Richard C. Dalton

Rev. Richard Conway Dalton-a bold pastor, civil rights leader, educator, playwright, and visionary social entrepreneur-passed into eternal rest on April 2, at the age of 78.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Richard Lee and Dororthy Dalton, Richard's early life was shaped by basketball, familial hilarity, and a deepening curiosity about the world's beauty and brokenness. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he returned home and enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. There, he founded Educational Data Systems, a research initiative designed to help align college education with future workforce needs. Though few would call it that at the time, Richard was functioning as a social entrepreneur-seeking to solve systemic problems with vision, practicality, and hope, a creative practice he maintained until the end of his life.
After giving his life to Christ in 1979, he pursued theological education at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1985. For the next 30+ years, he most often pastored congregations and planted gospel roots in neglected neighborhoods and communities.
Richard served at Salem Presbyterian (Lithonia, GA), Hillside Presbyterian (Decatur, GA), Georgia Avenue Church (Atlanta, GA), John Knox Presbyterian (Florissant, MO), Garden Memorial Presbyterian (Washington D.C.), Southminister Presbyterian (Austell, GA), Thomas and Thomas Presbyterian (Chester, PA), The Storehouse Ministry (Dayton, OH), and Beloved Community United Methodist Church (Ferguson, MO). He felt called to places marked by struggle, determined to make the church relevant and central to where people were hurting most.
In 1988, he joined the national staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under Rev. Joseph Lowery. There, he launched Wings of Hope, a violence intervention initiative that trained churches to adopt families in high-risk communities. For this, he was honored with a Point of Light Award from the White House and nominated by President George H. W. Bush to the National Service Commission.
As he once wrote:
"To God's credit, these programs weren't just ideas-they were platforms for churches to stop the killing, serve the poor, and proclaim the gospel."
Richard's work included the Orange Hats of Fairlawn (D.C.), which reduced gang and drug activity in Anacostia and was featured in Time Magazine and studied by Harvard's Kennedy School. He trained city officials in Community Conflict Resolution and served as the Prison Re-entry Coordinator for Chester, PA.
His academic and policy contributions took him to Notre Dame and the Heritage Foundation, where he discussed legislation related to the crack-cocaine epidemic, poverty, and systemic violence. He also taught for 11 years at Beulah Heights University and was invited to speak at Oxford University on public education and faith-based views of evolution and design.
A creative thinker, he wrote and staged plays on themes ranging from 9/11 and Dr. King to Ferguson and Michaelangelo. He was a frequent columnist for the Delco Times (where many of his articles are archived), and his cultural, political, and theological observations can be found at richarddalton87.blogspot.com.
Richard's Joshua Partnership Project trained churches in at-risk neighborhoods to unite around a shared vision of evangelism, job creation, community development, and holistic transformation.
He loved basketball from the time he was a boy in Avondale, playing throughout junior high and high school, eventually earning a spot on the team at Ohio University. Though he only played one game at the college level, the sport remained a central passion. He would go on to coach youth, middle school, varsity, and college basketball for much of his life. Many young men encountered Christ and their leadership potential through Coach Dalton's patient mentorship on and off the court, including his son Micah.
Richard's life was not without brokenness. He often spoke honestly about his need for God's grace and lived his final years growing in humility and love.
He spent his final years in Lawrenceville, Georgia, embraced by a multigenerational group of believers, where he taught, mentored, and shared life over cups of coffee at Boulder Creek and fellowship at local churches. He remained committed to helping churches be salt and light in dark places until the very end.
As he once wrote:
"I see myself as a learner and servant leader for Jesus Christ. For the rest of my life I want to pour what I have learned into the Body of Christ."
He is survived by his son Micah Dalton, daughter-in-law Mary Lynn Dalton, grandchildren Annie, Josephine, Lillian, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, and many who were shaped by his wisdom, challenged by his courage, and blessed by his relentless hope.
A celebration of his life for close family and friends will be held on Saturday, April 5th at Honey Creek Burial Grounds Chapel in Conyers, GA at 10AM, with a small reception to follow at Immanuel Anglican Church in Decatur, GA at 1PM. Instead of flowers, the family encourages donations to Path2Hope, continuing his work of gospel-centered community transformation.
In both triumph and trial, Richard lived with fierce conviction and unwavering faith.
To God be the glory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Burial @ HONEY CREEK WOODLANDS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Contact information:
Address:
2625 Highway 212 SW, Conyers GA 30094
Phone:
770.483.7535
HCW@trappist.net
Staff:
Carolyn Anderson (Manager) Michael Wojcik (Preserve Manager)
Elaine Bishoff (Sr. Steward) Kye Wilson (Steward) & Joni Aparo (Steward)
You may have issues with Mapquest or certain GPS systems. These are
DIRECTIONS FROM ATLANTA ON I-20 EAST:
Take interstate 20 East to Exit 71, Panola Road. Turn right onto Panola Road
and go 2.3 miles to the sixth traffic light. Turn left onto Browns Mill Road
(Hwy 212) and proceed 9.5 miles to the Monastery. Just after you pass the
OLD entrance and approach the NEW entrance to the Monastery, you will see a
road on the right called Susong Road. Turn right on Susong. Follow Susong
Road around mile. You will come to an open lawn and circular driveway on
your left. Enter the driveway at the second entrance. We will proceed from
there to the cemetery. Restrooms are available at our office in the gray stone
building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, Please use the link at the bottom of this page to donate to "Path to Hope"~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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