The Flint area lost one of its most influential pastors Monday when Christ Fellowship Baptist Church lead pastor Rev. Leroy Shelton died of a heart attack at his office. He was 65.
"He was a leader in the community -- one of the outstanding leaders," said Rev. Lewis Randolph of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, who knew Shelton for 30 years. "I'm deeply hurt by his passing."
Church employees found Shelton unconscious in his office around 11 a.m. at the church at 317 E. Hamilton Ave. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Parishioners at the church were shocked to hear the news of his death, said parishioner and church administrator Gloria Jenkins.
Randolph said Shelton was in good health, and preached two sermons Sunday.
Shelton became the lead pastor of the church in 1987.
Jenkins said Shelton helped the church grow both in numbers and spiritually.
"I think he believed in what the scripture said: He was supposed to teach and live by example," Jenkins said. "The church and community meant everything to him."
Shelton was generous of his time and money to charity, and would "give his last dime if someone needed it," Jenkins said.
He also was a member of Concerned Pastors for Social Change, an influential group of black church leaders.
The group dealt with local politics and held discussions on how to improve Flint.
"He was vocal in what was happening downtown," Randolph said. "If he perceived it to be wrong, he'd speak out against it."
Shelton was a regular visitor at the Genesee County Courthouse where he talked scripture with Prosecutor David S. Leyton.
"He was a wonderful man... I'm very, very sad that he's gone," said Leyton.
Shelton was one of Bill Clinton's earliest supporters before he was elected president.
He later served as a delegate at the 1992 Presidential Convention and had hard to get sit-down tickets at the '92 Inauguration. In 1995, he was invited to dinner with Clinton along with 40 others, whom Clinton called his earliest supporters.
Shelton remained engaged in the Flint mayoral race, supporting candidate Darryl Buchannan.
"He practice what he preached," said parishioner Frances Gilcreast, speaking for the family. "He will be missed."
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Swanson Funeral Home in Flint.
Shelton leaves behind his wife, Claudia.
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