Deacon Horace Pope, Sr.

Horace U. Pope, Sr was the seventh child born to George and Sylvia Pope on November 29, 1934 in Calvert, TX. His father was a hard working sharecropper and his mother was a home maker. 

He received his early education with Calvert ISD and graduated high school from Calvert Colored High School in 1954 in Calvert, TX. After graduation, he moved to Wichita Falls, TX where he began his higher education at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Tx to pursue his degree in Business Administration. He was one of the first African American students to integrate the university. He married Mary E. Davis Pope in 1959 until her death. Through that union, they had a daughter and two sons, Steven Pope and Horace U. Pope Jr. He married Evelyn B. Jones Pope in 2004. 

He always had a strong desire to serve the Jesus Christ from an early age. His life was dedicated to the Lord and he loved to encourage and teach the Word to the young and old. He joined Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, TX under the leadership of Rev. R.L. Castle. He has served many roles within the church as an active Deacon, Sunday School teacher and Brotherhood Bible teacher over 60 years.  

As a devout Christian, he had a strong desire for servanthood. He has served as President, Vice President, Secretary and Teacher for the Brotherhood of the Progressive West Texas District Association. He was the Bible teacher for the General Baptist Convention of Texas Brotherhood. He was presented as Man of the Year in 1991 by the General State Brotherhood General Missionary Convention of Texas. In 1996, he was presented with the honor of Man of the Year by the Progressive West Texas District Association. The Isabel Smith District Texas Association of Colored Women’s Club, Inc and Youth Affiliation bestowed the honor of Family of the Year.

He received a diploma in Biblical Studies from Southwestern Seminary. He has received several diplomas from the Southern Baptist Seminary Extension of Fort Worth, TX (Wichita Falls, TX).

He taught monthly Bible Study to the homeless at Faith Mission, Wichita Falls, and Rivers Oaks Convalescent Nursing Home, Wichita Falls, to the elderly. 

In 2017, he was honored by Midwestern State University to commemorate the unveiling of their Texas Historical Marker that recognized the men and women who led to desegregation efforts of the university 1954.

He has owned several businesses throughout his life. He held his lawn care service with the most pride and dedication. He received several awards from the City of Wichita Falls for his landscaping and appearance of his home. He worked tirelessly and served members of the community in excellence for over 50 years.

Deacon Pope is preceded in death by his parents, George and Sylvia Pope, his late wife, Mary E. Pope, his daughter Phyllis Marie, his brothers, George Jr, Leonard, Oscar, Melvin, Charles and sisters, Olivia and Atleen.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Pope, Wichita Falls, TX; his sons, Steven Pope, Wichita Falls, TX and Horace U. Pope Jr., The Colony, TX; his grandchildren, Tenesha (Jeremy Sr) Yates, Aubrey, TX, Natesla Pope, Wichita Falls, Tiara Roberson, Edmond, Ok, Horace U. Pope III, Dallas, TX, Kira White, The Colony, TX and Tamara White, Keller, TX; his great-grandchildren, Quintavion, Alayna, Jeremy Jr, Jaxson, Raya and Messiah; his sister, Gertrude (Billy) Robinson, Wichita Falls, TX and his brother, Lee (Lillie) Pope Sr, and a host of nieces and nephews, close friends and church family. 

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