish a dynamic friend, husband, father, son, and community leader, farewell.

The services took place Saturday at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Southwest Atlanta. Rev. Gregory Sutton is the pastor.

At the beginning of the service, the closing of the coffin ceremony was
spellbounding and riveting as the Willie Watkins Funeral Home Procession brought the covering of the coffin lifted in the air into the santuary and carefully handed it over to the pastors and family member that surrounded Rev. Creecy's coffin.

The cover was slowly lowered onto the coffin by the members surrounding the coffin, symbolizing Creecy leaving this world and entering into eternal life.

Rev. Sutton acknowledged the congregation was filled with important people. He stated in the sancturary were "dignitaries such as Andrew Young and John Lewis; pastors such as Wiley Jackson and Paul Morton". Also, he brought laughter in the crowd when acknowledged "the woman across the street" was important to remember, also.

Issac Farris, interim president of the SCLC, remembered Creecy as a brother and a servant. Farris expressed that he could go to Creecy with any concern and would be there to help him even if he was in trouble.

"Creecy was a servant of God looking over his sheep," Farris said. "He was someone who recognized a person if they were in crisis and he would know what to do." Also, he recognized that through his leadership Creecy had saved SCLC. Members of SCLC were acknowledged within the congregation.

Rev. Jasper Williams, pastor of Salem Baptist Church, delivered the eulogy, which he entitled "This Old House: The Body, Soul, and Spirit of Howard Creecy."

"We must understand what we are, so we can we can understand who we are and to whom we belong," he said. Williams described the human body in scientific and biblical terms, stating "the body was dust and it when it dies, it returns to the dust."

The soul is the life that was breathed within the body by God and leaves when the body dies. The spirit, which is God, returns to the Father who made it. He said Rev. Creecy was no longer within the body that laid before the congregation, but had another home, a better home which was in heaven and we all would see him again.

Theresa Creecy remembered her father as a loving man. She stated she was "daddy's girl" even when she was in her mother's womb she would kick and jump up and down when she heard her father's voice. Her father would call her "woman." She knew in her spirit that her father was looking down from heaven proud of his young "woman."

The final words were spoken by Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of the SCLC. Lowery stated that when in Creecy's prescence, he remembered "being in the midst of a giant." Also, he stated that "Creecy would have been an excellent SCLC president."

Music and song were delivered by Rev. C.L. Carter, leading "I'll Fly Away;" Rev. Jasper William and Rev. Paul Morton, collectively singing, "I Won't Complain;" and The Olivet Choir singing "How Excellent." Karen Lowery, the daughter of Joseph Lowery, rendered, "We Shall Behold Him."

Rev. Ron Sailor officiated over the services.

The burial took place at Westview Cementary.

Surviving are his wife, Yolanda Creecy; two daughters, Theresa and Kennedy; and his mother, Marguerite Creecy.