H. Coleman McGehee, 89, Retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese

This obituary is published at the website of A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home, desmondfuneralhome.com.

The Rt. Rev. H. Coleman McGehee, Jr., 89, died March 14, 2013 in Pontiac. He was born July 7, 1923 in Richmond, Virginia to the late Harry Coleman and Anne Lee (Cheatwood) McGehee.

Prior to ordained ministry Bishop McGehee had been in military service, and engineering and law careers. At one time he was deputy attorney general of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He served during World War II as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following military service he graduated from Virginia Tech in 1947, and earned a law degree at the University of Richmond in 1949. He then entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary of Virginia five years later, and graduated in 1957. He served as rector of Immanuel Church on the Hill in Alexandria, Virginia from 1960-1971. Here he was pastor to President Gerald R. Ford and Mrs. Betty Ford.

Bishop McGehee was elected a bishop coadjutor of the Michigan diocese in May, 1971, and began his new duties in October that year - until 1973. He then served as diocesan bishop from 1973-1990. He succeeded the Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrich, who had led the Michigan diocese from 1948 until his retirement in 1973.

Bishop McGehee was well known for his dedication to justice and human rights. He worked with Desmond Tutu in the struggle against apartheid. He was known as an apostle of peace, and frequently offered a liturgy for peace on Good Fridays at the gates of Williams International in Walled Lake where missiles were made at that time. Bishop McGehee fought for reversing national church canons to begin ordaining women, and he ordained the first woman priest for Michigan in 1977 - the Rev. Meredith Hunt.

Bishop McGehee was very welcoming to gay and lesbian members coming into the church and did not hesitate to ordain them. He wanted to welcome all of God's disciples as leaders in the church. He respected the dignity of every human being.

Bishop McGehee was one of the founders of the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, along with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and the late Rabbi Richard Hertz. He also founded the Economic Justice Fund, now known as the Opportunity Resource Fund, which loans funds to small businesses that offer affordable housing to the poor, and supports programs that help the disadvantaged.

He was also a friend to labor unions. He joined the locked-out Detroit Free Press and Detroit News workers on their picket line in 1995, at age 72 and already retired for five years.

With all the activity in his life, Coleman also found the time to be a great family man. He was a loving husband, a wonderful father to his 5 children and a special grandfather to his 4 grandchildren. Blessed with a terrific sense of humor, there was a lot of laughter and support in the McGehee household.

He was the beloved husband of June for 67 years; loving father of Lesley Casey, Alex McGehee (David Walter), Harry Coleman McGehee, III "Coco", Donald McGehee (Lisa), and Cary McGehee; grandfather of Cary and Neil Casey, Caitlin and Casey McGehee; and brother of the late Doris Pace. 

There will be a requiem eucharist at Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 2 p.m. at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 4800 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Family will receive friends at Barth Hall at the Cathedral Center Saturday from 12 noon until the time of the service.

Memorial tributes may be made to either/or:

• Michigan Coalition of Human Rights, 9200 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48213
• Opportunity Resource Fund, 7700 Second Ave., Suite 608, Detroit, MI 48202

Other Troy-area obituaries for March 11-17:

Patricia A. Kerr (80)

• March 17, 2013
• Read the entire obituary at Desmond and Sons Funeral home

Michael Allen Brown Sr. (63)

• March 16, 2013
• Read the entire obituary at Price Funeral Home

William Douglas Aulph (57)

• March 15, 2013
• Read the entire obituary at Price Funeral Home

Mary Lee McCreight (76)

• March 14, 2013
• Read the entire obituary at Desmond and Sons Funeral home

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