For twelve years Rev. John Thomas Porter served with distinction on the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. He was appointed in 1977 to the position by Governor George Wallace and sworn in by Judge John C. Tyson, whom he knew as a boy. For almost forty years he was the pastor of one of Birmingham, Alabama’s most prominent congregations, Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. 

On Thursday, February 23, 2006 I traveled with a delegation from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to attend the Funeral Services of this great man. Our delegation included: former Parole Board Chairman Joel Barfoot, former Parole Board Chairman Gladys Riddle, current Parole Board Associate Member VeLinda A.J. Weatherly, Executive Director William Segrest, Assistant Executive Director, Eddie Cook, Greg Griffin the Chief Legal Counsel and a host of other dedicated Parole Board employees. Parole Board Chairman Sidney T. Williams was not able to join the delegation because he was at home recovering very well from recent knee surgery. It was a beautiful service attended by persons from all walks of life. I had the honor and privilege to sit down front in the reserved section for the Parole Board. Our delegation was joined by former Governor Don Siegleman and his wife Lori. 

When I first arrived in the sanctuary I saw Greg Winborn’s aunt Mrs. Hattie Minter and her husband William. The Minters were close friends to Rev. and Mrs. Porter and they were visibly sad. I didn’t have an opportunity to speak with her for very long. 

I saw so many wonderful people that I had not seen in a very long time. I saw the Pughs, the Kinseys, the Gardners, the Walkers, the Smiths, the Browns, the Falls, the Johnsons, the Solomons etc. etc. In 1984 while I served as Assistant General Counsel for the late Birmingham millionaire A.G. Gaston, I attended Rev. Porter’s church on a regular basis. Dr. A.G. Gaston was very fond of Rev. Porter. I also continued to attend many funerals and weddings that Rev. Porter conducted. It was almost surreal to sit in the sanctuary with Rev. Porter not conducting the service. 

It seemed as though I was standing up every twenty seconds to speak with people as they passed by. So many people had turned out to honor this great man. It was truly amazing. 

Tributes were given by Mr. Charles McCrary, President of Alabama Power Company, Reverend John L. Cantelow, III, Pastor, Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church, Tuskegee, Alabama, and Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The music was typical of Sixth Avenue with my friend, Henry Goodgame a fellow Morehouse brother bringing everyone in the church to their feet with a song that Rev. Porter specifically requested that he sing, “We Shall Behold Him” Dottie Rambo. There were several other wonderful songs which added to the wonderful celebration of Rev. Porter’s life. 

Dr. Otis Moss another Morehouse brother and Pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio delivered the Eulogy. It was one of the finest Eulogies I have ever witnessed. 

Rev. Moss pointed out to us that in 1931, Rev. Porter was born in tough times, in a dangerous state, in a brutal city. He pointed out that Rev. Porter was a bold innovator, not afraid to experiment, eager to try new things. “Thank God for his life and now his life everlasting”. He talked about our bodies being nothing more than a tent. Our earthly tent will be destroyed but our house in heaven not made with hands is eternal in heaven.” Rev. Porter knew who he was and whose he was. 

Rev. Porter was such a great man that I can not do him justice in the small amount of space that I have in this column, but I must say this in conclusion:

Rev Porter introduced me to the 139^th Psalm, which I believe is the greatest religious utterance of all times, I shall quote just a few lines: 

“Oh Lord, whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there would thy hand lead me and thy right hand would hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10 

May God rest his soul! 

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com