photo courtesy of Twitter
Dr. Reverend Calvin O. Butts III, a Harlem pastor from the Abyssinian Baptist Church, passed away at 73. As one of New York’s most well-respected community and religious members, his church confirmed Butts’ death on Twitter on October 28.
The tweet read, “
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved pastor, Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, who peacefully transitioned in the early morning of October 28, 2022. The Butts Family & entire Abyssinian Baptist Church membership solicit your prayers.”A candlelight vigil was held outside his church Friday night, where community members showed up to pay their respects for all he’d done for the community. According to CBS News, parishioner Leon Harris said, “I just wanted to show homage to a great man and what he did to the community and what he did directly to me. He set me on the right path,” Harris continued to praise Calvin O. Butts, “He gave us strength. He gave us a will to fight for what we need for our community.’
Butts was a significant social justice advocate and a religious figure. Serving as a senior pastor for over 30 years, back in 1980, he founded the Abyssinian Development Corp. intending to develop and improve areas in need immediately surrounding the church.
“Schools in this community, affordable housing, so you name the issue, Dr. Butts has been on it and/or a leader of it,” a former Manhattan Borough President said. Butts developed Harlem for the better in his years presiding over the church, and another Reverend, Al Sharpton, offered his condolences after the announcement of Butts’ passing – taking time to praise all that he had done in his years in Harlem.
Sharpton said, “After a while, you say, you know what? I may not agree with him on certain things, but I have to respect this guy. He’s one of a kind.”
He described Butts as “a dominant faith and academic leader for decades.”
The pastor mourned his loss on Twitter as well.