Obituary of Wardell Townsend, Sr.

In the Beginning...” Genesis 1:1 Wardell Townsend was born on April 2,1933 in Kilmichael, Mississippi to Ida Mae Hardy and Tillman Townsend. From this union Wardell was born the eldest of five siblings; three brothers Willie Roosevelt, Willie James, and Odell, as well as one sister, Caldonia. Both parents and two of his younger brothers (Willie James and Odell)preceded him in death. “Marriage is Honorable...” Hebrews 13:4 Upon moving to Chicago from the south he later met Mary Lee (Jones) Townsend where they united in holy matrimony on March 28,1960. They were married 57 years upon his wife’s passing in 2018. Through this union came a blended family of six children, Dino Bernard (deceased), Kinney Lavelle, Shirley (deceased), Katrina Denise (deceased), Colette Renée and Wardell Cortez. Later on, in life, he had the joy of raising 5 more children as his own, Pastor Lewis Ray, Mrs. Lawanda Presley, and his three legally adopted children, Jason Leroy, Latoya Lee, and Joseph Lee. Along with being a devoted father, he worked as a limousine driver, owned a clothing store on Madison Street in Chicago, co -owned a grocery store with his wife on Chicago Avenue, and lastly as a brakeman and train engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad until his retirement. “Repent and be baptized...” Acts 2:38 One-day Brother Sedell Simon came into the store and witnessed Christ to Wardell and his wife Mary. Wardell’s wife followed him to Bethlehem Healing Temple at 12 So. Oakley Boulevard, where they were both baptized in Jesus name and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. He served faithfully under Bishop Charles E. Poole,Evangelist Fannie Poole, and Evangelist Mary Poole. In 1977, Deacon Townsend and his family left Bethlehem to assist Elder Joe L. Kirkwood establish Emmanuel Healing Temple, as the first members of the church on Laramie. Beside working in the church, Deacon Townsend and his family held their own radio broadcast, “I’m Looking for a Miracle” on WOPA every Sunday morning at 5:30am. Deacon Townsend was a loving and hardworking man that lived his life with dignity and service to his community. He was involved with back to school giveaways, summer programs for the youth, mentorships and was a civil servant with the Rainbow Push Coalition. He willingly picked up and transported saints to and from church, and assisted Bishop Kirkwood and the brotherhood with whatever his hands found to do. He was known as gentle and humble. “Get thee out of thy country...” Genesis 12:1 ”Deacon Wardell Townsend had always been his wife’s pillar of support. During a time when many did not believe God called a woman to preach or pastor, Wardell supported his wife. He said “I never wanted to stand in God’s way”. Making a difficult decision at this point in their lives, Wardell was ordained an Elder and his wife Mary opened their own ministry; Miracle Deliverance Outreach Church in the basement of their home on Central Park Avenue. As their ministry and membership grew their current space was limited and had to look for a permanent location. They began to lease space at 3513 W. Chicago Avenue for $300.00 a month. In 1995 they purchased the building and it was dedicated by the late Bishop A.C. Richards, in the fall of the following year. He and his wife working together hand in hand remained in that location for over 30 years. During his tenure as co-pastor at this location, well over 300 souls have been baptized in Jesus name, and many received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In 2003 because of his unwavering support, and hard work in the ministry, he was ordained to the office of Bishop by the late Bishop Joe L. Kirkwood at Emmanuel Healing Temple. Every year the Townsend Family would spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at the church with the Miracle Deliverance Church family feeding 150-200 people and giving out clothes and gifts. In 2011, Bishop Townsend retired from pastoring and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, where they enjoyed their final years with family and grandchildren. After a short bout of illness, he relocated to Aurora, Colorado in the fall of 2019, under the care of his loving sister Caldonia. On March 30, 2020 God called this faithful servant home. Wardell Townsend is survived by his children Kinney Lavelle (Mildred) of Pineville, LA; Colette Renée (Roosevelt, Jr.) of Charlotte, NC; Wardell Cortez (Keisha) of Charlotte, NC; Jason Leroy of Natchez, MS; Latoya Lee and Joseph Lee both of Charlotte, NC; 23 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends including, Bishop Joe & Mother Iona Kirkwood (deceased), god-sons and daughters across Chicago and the nation, and so many others that are unknown to this writer, however all are recognized in honor of him.