Rev. Dr. Gaylord M. Thompson, Sr.

Obituary For Rev. Dr. Gaylord M. Thompson, Sr.

Rev. Dr. Gaylord Maurice Thompson, Sr., the youngest son of the late Evelina Murray Thompson and the late Willie Thompson was born in Charleston, South Carolina.

He received his formal education in the Harrisburg School District graduating from the former William Penn High School, class of 1968.Along with his brother and two high school friends, Frank Brown, and William Brown (deceased), Gaylord was a member of a quartet singing group. This quartet was known all over Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for singing gospel praises.

Upon graduating from high school Gaylord was hired by the former Pennsylvania Power and Light Company in an entry level position at the former Walnut Bottom Steam Plant. He was elevated to many positions and retired with forty-two years of dedicated service. He was also employed and retired from United Parcel Service.

Gaylord’s parents believed in the word of God and nurtured him according to Proverbs 22:6 which states, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” and that was instilled in him. He studied at the Philadelphia Bible Institute, College & Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland where he received his Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Theology.

Gaylord accepted Christ at a youthful age and became a member of Warren Memorial Missionary Baptist Church (Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church) under the pastorate of the late Rev. Barney L. Warren and Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Warren. Later, he would move his membership, along with his family, to the Second Baptist Church in Middletown, Pennsylvania.

Gaylord knew he had a calling on his life. In the year 1969, he was ordained a deacon under the late Rev. Carl Fulton at the Second Baptist Church in Middletown, Pennsylvania. In 1972, he experienced an eternal change in his life; he rededicated his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Savior. Accepting Christ in his life filled him with zeal to want others to experience the transformation of God’s power in their life. He was very active in the ministry of the church, serving as a Sunday School Teacher and was also a gifted singer who loved to sing the praises of God.

He would accept his call to the ministry and was licensed in February 1976. As an ordained minister he has served as interim pastor, assistant pastor and pastor in churches throughout the Central Pennsylvania area. He was a member and vice moderator in the Central Baptist Association.

Gaylord’s life revolved around the principle of ministering for God by allowing God’s Holy Spirit to minister through him to His people. He was motivated by the desire to help others move in symphony with God’s spirit and because of coupling a sensitive, servant heart with powerful anointed preaching and teaching, he was able to minister God’s healing love to broken lives.

As he cultivated his relationship with God through prayer, he became intimately aware of how the Holy Spirit would lead and guide all aspects of his life. Gaylord believed the word of God entirely. He had witnessed God transforming lives through his ministry. His winning personality became an effective and dynamic tool in fulfilling his call to teach the word of God. He believed in encouraging people to study the bible, so that they became knowledgeable and mature Christians.

In 1992 he was called to serve in ministry with Reverend John T. Wansley at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, Harrisburg, PA. After six years of dedicated service, he was elevated to the position of Assistant Pastor and on February 20, 2000, he was installed as pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, Harrisburg, PA. A charge he did not take lightly. Together with his wife, Rev. Roberta, they served as faithful co-laborers in the gospel of the Mount Olive Baptist Church. He was dedicated to his members; he visited the sick, fed the hungry and taught the word of God. He remained a committed servant/pastor until his premature death.

On Monday, October 16, 2023, Reverend Dr. Gaylord Maurice Thompson, Sr. transitioned peacefully from earth to glory at his Middletown home with his devoted and loving wife at his side. He will now have the opportunity of asking God the question of how He made the thunder and lightning!

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Elijah Murray Sr., James A. Murray Sr., and Robert Barnes, Sr.; sister, Estelle (Ethel) Moultrie, and grandson, SFC Jarrett Seigle. He leaves to celebrate his life and legacy his beloved wife of 34 years Reverend Roberta Duncan-Thompson; his sons and daughter-in-law, Gaylord Thompson, Jr, Terrence and Elizabeth Thompson; bonus daughters; Dr. Candace Jones, and Wendy Banks; grandchildren, Averianna Neal, Douglas “Brian” Pitts, Najee “Christopher” Spriggs, Marlee Jones, all of Harrisburg, PA; Adam, Constantine and Xena Thompson, all of York, PA;, great-grandchildren; Journee, Douglas Pitts, III, Charland Cuff, all of Harrisburg PA; his brother Larry Thompson, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Katherine Shell, Helen Green, Letha Thompson, Kellee Duncan, Joyce Duncan, Trena Hardy; brothers-in-law; Reverend Willie Shell, Gregory Mohammed, Robert Duncan, Jr., Andre Duncan, and Michael Duncan; his close friend Reverend Dr. Matthew Adkins and a host of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and friends.

Reverend Thompson will be Lying In State at his Church, 1331 S. 14th St, Harrisburg on Tuesday, October 24 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM; with a Celebration of Life at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, October 25 at The First Baptist Church of Steelton, 1850 S. 19th St, Harrisburg; Viewing 11:00AM- 12:00 PM and burial in Paxtang Cemetery.