and loss to us all, and he will be missed.
Martin Luther King III, president and CEO of The King Center and a former president of SCLC himself made the following statement on Creecy’s death:
“I join in mourning the death of my good friend, Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., a very kind and caring man who served with energetic dedication as SCLC’s president in a time of challenge. But I also join in celebrating his life and his wonderful example of service to God, to the cause of social justice and to humanity. My prayers go out to Rev. Creecy’s family. He will be missed by many, and his spirit will live on in our hearts.”
Also, Fulton Commission Chair John Eaves had this to say:
“It is with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of Rev. Howard Creecy Jr. The civil rights community has lost an important voice for the underserved and those who unfortunately still live in the shadows of our community. Fulton County, and indeed the rest of the nation, will miss his service.”
Atlanta City Councilman C.T. Martin said: “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Creecy family. Rev. Creecy was a man that exemplified integrity and leadership.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Mrs. Yolanda Grier Creecy; his mother, Marguerite P. Creecy; his two sisters; his two daughters, Teresa and Kennedy; and his congregation at the Olivet Baptist Church. The entire family has a long distinguished history in the city of Atlanta and he had extensive community involvement and public service.”
Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond said: “My heart goes out to his wife, his daughters, and his mother. My father worked with Rev. Creecy in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. Creecy became a friend to my father, a mentor to me, and a spiritual leader to thousands of others.
This is a tremendous loss for our city and for the nation. We have just lost a giant in our community. His work had an incredible impact – from the pulpit to the street. He was always ready to help anyone and so generous with his care, his time, and his concern. He was a special person. We have a huge obligation to continue his great work. He will be missed.”
Creecy was a resident of southwest Atlanta. He was involved in numerous civic, social and political activities. In addition to being president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he was a former chairman of the Board of Directors, Project Re-direction, Atlanta University Criminal Justice Institute; and Founding National Board member of the Organization of New Equality (ONE) in Boston. He served as the director of the Office of Chaplain Services for Atlanta Fulton County government.
Creecy held the highest-ranking ecclesiastical position recognized in Atlanta Fulton County government. He was the first African American in the Atlanta Fulton County Government to serve in this capacity.
The funeral for Rev. Creecy will be Saturday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m., at Jackson Memorial United Methodist Church on Fairburn Road in northwest Atlanta. Rev. Gregory Sutton, pastor, will officiate, and Rev. Dr. Jasper Williams will bring the eulogy.
Willie Watkins Funeral Home of the West End area is in charge of the remains. According to the funeral home, the Creecy family will receive friends on Friday, Aug. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the deceased’s church in Fayetteville.
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