Phoenix honors late pastor C.R. McDuffy with ceremonial street sign
Barbara McDuffy, the wife of late Rev. C.R. McDuffy, holds a sign for Pastor C.R. McDuffy Way, which was installed at 13th Avenue and Buckeye Road on Friday, right up the street from the late pastor’s church, St. John Institutional Baptist Church. (Courtesy city of Phoenix)
A Phoenix pastor and community leader will be remembered outside of his church long after his death.
On Friday, Phoenix unveiled ceremonial street signs for Pastor C.R. McDuffy Way at the corner of 13th Avenue and Buckeye Road, right up the street from the late pastor’s church, St. John Institutional Baptist Church. He became pastor at the church in April 2000.
“He was someone who not only led his congregation, but he led this community,” said Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington during the unveiling ceremony.
Rev. C.R. McDuffy preaches in the parking lot of St. John Institutional Baptist Church during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. (Courtesy Pastor C.R. McDuffy)
Hodge Washington highlighted McDuffy’s work with St. Mary’s Food Bank in providing food to homeless and hungry families in Phoenix. He also taught prison ministry and hosted breakfast ministry on Sunday mornings. McDuffy wanted to make sure everyone who wanted to attend Sunday services could; his church organized free transportation on Sundays.
He also worked with state Rep. Clovis Campbell Jr. and others in the Legislature on various political issues.
McDuffy also headed youth ministries where he taught them about the Bible as well as provided activities included sports and excursions to other cities and provided them with educational opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
“He was an advocate for teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish,” Hodge Washington said.
Rev. Ricky Graves, who has taken over leadership of St. John, used another Bible verse to reflect on McDuffy’s community impact.
“We are taught through the Word of God that ‘Let your light so shine before man that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven,’” Graves said.
A sign for Pastor C.R. McDuffy Way, which was installed at 13th Avenue and Buckeye Road on Friday, right up the street from the late pastor’s church, St. John Institutional Baptist Church. (Courtesy city of Phoenix)
McDuffy’s wife Barbara McDuffy was emotional while speaking at the ceremony, thanking the city for the street sign and thanking her family and church family for supporting her after her husband’s death.
McDuffy’s daughter, Camella Jones, thanked her step mom for advocating so passionately for the honor that will help keep her dad’s memory alive.
The church paid for the fabrication and installation costs of the sign.
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Mark Carlisle can be reached at mcarlisle@iniusa.org.
Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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