Detroit, MI

‘Prince of the pulpit’: Detroit pastor emeritus Rev. Charles Gilchrist Adams dies at 86

Published

12 months ago

November 30, 2023

‘Prince of the pulpit’: Detroit pastor emeritus Rev. Charles Gilchrist Adams dies at 86

Detroit — The Rev. Charles Gilchrist Adams, a towering figure as the pastor and then pastor emeritus of Detroit’s historic Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on the Detroit’s northwest side, where he earned the reputation of “a preacher’s preacher,” died Wednesday afternoon, his family said.

He died following a long bout with pneumonia and after cardiac arrest, said his sister, Edith Clifton, who said he was surrounded by his family. He was 86.

“He was my only sibling and my best friend,” said Clifton, 88. “We talked almost every day.”

Rev. Adams emerged on the scene of the religious community in 1962, when he became pastor of the historic Concord Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Boston, Massachusetts, according to relatives. From that pulpit, he went on to shape a religious following, was hailed internationally, spoke before the United Nations and met with U.S. presidents.

Back home in Detroit, he nurtured his flock and his community, his followers said.

In 1967, he became pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. The church would later move to 18700 James Couzens in the late ’70s, where he would grow the congregation from several hundred to nearly 10,000. In 2017, it was recognized by Michigan historical officials as the first church for African Americans on the city’s northwest side. It was described as a prestigious place where leaders have sought social justice and where mourners flocked to bid farewell to famous figures.

The church has been the funeral site for high-profile figures — singers, educators, activists and others. It has seen politicians ranging from Al Gore to Geoffrey Fieger greet attendees on the campaign trail.

When Rev. Adams retired from the pulpit in October 2019, his son and successor, the Rev. Charles Christian Adams, vowed to continue his father’s works.

“My father did groundbreaking work … I’m humbled to be a part of that line, and I know that there are great expectations to move the church upward and onward yet still maintain its character and its activity in the life of the city and beyond,” he said at the time.

Rev. Adams was born in Detroit on Dec. 13, 1936, and attended Detroit Public Schools. He graduated from Cass Technical High School.

He went on to attend Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, a historically Black college and university, for two years, then transferred to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Harvard Divinity School, graduating with honors from both institutions. Rev. Adams went on to become a doctoral fellow in Union Theological Seminary in New York City, according to a biography on Hartford’s website.

“He shared with me all the scholarly things that was involved in,” Clifton said. “All of the time that he was at Harvard and he was away. We would read the same books.”

He would earn a reputation as the “Harvard Whooper,” a celebratory form and style of oration in the Black Church that marks the close of a sermon, with cadence and musical vocalizations.

He retired from the iconic church in 2019 after 52 years in the pulpit, drawing the many thousands to its pews with his thundering, impassioned voice. It was his work as well to tend to his flock’s earthly needs as well as spiritual that catapulted him into an internationally renowned religious leader. Rev. Adams bought land in the city to spark redevelopment and create jobs, launched services to help senior citizens, children and families.

He was hailed by Ebony magazine as among the nation’s greatest Black preachers and most influential African Americans. To his countless parishioners, he was a “man born to be a minister” and remained an unforgettable figure whose efforts inspired them.

News of Rev. Adams’ death spread quickly on social media, where memories, photos and tributes could been seen honoring the beloved “pulpit giant.”

Leaders among Detroit’s Black Church community described him as “a preacher’s preacher” and a “prince of the pulpit.”

“Adams could start a message, and within five minutes, the people would be on their feet; that’s just how impactful he was,” said the Rev. Wendell Anthony, Detroit Branch NAACP president and pastor of Detroit’s Fellowship Chapel. “I pray for his son, Christian, and his family and church. I know he had been out of the pulpit for a while, but the pulpit was always in him.”

Rev. Adams became president of the NAACP Detroit Branch in 1984, the church said. During his leadership, he successfully called for a boycott of Dearborn businesses after officials moved to ban nonresidents from the city’s parks.

Anthony said Rev. Adams would be remembered most as “an uncompromising voice of that what was courageous, rooted in justice, and using the Black Church as a voice to uplift people.”

Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, senior pastor of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, called Adams a “social justice warrior for the marginalized.”

Ellis’ church, which hosted the funeral of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, was where Rev. Adams was remembered for rendering a punctuated speech at her 2005 funeral by reciting “thank you” in different languages.

“A true friend indeed to the Ellis and Greater Grace Temple families,” Ellis said, adding that the two congregations were neighbors for more than 20 years when his church was located at Seven Mile Road and Schaefer Highway before moving near Telegraph Road in 2002.

In addition to his sister and son, Rev. Adams is survived by his wife, Agnes Adams; and daughter Dr. Tara Adams Washington. Funeral arrangements were incomplete late Wednesday, relatives said.

jaimery@detroitnews.com

X: @wordsbyjakkar

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions rushing attack sets ridiculous NFL record

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Detroit Lions rushing attack sets ridiculous NFL record

On Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Detroit Lions scored three rushing touchdowns… in the first half.

Including the playoffs, the Lions have now scored a rushing touchdown in 24 straight games, which is an NFL recording according to the league’s official Twitter account. If you’re wondering which game that streak goes back to, it’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game back in October of 2023. You may remember that Jahmyr Gibbs missed that game with an injury, and David Montgomery left it early with a mid-game injury.

The @Lions have scored a rushing TD in 24 straight games, including the postseason, the longest streak in @NFL history.
Their streak of 21 straight regular-season games with a rushing TD is tied with the 1974-76 Dolphins for the 3rd-longest ever.
— NFL345 (@NFL345) November 17, 2024
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That Lions rushing duo has been dominant since. This season alone, Gibbs and Montgomery have combined for 18 rushing touchdowns in 9.5 games—both of them ranking in the top five across the league in rushing touchdowns.

The duo known as “Sonic” and “Knuckles” are taking over the league, and have a strong case for best running back duo in the league, and best duo in Lions history.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars predictions: NFL’s best vs. the worst?

Published

12 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars predictions: NFL’s best vs. the worst?

Since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978 (and went to 17 games in 2021), there have been 80 winning streaks of at least eight games in the league. The San Francisco 49ers have done it nine times. The New England Patriots, eight. Even the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday’s visitor to Ford Field, have done it once (an 11-gamer in 1999).

But not the Detroit Lions; the franchise’s longest run over that span is seven games, achieved in 1995 and then again this season.

Of course, that could change Sunday, as the 2-8 Jags arrive in town (1 p.m., CBS). Will the 8-1 Lions reach eight straight wins for the first time since the franchise’s first year in Detroit (when the Lions actually won their first 10 games)?

Four Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on their potential vs. the Jaguars.

Dave Birkett

Coaches can give all the lip service they want to this being the NFL, and not taking opponents for granted, and the other guys getting paid, too. The reality is, though, the Lions might be the best team in the NFL, and the Jaguars might be the worst.

The Jaguars have played several close games, including against the Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles the past three weeks, but they also are starting a backup quarterback and were blown out on the road by the best offense they faced (the Buffalo Bills). If the protection is there, Jared Goff should have a big day and the defense seems poised for another few takeaways in a game that should be over by the third quarter. The pick: Lions 38, Jaguars 17.

Carlos Monarrez

After going through the details of Jacksonville’s season, I figured it out. The 2-8 Jaguars stink. And that was even with Trevor Lawrence, who will miss this game. Though “miss” might be the wrong word. This will come down to how easy Dan Campbell wants to make it on owner Shad Khan to fire Doug Pederson during the upcoming bye week. Penei Sewell will catch a touchdown pass, the Lions’ defense will pick off Mac Jones three times and Pederson will get his walking papers on Monday. The pick: Lions 36, Jaguars 13

Jeff Seidel

This is one of those games where what the Lions do in trying to clean up mistakes will be more important than the final score. Because the Lions will win this game. There’s little doubt about that. But I think they will concentrate on putting together long, sustained drives, trying to get their offensive rhythm back, trying to find consistency. Which might hold down the score a little. The pick: Lions 28, Jaguars 10

Shawn Windsor

The Lions haven’t put two good offensive halves together in a while, and though Jacksonville has a good front and a feisty defense, Ben Johnson and company are keen on getting more from the offense. Here’s betting they do. Meanwhile, the defense keeps rolling and takes advantage of Trevor Lawrence’s absence. The pick: Lions 31, Jaguars 16.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Red Wings avoid shutout but still royally trounced by LA Kings, 4-1

Published

20 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Detroit Red Wings avoid shutout but still royally trounced by LA Kings, 4-1

LOS ANGELES — Predictably, the Detroit Red Wings lost the second of their back-to-back outing, outplayed by a well-rested and skilled opponent.

The Los Angeles Kings dispatched the Wings, 4-1, Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, taking advantage and control early. The Wings were never in it, outshot every period to the tune of 41-18 in the end. Dylan Larkin scored with 1:27 to play, his 10th goal of the season.

The loss leaves the Wings (7-9-1) with one last hope left for salvaging some pride on this trip when they wrap things up Monday at the San Jose Sharks. The trip began on a positive note when the Wings quashed the Penguins’ momentum and won in overtime, but took a dive when they failed to do so against the Ducks, blowing a two-goal lead to lose Friday in Anaheim.

Tough 22 seconds

The Wings, having played 22 hours earlier, spent most of the first stretch of the game in their own zone, with Talbot having his hands full. The former Kings goalie was welcomed back with a Jumbotron message during the first timeout. Then the Kings went back to shelling him. They scored at 18:05 when Lucas Raymond’s attempt at a chip pass was picked off and ended with Mikey Anderson’s goal. Just 22 seconds later, they doubled up off an odd-man rush, with Tanner Jeannot scoring at 18:27.

Tilted ice

The Kings, who had been off since Wednesday, showed what good teams do when they have a two-goal lead: Keep up the pressure. They racked up a 15-5 edge in shots in the first period and sustained the attack in the second, keeping Talbot busy by buzzing around his net. The Wings had a harder time making things tough on David Rittich. Alex DeBrincat had one of the better chances when he unleashed a quick shot from the left circle, and Marco Kasper was in on a chance, too, but Rittich saw everything the Wings sent at him. The Kings went ahead, 3-0, when Adrian Kempe converted on a breakaway 15 seconds into the third period, and scored again into an empty net with 49 seconds to play.

Edvinsson unavailable

Simon Edvinsson took warmups but ended up missing the game because he got dinged up Friday blocking a shot. He’s considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, nothing the team expects to take long to heal. His absence left the Wings with a hole to plug on the top defense pairing. Ben Chiarot slid into the spot, a natural choice given he has played with Seider a great deal in the past. The other lineup change was up front, where an upper-body injury prevented Michael Rasmussen from playing, and Tyler Motte instead made his first appearance in a week.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.

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