Rev. Claude A. Edmonds, 76, pastor, activist

It wasn't unusual for the Rev. Claude A. Edmonds to burst into song in the midst of a sermon.

If the spirit moved him, he used his powerful singing voice to emphasize whatever point he was making in his sermon to the parishioners of the churches he served in a career in the ministry of some 20 years.

Claude Edmonds, who was also a leader in the Civil Rights movement, chaplain to the Philadelphia Police Department and other community ventures, died Oct. 4. He was 76 and was living in the Simpson House on Belmont Avenue but had formerly lived in Roxborough.

For several years in the '60s and '70s, he sang with the prominent gospel group, the Edwin Newberry Singers. In the mid-'60s, he was involved in the civil rights eruptions in Cambridge, Md., where he was pastor of the Waugh United Methodist Church. Firebrand H. Rap Brown led demonstrations that resulted in violence.

Claude was born in Philadelphia to Unity and Claude V. Edmonds. He graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1948 and received a bachelor of arts degree from Lincoln University.

He received a master of divinity degree from Lincoln University Seminary, and an honorary doctor of divinity from Albright College in 1977.

Claude was baptized at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in 1933, and later served as its pastor.

He married the former Jennie M. Tinsley in 1955.

His ministry began as associate pastor of John Wesley Methodist Church in Philadelphia, and he later was appointed to churches in Maryland, including Cambridge.

After returning to Philadelphia in 1964, he served as pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Church for five years. He then held several positions with the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, among them director of urban ministries and superintendent of the Southwest District.

He twice was appointed pastor of Tindley Temple, serving there for a total of 12 years. He retired in 1998.

His family wrote in his obituary that some of his happiest times were when he was part of the Newberry Singers, the Philadelphia-based all-male gospel group that performed widely.

"This was a very special time in his life," his family wrote.

His favorite hymn was "Joy Is A Fruit that Will Not Grow:"

Joy is a fruit that will not grow

In nature's barren soil;

All we can boast, till Christ we know, is vanity and toil.

"He also enjoyed a good football game," his family wrote, "being surrounded by family and friends and lots of good food."

He was a member of the Philadelphia Senior Citizens Advisory Board, the board of directors of Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center, the Christian Street YMCA and Black United Methodist Preachers. He was a member of the advisory board of the medical examiner's office and trustee of the Morgan University Christian Center.

Besides is wife, he is survived by a son, Craig Anthony "Tony." He was predeceased by another son, Claude Edmonds Jr.

Services: Were Friday. Burial was in Valley Forge Memorial Park. *