Bishop Terry Fitzgerald Obituary

Page 1


Terry Fitzgerald was born to James Jones and Willie Mae Fitzgerald on September 11, 1957 in Greensboro, North Carolina. As a child, he attended public school in Greensboro through elementary years. When his mother, Willie Mae, married Moses Lee Harrison, the pair elected to relocate from the east coast to the west coast where they would give their family a new start. Before he knew it, Terry had gone from being an only child to being embraced by a growing Harrison family. In fact, he changed his last name from Fitzgerald to Harrison while he attended Middle School at Lee Mathson and High School at Yerba Buena in San Jose, California. As a student, Terry was quite the scholar excelling in all subjects. Maintaining a high grade point average became so easy that teachers wanted to promote him by two grade levels. Instead, he decided to challenge himself physically by trying out for basketball and football teams. Again, Terry excelled while his teams received honors, and Terry’s grade point average continued to soar with him. Just prior to graduating from high school he changed his name back to Fitzgerald. Terry spent much of his time at the home of Bishop Robert W. Harrison Sr., Presiding Overseer, Church of the Living God, Incorporated (“Uncle Robert”). Terry’s “Uncle Robert” baptized him in the of name of The Lord Jesus Christ, and when Terry had come from changing his baptism clothes, he walked right up to the pulpit and took a seat next to his, “Uncle Robert”. Terry knew at that time he had been called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


The young Harrison men could be found outside the family’s home on Christopher Street boxing, lifting weights, and charming young women as they walked by. There was an unassuming high school cheerleader (Debra Lopez) who walked by the house daily on her way home from school. Although, she was admired by many, it was Terry who won her heart. Eventually the young couple would wed and from their union,Tanya and Tanisha Fitzgerald were born. Determined to provide for his young family he enlisted into the U.S. Marines. Still the young couple faced obstacles they simply were not equipped to conquer and the marriage ended in divorce. Following the divorce, Terry returned to the East Coast where he settled and gave his life completely over to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Although he had been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ by his “Uncle Robert” he was baptized once more in Greensboro. With the Holy Ghost fire burning in his soul, and a willing heart, Terry accepted his call into the ministry and was ordained as a minister of the Church of God Apostolic, Incorporated (COGA). Minister Terry Fitzgerald was discipled by Bishop Cecil O. Reid along with bishops and elders of the COGA. Soon Minister Fitzgerald would leave the side of his spiritual Father, affectionately named “Bishop” and travel southeast to Quincy, Florida. His journey to Quincy was totally spirit-led and the decisions he would make upon his arrival would prove to establish his many ministerial masterpieces. In Quincy, Minister Fitzgerald met his beautiful, blushing bride, Brenda. With Brenda’s daughter Slavonnia by her side, Minister Terry Fitzgerald and Brenda entered into holy matrimony. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the couple’s spiritual father, Bishop Reid in September of 1991. From their union Charis and Tamra Fitzgerald were born. On January 25, 1992, ‘The Fitzgerald Power Couple’ moved forward in launching a soul-saving ministry as they chartered Faith Apostolic Christian Tabernacle Services (F.A.C.T.S.). In doing so, “Pastor Terry” was the first to establish a church within the COGA organization in the state of Florida. Under the leadership of new Pastors, Elder Terry Fitzgerald and Elder Brenda Fitzgerald, a number of souls have been won, their surrounding community enhanced, and the preached Word would go forth. As the pair continued to go forth in ministry, The Lord saw fit to enlarge their territory and elevate their offices. On July 16th 2004, Elder Terry Fitzgerald was ordained as a Bishop by the COGA. Reluctant to accept the position and humbled by being chosen to serve in such an esteemed capacity, Pastor Fitzgerald postured himself accordingly and continued to provide untiring service to all. As much as Bishop Fitzgerald desired to serve in ministry full time, he remained employed throughout his life. Included on his resume are positions such as Private Investigator, U.S. Post Office Worker, Draw Bridge Operator, and more recently, Construction Crew Member. The latter two positions were held while employed by CSX Railroad.


On October 29th, of this year (2013), Bishop Fitzgerald was in a work related accident. The Marianna Police Report indicated he fell 16.5 feet from a bridge that he and fellow construction crew members were working on. According to the police report, Terry stepped on an “unsecured catwalk” and fell. “The section of catwalk he stepped on then fell and landed on him” and resulted in life threatening injuries. Terry was rushed to Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida. For forty-five days Bishop Fitzgerald lay in the hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) with his wife, Elder Brenda Fitzgerald at his bedside daily. Family members came as far as California, Virginia, and North Carolina to pray him through the trauma his body was subjected to. On Friday, December 13th, 2013, Bishop Terry Fitzgerald suffered a heart attack and was revived by medical staff. For nearly an hour and a half following the heart attack he lay with his eyes looking up toward the heavens when he uttered the words, “Thank You”, breathed his last breath, and entered into a place of rest in the arms of The One he loved to serve. Bishop Terry Fitzgerald is preceded in death by his mother, Willie Mae Harrison, step-father, Moses Lee, and sister, Antoinette Harrison. Bishop Fitzgerald is survived by his wife Brenda, children (Tanya, Tanisha, Slavonia Woods, Charis, and Tamra), parents (James and Margie Jones), siblings (Robert Harrison, Annette Garrett, and Donald Holt Sr) and grandchildren (Ti’Lazjha, Destiny, and Cayden). He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles as well as his F.A.C.T.S and C.O.G.A. families that loved him dearly. By his family, Bishop Terry Fitzgerald will be remembered as a hero, provider, and protector. By his spiritual family, he will be remembered as a leader who worked industriously as a Kingdom Builder. A trustworthy and loyal confidant is how is friends will remember him while his community will forever remember him as a beacon of light. On Resurrection Sunday (2013), Bishop Terry Fitzgerald preached a soul stirring message which presented a question that should be considered by all who mourn is passing, “What Would yYou Do If You Knew There Was a Cross Before You?”. In that same message he encouraged the congregation by making these declarations: “There’s a work that God has consecrated each and every one of us to do...We have been gifted to do these works.”


Order

of SERVICE

Officiating...............................................................................Bishop Charles T. Hash First Vice-Overseer Church of God Apostolic, Inc. (COGA) Pastor: St. Matthew Word of Life Fellowship Church - Roanoke, VA

Processional Prayer of Comfort.............................................................. Bishop Robert Harrison Cornerstone Church of the Living God – San Jose CA

The Blessed Word of God Old Testament ..................................................................Bishop E. L. West

New Testament .......................................................... Bishop Ronald Hash

Selection ..........................................................................................COGA Mass Choir

Acknowledgments and Resolutions

Selection.............................................................................................. Tanya Fitzgerald San Jose, California

Eulogy ...........................................................................................Bishop Cecil O Reid General Overseer - Church of God Apostolic, Inc (COGA) Pastor: Refuge Temple Evangelistic Center - Jonesville, NC Pastor: Wings of Healing Tabernacle - Greensboro, NC

Presentation Recessional Entombment


Regrets

NO

We don’t have any regrets. No, not a single one.

You knew how much we loved you and you felt it from everyone. We don’t have any regrets because we prayed as much as we could’ve. We called upon the Lord, almost as much we know you would’ve. We don’t regret expecting you to be God’s next great Miracle. We prayed scripture after scripture without becoming cynical. We don’t have any regrets because we know we made you proud. Please don’t mistake these tears that fall from among this very crowd. We don’t regret receiving all of the prayers and wisdom you provided. But we will miss how the Spirit led you to give us so much guidance. We don’t regret the relationships and bonds that have all been created. Nor how you made everyone feel like family even though we weren’t all related. We don’t regret the love you gave, a love we all received; And we will never forget the person that we all now grieve. We don’t have any regrets because you’ve received your Divine Healing. The only thing that gets to us, is the pain that we are all now feeling. We don’t regret being a part of the life that fulfilled God’s destiny. Instead, we choose to honor it by representing you and your legacy. Words and reflections by

Tanisha Fitzgerald in living memory of her Father



Acknoledgements

The family of Bishop Terry Fitzgerald wishes to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for your thoughts, prayers, cards, gifts, and well wishes. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the musicians and choirs who took part in this service. We have seen a reflection of the love that Pastor Terry exemplified through kindness that so many of you have extended to us during this time. Words are not sufficient to express our gratitude to God for your support. A special thanks to the Nursing Staff of Bay Memorial SICU Department, Panama City FL.

Pallbearers

Antonio Davis

Byron Good

Joe Holloway

Dexter Kenon

Curtis Miller, Jr.

Rawn Washington

HONORARY Deacon Cedric Conyers Bishop Robert L. Harrison

Pallbearers Minister Bobby Drayton Elder Rodney Harrison

Minister Donald Holt, Sr.

Teon Robinson

Dr. Larry Wade

Apostle Joseph West


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