Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Dr. Otha Gilyard, 1945-2022.
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Otha Gilyard was born on July 3rd, 1945 in Brickeys, Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gilyard received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhodes College, a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Society, a Masters of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate from Chicago Theological Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gilyard provided pastoral leadership for churches in Hopewell, NJ and Kalamazoo, MI before being named Pastor-Elect of Shiloh Baptist Church in Columbus on December 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS, Shiloh Baptist Church is recognized for its historic and cultural significance to the City of Columbus, in particular for its importance to the Black community, on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that came in 2004 under Dr. Gilyard’s pastorship; and
WHEREAS, under Dr. Gilyard’s transformative leadership, Shiloh Baptist Church erected a new Educational Wing and expanded its community orientation by partnering with Kelley Companies to build apartments for community members; and
WHEREAS, beyond his tenure at Shiloh Baptist, Dr. Gilyard served the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio through his work as a member of several boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gilyard was a visionary leader who cared deeply about every member of the community and provided faith-based guidance to help guide residents during difficult times; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gilyard was a valued and loved member of the community and is survived by his wife, First Lady Frieda Gilyard, his daughter, and two grandchildren; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor, recognize, and celebrate the life of Dr. Otha Gilyard.