Virginia Pastor Dies After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

VIRGINIA — A Richmond-area pastor died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, on the day before Easter. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bishop Gerald Glenn was the well-known founder and pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Chesterfield since 1995. The pastor had given a sermon to members before a state order banning gatherings of more than 10 people. The church said Glenn died Saturday, April 11.

The church announced in early April that Glenn and his wife, Mother Marcietia Glenn, had COVID-19, according to WTVR. Glenn's daughter Mar-Gerie Crawley told the news station he had been hospitalized and used a ventilator.

The news station reported that Glenn gave a sermon to more than 10 members on March 22 with a message of "God is larger than this dreaded virus." The service would have been a violation if it happened a day later, when Gov. Northam's March 23 executive order banned gatherings over 10 people. Crawley said his sermon was meant to comfort members in light of the coronavirus, not violate a gathering ban. WTVR had broadcast the church services Sundays at 8:30 a.m.

"Please be in prayer with us for Mother Marcietia Glenn, our first family & the NDEC church family," the church wrote in the announcement of Glenn's death.

In response to Glenn's death, Northam said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bishop Gerald Glenn, founder and pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, to COVID-19. His loss is difficult for so many who knew him—may his spirit endure through us all."

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According to the Times-Dispatch, Glenn gave the invocation at now-Sen. Mark Warner's inauguration as governor in 2002. Glenn is remembered as a mediator between the local NAACP, the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans over a Confederacy proclamation in Chesterfield County. He was also the Chesterfield Police Department's first black police chaplain.

New Deliverance Evangelistic Church wrote Sunday that arrangements would be announced in the coming days.

As of Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 6,171 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 424 from the previous day. The state has confirmed 154 deaths due to COVID-19, an increase of five from Monday. Chesterfield has reported 241 cases and five deaths.

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