ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 211
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Bishop
Charles Henry Milton Mason Gordon.
WHEREAS, Bishop Charles Henry Milton Mason Gordon was born on July 9, 1938,
and was the fourth of seven children of Bishop W.K. Gordon, Sr., and Alma Richardson
Gordon; he attended school in Tangipahoa Parish and graduated from Westside High School
in Amite, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Gordon met the love of his life, Miss Wardine Mabry, while
traveling on a bus to New Orleans to attend the Church of God in Christ State Sunshine Band
meeting; he went on to share more than sixty-five years of loving marriage with her, and
their union was blessed with four daughters; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Gordon began his gospel ministry in 1965, serving under the
leadership of his father at Richardson Chapel Church of God in Christ in Baton Rouge; as
a young minister, he enthusiastically worked to inspire the Scotlandville and Southern
University communities and focused his early ministry on reaching young black men; and
WHEREAS, after realizing that an improved academic portfolio would be a valuable
asset to his ministry, Bishop Gordon returned to college and earned a bachelor's degree in
1975; he then accepted a teaching position in the Tangipahoa Parish School System, and in
1980, he was appointed pastor of Richardson Chapel Church of God in Christ continuing his
father's work in growing the church; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Bishop Gordon, the church experienced
substantial growth; he introduced innovative and enterprising ideas aimed at elevating the
church ministry and extending the reach of its message in the community; in 1986, he
secured approval for the construction of a new church edifice that represented a new
beginning for the Richardson Chapel Church family; and
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WHEREAS, Bishop Gordon was appointed by the late Bishop James Earl Gordon
to serve as the district superintendent of District No. 4 East Progressive in 1987; he faithfully
served the district in this capacity for twenty-eight years and created countless opportunities
to share the Gospel across the country and even overseas; and
WHEREAS, among his many roles, Bishop Gordon served as pastor of Lazard
Temple Church of God in Christ in Greensburg, Louisiana, and First Church of God in
Christ in Denham Springs, Louisiana; while under Bishop James Earl Gordon's
administration, he served as the Amite-Baton Rouge area coordinator, chairman of the
ordination board, state master of ceremonies, superintendent of buildings and grounds for
the jurisdictional headquarters, and manager of Lighthouse Bookstore; he also brought unity
and stength to the Louisiana East First Jurisdiction and assisted a successful campaign to
acquire a multi-million-dollar, thirty-acre property which now houses the Louisiana East
First Jurisdictional Headquarters at Saintsville; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Gordon was chosen by Bishop Alphonso Denson, Sr., to serve
as the first administrative assistant to the bishop of Louisiana East First Jurisdiction in May
2015; two years later, he was appointed as auxiliary bishop in the Church of God in Christ,
Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Charles Henry Milton Mason Gordon leaves to cherish his
memory his wife, Mother Wardine Mabry Gordon; daughters, Cheryl Denise Gordon, Debra
Remonia Taylor, and her husband Frederick, Alma Marie Bamberg, and her husband Edwin,
and Ursula Gordon-Higginbotham; grandchildren, Keesha Gordon, Gordon Taylor, and his
wife Jessica, A'drianna Agbaraqwe, and her husband Jeffrey, James Pierre, Ericka Taylor,
Joshua Taylor, and Charleston Higginbotham, and his wife Ashley; great-grandchildren,
Peace Warrior Jones, Adaora Deannie Agbaraqwe, Zionne Grace Higginbotham, Love
Indigo Jones, Amara Dea Agbaraqwe, and Reign Joy Higginbotham; sister-in-love, Joyce
Dunn; "bonus" son, Nephew Robert Elton Gordon, and his wife Sharonda; sisters-in-law,
Shirley Gordon, Mary E. Mabry, Shirley Mabry, Patricia Singleton, and Glynis Gordon;
brothers-in-law, Willie E. Mabry and Eddie James Mabry; and a host of nieces, nephews,
extended relatives and friends; he will be deeply missed, but his legacy of service and
devotion to his faith community will live on forever.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express heartfelt condolences on the death of Bishop
Charles Henry Milton Mason Gordon and does hereby extend sincerest wishes that his
family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in their shared memories of his beautiful life.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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