Bishop George Lee Dewberry

On December 4, 2020, Bishop George Dewberry transitioned from Earth to Glory. He was born to the union of Willie (Sr.) and Stevie Dewberry on November 26, 1942, in Zebulon Georgia. To the union of Willie and Stevie were ten children, six girls, and four boys. Ora Akines, Ludie Bell Bostic, Wille Dewberry Jr., Lucie May Dewberry, Oda Mae Willis, Jessie Dewberry, Robert Dewberry Sr, Eva Lee Parks, George Lee Dewberry, Jeanette Dewberry. George Dewberry grew up in Griffin Georgia where he was raised by his parents until the age of fifteen when God called his mother home. One of his older sisters, Sister Ludie Bell Bostic, brought young George to Dayton, Ohio taking a load off his father to raise him. Ludie Bell Bostic was the one who help shape George’s belief’s and faith in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1958, George Dewberry accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at Bethesda Temple Church in Dayton, Ohio under the late Bishop Ralph Bass. He served on the Usher Board, sung in the Junior and Senior Choir, and also became the Youth Leader. He graduated from Franklin Roosevelt High School, in Dayton. In 1961 George relocated to Detroit, Michigan where he started working at Detroit Diesel and formed a union with Barbara Jean Cole in 1965 (1965-1992), and to this union were Tychicus Dewberry, Lisa Ann Dewberry, and George Ancel Dewberry. The Dewberry’s attended Emmanuel Temple under District Elder Clyde Colbert where George was ordained as an Elder, New Hope Tabernacle pastored by Suffragan Bishop Rush Lockhart, and Bethel Church of the Apostolic Faith pastored by District Elder Tommie Woods Sr. Elder George started taking classes at Detroit Bible College where he began to learn more about the Lord and take his Ministry to another level. He did just that!  At Bethel, George had established himself as a young evangelist and became the church’s Youth Leader. In 1974, George was elected the Eastern District Youth Chairman for two terms and was elected 2nd Vice Chairman of the Northern District Council of the State of Michigan where he served under the leadership of Elder Richard Young. In 1976, Elder George Dewberry was elected the Northern District Council Youth Chairman where he held the position for two terms (four years).

In 1977, Elder George Dewberry was asked to be the pastor of a church in Benton Harbor Michigan, so after and praying and giving God’s consent, he was elected pastor of Bethlehem Temple Church located at 848 Buss Street Benton Harbor, Michigan. Elder Dewberry moved his family to Benton Harbor. He gave the Eastern District Youth Chairman position to Louis Slaughter because now lived on the west side of the state. The church immediately became a huge success in the city of having the first television broadcast and radio ministries. Elder Dewberry held the position as the state youth chairman during his first couple of years pastoring. One major highlight of his tenure as Youth Chairman of the Northern District Council was in the 1979 International Pentecostal Young People’s Union Convention (IPYPU) in New Orleans Louisiana, Elder Dewberry was unanimously selected and won, the first annual” President’s President Award” for outstanding leadership, achievement, and a delegation representing the State of Michigan by IPYPU President Thomas Weeks Sr. The convention was impressed with all the young delegates that were in New Orleans representing the state of Michigan, and Friday Night Service had the Michigan State Choir singing the number 1 Gospel Song in America, “Prepare to Meet Him” written by Kenneth Wilson from Greater Grace Temple Detroit. Elder Dewberry was really impressed by how the young Michigan delegates displayed excellence in representing the state at that meeting. In his administration included: Bishop Charles Ellis III and Bishop Harry Grayson.

Elder Dewberry went on to purchase a building directly across the street from the church and called it the “Fellowship Hall” which was a place for wedding receptions and after church fellowships with the saints. The Choir had an immediate impact on the city. Under the leadership of Sis Carolyn Jones, Bethlehem Temple Choir had some of the most profound concerts and musicals and was asked to sing at the of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) several times. Elder Dewberry really enjoyed seeing the choir and their great musicians make great accomplishments. Elder Dewberry continued his learning more about the word of God by enrolling at Andrew’s University Theological Seminary and Moody Bible College. The church grew and God lead Elder Dewberry in a new direction of location, so in 1998 with this location in mind, Elder Dewberry partnered with a long-time friend Elder George Cutler and purchased the 660 Nickerson Ave location, and changed the name of the church to Grace Temple Church. The 1.8 million purchase included an 800 seated church, parsonage, house, and 400 acres of land. On July 29, 1999, Elder Dewberry re-married Denise Nichols-Dewberry. She was a great to help to him and served the Grace Temple family faithfully.

In 2010 Elder Dewberry was appointed Bishop by Bishop Patrick Tate of the Oasis International Fellowship of churches. Bishop Dewberry served as pastor of Grace Temple Church for 43 years, under his ministry many lives were changed and saved. The Grace Temple Church family produced many pastors: George Poole, Albert Adams, Bishop Patrick Tate, and Bishop Anthony King to name a few.

He leaves to cherish his wife Denise Dewberry, seven children, Tychicus Dewberry, Lisa Ann Dewberry, George Dewberry, Corlis Nichols, Nichelle Doolittle, Tamkea Doolittle, and Jessica Williams. 11 grandchildren, 1 great grand, a host of nieces and nephews, and the people he loved the most, his flock the Grace Temple Church family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Benton Harbor.

Posted On: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 3:56 PM