The President of the SCLC Howard Creecy Dies
Howard Creecy, the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference died early Thursday morning.
Atlanta SCLC spokesman Damien Conners told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Creecy died of a heart attack around 12:30 a.m.
He was 57-years-old.
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“We thank the community for the outpouring of compassion and condolences during this difficult time,” said Yolanda Grier Creecy, Howard’s wife to 11 Alive news.
Creecy was serving as pastor of Olivet Church in Fayetteville County. He was elected as the new president of the SCLC in January after the position was declined by Bernice King, daughter of the organizations co-founder Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Isaac Newton Farris Jr who is the nephew of Martin Luther King Jr. will now assume the role as president after the death of Creecy.
“We are shocked,” Farris said to 11 Alive, “As far as I knew Howard was in great health. He has been my lifelong friend. This news hit me at my core. Howard has been a prophetic leader who deeply inspired me along with countless others across this great nation and world. From his inspired leadership, which revitalized the SCLC, we will work to continue on the path that he and leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. laid before us.”
Creecy assumed the role of president of the SCLC on January 30th after serving as the organization’s interim president previously.
In recent years the SCLC suffered internal divisions according to Creecy and his mission for the SCLC was to help define its direction for the 21st century.
“Dr. Creecy and I came into SCLC together. Our charge was to transform and rebrand this organization. That was our Matra; that was our mission and we’ll continue it,” said Marian Parker the SCLC Executive Director to 11 Alive.
Creecy grew up to be a third generation preacher. He co-pastored with his father Rev.Howard Creecy Sr. at Olivet Church from 2002 to 2008. Creecy Sr. died in 2008 making way for his son to become the new Pastor at Olivet.
Creecy also served as the senior pastor for St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta for 26 years before coming to Olivet.
He graduated from Morehouse College and earned a doctor in divinity degree from Abotra Bible Institute and Seminary.
In addition to pastoring at Olivet, Creecy also was director of the Office of Chaplain Services for Atlanta Fulton County Government.
Plans for his funeral have not yet been released.
