James Piper, Jr.

Elder James Piper, Jr. was born on October 9, 1941 to the late Deacon James Piper, Sr. and Mrs. Carrie Worthen Piper in DeRidder, Louisiana.  He departed this life on March 22, 2011.  Elder Piper was the seventh of twelve children; two sisters and nine brothers.

On October 14, 1966, James Piper, Jr. and Isadora Mayes united in Holy Matrimony and through this union they were the parents of three sons; James Spencer Piper, Zachery Glenn Piper, and John Marcus Piper.  They were also legal guardians of Tiffaney Janette Piper (niece) and Brian Darnell Piper (nephew).

Elder Piper graduated from George Washington Carver High School in DeRidder, Louisiana and attended Grambling College and McNeese State University.  He worked as a salesman for Manitlas Furniture Store and Foremost Dairies.  He also worked as an insurance agent and a Forestry Genetics Technician.  Other work experience includes a truck driver for 27 years, a bus driver for the Beauregard Parish School Board, a developmentalist for the state of Louisiana for 6 years, and an Administrative Specialist and Auxiliary Policeman for the U.S. Air Force.  He served as a member of the Long-Range Planning Committee for the Beauregard Parish School Board, and was a member of the Beauregard Association of Support Employees.  Elder Piper had additional training in the Literacy Tutoring Program as a substitute teacher, a Certified Medical Technician, a Boy Scout Leader, a coach for Little League Baseball, an electrician, a mechanic, and a carpenter.  He also organized a Community Boys Club.

Elder James Piper, Jr. was baptized at the age of 7 in 1948 by the late Superintendent C. B. Norris.  He was very active in the Church of God in Christ.  He was the Junior Sunday School Superintendent, a musician and trainer for the Sunday School Choir, a Junior Deacon and Usher at Zion Hill Church of God in Christ and a guitar player for 11 years.  As his life continued, he continued to work in the church arena.  He was very instrumental at St. Mary as the van driver, the first musician, an ordained Deacon, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, an Usher, and a teacher for the Men’s Sunday School Class.  He joined the Gospel Ever Readies in 1971 under the leadership of Deacon Fred Williams.  In 1976, he was saved and called to preach the Gospel (but had not confessed to the calling).  In August 1984, Elder Piper was ordained by Bishop Roy L. H. Winbush.  He later organized and pastored the Trueway New Testament Church of God in Christ in Florien, Louisiana for 3½ years.  He then worked and reorganized the St. Mary Church of God in Christ Church and was appointed Assistant Pastor in 1985.  On September 29, 1996, Elder Piper was appointed Pastor of Saint Mary.  On the district level, Elder Piper served as Chairman of the District, Choir President, and Evangelist President.  God gave him a vision and that vision has been fulfilled as we worship in our new facility; Salvation Center, Saint Mary Church of God in Christ which was dedicated on November 15, 2009.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, First Lady Isadora Piper and five children:  James Spencer Piper, Zachery Glenn Piper (Shelia), John Marcus Piper all of Houston, Texas; Tiffaney Janette Piper of Leesville, Louisiana; and Brain Darnell Piper of Virginia; one brother, Rufus Piper of DeRidder, Louisiana, and one sister, Jimmy Ann McCarter (Edward) of Alexandria, Louisiana; eleven grandchildren, fifteen God children and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and precious friends.

Visitation will  begin at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, April 1, 2011 at Salvation Center St. Mary Church of God in Christ in DeRidder, Louisiana. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Salvation Center St. Mary Church of God in Christ in DeRidder at 11:00 A.M. with Bishop Alton Gatlin officiating. Interment will follow at Community Cemetery in DeRidder.