Rev. Alpheus L. Bright

Alpheus Leonard Bright, Sr. was the third oldest of ten children born to the late Mrs. Lucille Lettie Boyer Bright and the late Rev. Sylvester Ralph Bright, Sr. on June 9, 1927, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was reared in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, and Tallahassee, Florida.

Alpheus was a 1944 graduate of the Florida A & M Demonstration High School. He held a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida A & M University (Class of 1948) where he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., serving as their Chaplain. He attained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Lincoln University, Lincoln, Pennsylvania (Class of 1956), a Bachelor of Divinity Degree, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Class of 1972).

Alpheus met Bernadine Noblin, of Stratford, Connecticut in 1950. Soon after their relationship blossomed, Alpheus was drafted into the United States Army to serve in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. While in Korea, he promised the Lord three things if he returned to the United States. First, was to kiss American soil. Second, was to marry Bernadine. Third, was to answer God's calling to further his Christian ministry. In March of 1953, they married in Stratford, Connecticut.

Rev. Bright served as a student assistant minister at the St. Paul's Baptist Church, West Chester, Pennsylvania from 1953 to 1955. From 1955 to 1959, Rev. Bright was Pastor Frank B. Mitchell's Assistant at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On December 31, 1958, Bethany Baptist Church called Rev. Bright to be their Pastor. He assumed the Pastorate of Bethany on Sunday, February 1, 1959. At that time, Bethany was located at 4238 Wallace Street, Philadelphia. On Sunday, November 15, 1970, Bethany moved to 5747 Warrington Avenue where he continued to serve God's people and the southwest Philadelphia community. He changed the lives of hundreds, likely thousands, who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. Bright served as 1st Vice Moderator and Moderator of the Eastern Keystone Baptist Association. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, as Baptist Chaplain for the Philadelphia Youth Study Center, and as Chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Senate. Pastor Bright was a Board Member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Board Member and Treasurer of Berean Institute, and was a Board Member of the Foreign Mission Board for the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.

He was frequently called on to minister outside of the church structure while never neglecting the flock. He gave 43 years of unselfish and unapologetic Pastoral leadership to the Bethany Missionary Baptist Church which developed into an outstanding, viable, Christ-centered institution. In October of 2001, Rev. Bright retired as Pastor.

Rev. Bright credits his early Christian training, and inspiration to his maternal Great-Grandmother Cornelia Boyer, a former slave, and his mother and father. He was also encouraged by his two elder brothers, Sylvester and Arthur, for helping stir his interest toward a life of Christian service.

Pastor Emeritus Bright was an avid sportsman. He played basketball in high school and in college. He was a tennis player and sometimes played with the President of Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (later renamed Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University) William H. Gray, Jr. Pastor Emeritus Bright was also a good bowler, playing in many city leagues simultaneously. He enjoyed playing golf too. At home, Pastor Emeritus Bright loved to play cards, especially pinochle with family including his children, and their friends. He enjoyed politics and never missed voting in an election. He was a campaign activist in West Philadelphia. One of Pastor Emeritus Bright's great loves was reading. Beginning at age 10, he waited for the daily newspaper to be delivered. After reading it cover to cover, he would fold it back up before giving it to his father to read. He continued reading the newspaper until his last days.

Pastor Emeritus Bright loved life and lived it to the fullest. He traveled to Africa, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii and several Caribbean Islands. He loved ALL people and shared his wisdom. He had an extraordinary way of making EVERYONE feel special. Most of all, Pastor Emeritus Bright loved the Lord. We will miss him tremendously.

Pastor Bright was preceded in death by his son Alpheus, Jr., and brothers, Sylvester, Arthur, Cornelius, and Charles.

Pastor Bright leaves to mourn his wife of 69 years, Bernadine of Newark, DE; their children, Annette (Marvin) Fallen of Richmond, VA; Cheryl (Richard) Roberts of West Chester, PA; Walter (April) Bright of Mullica Hill, NJ; and Pamela (Robert) Adams of New Castle, DE; their grandchildren, Kimberly Bright, Lynnette Bright, Tanya Bright, Sherice Bright, Marvin (Mercedes) Fallen, Jr., Eric (Kenisha) Fallen, Aleasha (Alfonso) Hoggard, Roslyn (Travis) Roberts, Gavin Bright, Gabrielle Bright, Giavonna Bright, Brianna Adams, Addison Adams and Michael Regusters, Jr.; their great-grandchildren, Mariah Fallen, Marvin Fallen III, Erin Fallen, and Amari Hoggard; siblings, Sarah Smith of Dallas, TX, Lucille Wilson of Albany, GA, Dolores Bass of St. Marys, GA, Richard Bright of Atlanta, GA, and Margruetta Hall of Silver Spring, MD; daughter-in-law, Deborah Bright of Philadelphia, PA. He also leaves to mourn a host of nieces and nephews, extended family, Godchildren, the Bethany family and community, and many many friends. Previous Events


Viewing


OCT 10. 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (ET)

Bethany Missionary Baptist Church
5749 Warrington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
http://BethanyBaptistPhila.org

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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Ritual


OCT 10. 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM (ET)

Bethany Missionary Baptist Church
5749 Warrington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
http://BethanyBaptistPhila.org

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Celebration of Life


OCT 10. 11:00 AM (ET)

Bethany Missionary Baptist Church
5749 Warrington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
http://BethanyBaptistPhila.org

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Military Honors & Committal


OCT 11. 10:00 AM (ET)

Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery
2465 Chesapeake City Road
Bear, DE 19701
https://vets.delaware.gov/

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