Mother Lucille Rumph

A Legacy of Love
On October 19, 1945, in Dumas, Arkansas, He Who is Love, manifested His expression of love in the person of Lucille Henderson. She was the third child born to her parents, James and Cittie Mae Henderson. It was in her parents' care, along with her siblings, that she grew in love, until she met her first Love, the Lord. At a young age, she was Saved and Filled with the Precious Gift of the Holy Ghost under the leadership of Elder L. Thomas in Dumas, Arkansas.
When one is shaped in the image and likeness of Love, one can see life, in every aspect, through the lens of love.
Lucille graduated from Reed High School in Dumas, Arkansas and continued her education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While at the University, she met the man who would become the Love of her life, T.W. Rumph, Jr. As college sweethearts, they shared a rich love for the Lord and for one another. Lucille's dedication to academic excellence earned her the distinction of graduating from the University, Magna Cum Laude. She never allowed life's circumstances, such as the loss of her mother, to distract her from the path on which the Lord had placed her feet.
Even though Lucille had begun her career as an educator in the Little Rock Arkansas School System, Love called her name and she answered! On July 1, 1967, Lucille united in Holy Matrimony to the late Overseer T.W. Rumph, Jr. The Southern Belle gladly joined her husband in the Midwest to serve the Lord at Bethel Temple Church of God In Christ under the leadership of her loving parents-in-law, the late Pastor T.W. and Mother Subella Rumph, Sr.
Sister Lucille understood that whatever she put her hands to do, she had to do it with excellence as unto the Lord. Being a wise woman, she knew that she needed to build not only her house, but also the house of the Lord. She returned to academia and earned her Master's of Mathematics from Purdue University - Calumet Campus. She achieved this all while nurturing the love growing on the inside of her that would be born to the world as her daughter, Erika Nikole.
Sister Lucille dedicated her time and talents to the children of the Gary Community School Corporation. From September 3, 1973, she lovingly taught 7th Grade Mathematics at Bailly Middle School until she retired on June 6, 2008. Sister Rumph did more than just teach math, she spread the love of God and transmitted His Spirit through every classroom, meeting room and in the hearts of each student, staff., administrator and fellow educator blessed to meet her. Not long after retirement, the spirit of excellence that she carried was needed in the schools, once again. In August 2009, she returned to the classroom with the students at the Glen Park Academy as a volunteer Intervention Specialist until May 2014.
On February, 16, 1992, Elder T. W. and Sister Lucille Rumph, Jr. were appointed Pastor and First Lady of Bethel Temple Church of God in Christ. Their love for God and His people knew no bounds. Their united goal was to equip the Saints of God with His Word and to plant seeds of Righteousness in the hearts of all. Sister Rumph was instrumental in developing the T.W. Rumph., Sr. Christian Academy as a foundational contributor and educational advisor. The T.W. Rumph, Sr. Christian Academy served numerous students and families from 1996 to 2003.
Mother Lucille Rumph embraced the Word of God that teaches one plants, one waters but ultimately God gives the increase. She sowed good seed, in good soil through the Apple of God's Eye Women's Winning Team. From this Ministry, the ever-popular Annual Women's Retreat came forth. Because of her labors of love at these retreats, Mother Rumph saw God's increase in the lives of the many women who were healed, delivered and set free. The seeds that she planted during her life's ministry produced a bumper crop of good fruit - fit for the Master's use.
Mother Lucille Rumph's love was not only demonstrated outwardly in her church and community ministry work, but also in the quiet moments when she would labor in prayer for countless people. As a prayer warrior, she kept a prayer journal in which she would list various prayer requests. As God answered her effectual and fervent prayers, she would mark off those victories and give all glory to God!
Mother Lucille's tremendous love for the Father was heralded through her praise and worship of Him Who first Loved her. Her heart's posture before the Lord could be seen and heard in the songs that championed her Savior. It was through some of her favorite songs that she was strengthened to face the vicissitudes of life. Her voice exhorted the believers to "Be Ye Steadfast." Her heart sang that "God Is." Her life was submitted to the Father by readily acknowledging to Him that "Your Will is What's Best for Me." Even when the enemy tried to attack, she rendered him powerless by boasting that "God Made it Fail." At one of her life's most challenging times, she yet proclaimed "Oh, Sweet Wonder - Jesus the Son of God." She purposed that with every breath she would sing of the "Goodness of God." Even when her natural voice could no longer sustain a note, her spirit boasted in the God of her salvation and with her hand lifted up, she continued to Worship her God and King.
Her commitment to God, family and education was duly noted in a newspaper interview for an article featuring educators. Mother Lucille affirmed that her life's goals were "to solely work with (her) husband to fulfill the vision that God has given for the ministry at Bethel Temple Church of God in Christ." In the same interview, she readily acknowledged that her major accomplishments in life were "accepting Jesus Christ as (her) personal Savior, working in the ministry with (her) husband, completing (her) educational studies and raising (her) daughter." She further remarked in that interview that the best time of her life was when her daughter was born.
On March 31, 2026, at 6:10 p.m., while worshipping the Lord, surrounded by her legacies of love, Erika Nikole, Kim Nikole, and her "Kaiya Maiya," she committed her Spirit to the One Who loved her first and best.
Mother Lucille was preceded in death by her hardworking father, James Henderson and prayer warrior mother, Cittie Mae Henderson; her anointed husband, Overseer T.W. Rumph, Jr.; her loving parents-in-law, Pastor T.W. and Mother Subella Rumph, Sr.; siblings, L.C. Henderson, Sam Henderson, Lillian Jones, Bishop W.B. Henderson and James Riley Henderson; sisters-in-law, Mary Lee Henderson and Mary Henderson; brothers-in-law, Kenneth E. Rumph and Briggs Rumph, Sr.
Mother Lucille Rumph leaves unforgettable, cherished memories to her one and only child, best friend and selfless caregiver, Erika Nikole Rumph; her special babies that never allowed her to be without anything that she ever needed, Kimberly Nikole Rumph, Kaiya Amari Cole and Kortez Emmanuel Cole; siblings, Uleses (Ola) Henderson, Sr., Beverly (Willie) Vincent, and Preston Henderson, Sr., brothers-in-law, Michael Blair (Doris) Rumph and Emmanuel "Puncho" (Agnes) Rumph; sister-in-law, Evarlean Rumph; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; devoted CNA's, Paula Weitzner, Kierra Jones and Christina Gardner; private duty at-home nurse who was accessible day and night, Mother Ida Parker; the "Golden Girls" Birthday Club; the Special Bailly Middle School Sisterhood; many devoted life-long "sister friends"; numerous God Children; a host of Spiritual Sons and Spiritual Daughters. Most notably, Pastor Charles Morris and Assistant Pastor Marvin and Lady Debra Walton who were dedicated Spiritual Sons and Daughter throughout her journey of healing. The Gary Community School Corporation Family held a special place in her heart, especially the Bailly Middle School Family and the Glen Park Academy Family. The love and commitment forever held in her heart for the entire Bethel Temple Family runs so deep it is indescribable. As she would often say: "Time brings about a change." As the Church family expanded, so did her love and commitment to the New Bethel Fellowship Family.
Mother Lucille's journey on earth began with Love. Her life was a never-ending fount of Love that watered and nourished many. Her legacy of Love will resonate throughout the ages and is recorded in the annuls of heaven for all eternity.
1 Corinthians 13:8, 13 reads "Love never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall vanish. (13) And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
God is Love.
All Services Saturday April 25,2026. Wake 9:00 AM Funeral 10:00 PM at Reed's Temple C.O.G.I.C. 1300 N. Broad St. Griffith,In.
Interment Evergreen Memorial Hobart,In.
Professional Services Rendered by Powell Coleman Funeral Home.