Pastor William L. Harper

ELDER WILLIAM L. "BILL" HARPER, SR., AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS "EASY CAT BY HIS FAMILY," WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1943, IN WYNNEWOOD, OKLAHOMA, TO THE LATE ROBERT AND JURLINE HARPER. THE YOUNGEST OF NINE SIBLINGS, BILL GREW UP SURROUNDED BY LOVE ON THE FAMILY FARM, WHERE HE ENJOYED PLAYING AND LEARNING FROM HIS OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AFTER MANY OF THEM MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY AND WICHITA, BILL WAS RAISED ALONGSIDE HIS COUSINS, HENRY AND MICHAEL, WHO BECAME LIKE BROTHERS TO HIM.

A GIFTED ATHLETE AND AVID SPORTS FAN, BILL PLAYED BASKETBALL DURING HIS SCHOOL YEARS AND DEVELOPED A LIFELONG ADMIRATION FOR BOXING-ESPECIALLY FOR HIS HERO, MUHAMMAD ALI. BILL EVENTUALLY FOLLOWED HIS SIBLINGS TO WICHITA, KANSAS, WHERE HE ATTENDED EAST HIGH SCHOOL WHILE WORKING JOBS AS A BUSBOY, DISHWASHER, AND ASSISTANT COOK. KNOWN FOR HIS CHARM AND SMOOTH DANCE MOVES, HE EVEN MADE MULTIPLE APPEARANCES ON THE LOCAL DANCE SHOW HI-FI HOP WITH HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, JUANITA JEFFERSON.

IN 1963, BILL MARRIED JUANITA, AND TOGETHER THEY BUILT A LOVING, CHRISTIAN HOME WITH THEIR THREE CHILDREN: REGINA, WILLIAM JR. (DALE), AND SHERYL (AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS PUFFY JAWS). BILL WORKED HARD TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY WHILE NURTURING HIS SPIRITUAL CALLING. HIS EARLY CAREER INCLUDED POSITIONS AT STA-KRISP POTATO CHIP COMPANY- WHERE HIS CHILDREN FONDLY REMEMBER COLLECTING BLUE TOKEN CHIPS FOR FREE JOYLAND AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES-AS WELL AS JOBS AT THE COLEMAN COMPANY, THE HICKORY HOUSE RESTAURANT, AND THE TOWNE HOUSE RESTAURANT.

IN 1965, BILL ANSWERED THE LORD'S CALL AND BECAME A LICENSED MINISTER. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A.W. MARTIN AT MARTIN TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST (COGIC), HE SERVED AS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR. HIS DEEP LOVE FOR THE LORD AND PASSION FOR PREACHING WERE UNMISTAKABLE, TOUCHING THE HEARTS OF ALL WHO HEARD HIM. IN THE EARLY 1970S, HE WAS ORDAINED AN ELDER IN THE KANSAS SOUTHWEST JURISDICTION COGIC.

ELDER HARPER'S FIRST PASTORAL ROLE WAS AT FRIENDSHIP COGIC IN WINFIELD, KANSAS, WHERE HEMFAITHFULLY SERVED FOR OVER A DECADE. EVEN AFTER THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF HIS BELOVED WIFE JUANITA IN 1995, ELDER HARPER NEVER WAVERED IN HIS MINISTRY. HE CONTINUED PREACHING, VISITING THE SICK, AND MINISTERING IN HOMES, HOSPITALS, AND ON THE STREETS-ALWAYS WITH A PRAYER AND A SONG READY TO UPLIFT OTHERS

LATER IN LIFE, GOD BROUGHT ELDER HARPER COMPANIONSHIP ONCE AGAIN THROUGH MS. GLORIA PORCHIA. THEY MET WHILE GLORIA WAS RECOVERING FROM ILLNESS, AND ELDER HARPER MINISTERED TO HER THROUGH PRAYER, CARE, AND KINDNESS. THEIR BOND GREW THROUGH FAITH, SHARED LAUGHTER, AND A MUTUAL LOVE FOR GOSPEL PREACHING, SPORTS, AND GAME SHOWS. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2004-HIS 61ST BIRTHDAY, AND BOTH THEIR BIRTHDAY MONTH, THEY WERE UNITED IN HOLY MATRIMONY. OVER 21 YEARS OF JOYFUL MARRIAGE FOLLOWED, MARKED BY LOVE, FAITH, AND PARTNERSHIP IN MINISTRY.

ON JUNE 29, 2025, ELDER HARPER PEACEFULLY TRANSITIONED TO BE WITH THE LORD AT THE AGE OF 81, HAVING TRULY FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. HE IS NOW RESTING IN THE ARMS OF HIS SAVIOR.

HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS ROBERT AND JURLINE HARPER; BROTHERS HERMAN, LEROY, AND TIMOTHY HARPER; AND SISTERS CHERFILEE HARPER, HARDISTEA FARRIS, ETHEL MAE HAAN, WILLIE MAE HARPER, AND CLAIR HARPER.

HE IS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY HIS WIFE, GLORIA HARPER; BROTHER, LEOTIS HARPER OF DES MOINES, IA; CHILDREN: REGINA ROCHELLE JEFFERSON OF UPPER MARLBORO, MD; WILLIAM L. HARPER JR. OF BIRMINGHAM, AL; AND SHERYL YVONNE HARPER OF ATLANTA, GA; BONUS CHILDREN: CHERYEL PIPER, BRENDIA PORCHIA, GLENDIA PORCHIA OF WICHITA, KS AND REPOLEON PORCHIA OF FLORIDA; GRANDSONS: WILLIAM L. HARPER III OF HUNTSVILLE, AL AND CHRISTOPHER (JOY) HARPER OF LOS ANGELES, CA; BONUS GRANDCHILDREN: LATRICE, SANKEYSECHIA, CURTIS AND MATHEW;15 BONUS GREATGRANDCHILDREN; AND 8 BONUS GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN PLUS A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND FRIENDS-ALL OF WHOM WERE BLESSED BY HIS PRAYERS, SONGS, AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE LORD.

ELDER WILLIAM L. HARPER'S LEGACY IS ONE OF FAITH, FAMILY, LOVE, AND SERVICE!

HE LIVED WITH PURPOSE AND LEAVES BEHIND A SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE THAT WILL LIVE ON FOR GENERATIONS.