Rev. Richard Emerson Temple, Jr.

Rev. Richard Emerson Temple, Jr., age 68, of 1111 Northlake Drive, Greenwood, SC, passed away on February 22, 2025 at his home surround by his loved ones. He was the beloved husband of Leslie Brown Temple and the son of Dr. Richard E. Temple, Sr. and the late Rose L. Galloway-Temple. He was born on October 10, 1956, in St. Louis City, MO.
A proud graduate of East Saint Louis High School in 1975, Rev. Temple pursued a fulfilling career in healthcare. He earned his Associate's degree in Physical Therapy Assistant from the Medical College of Georgia in 1985 and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Southern Alabama in 1992. In 2016, he completed his Master’s in Public Health from Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, GA. Rev. Temple served as an Intellectual Disability Specialist at The Burton Center for Special Needs and Disabilities until his retirement.
In addition to his professional career, Rev. Temple was a devoted pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He held pastoral appointments at Woods Chapel AME in Valdosta, GA, Francis Lake AME Church in Lake Park, GA, Bethel AME Church in Hahira, GA, and Mt. Pleasant AME Church in Ninety Six, SC, until his health began to decline. He was also an active member and Local Elder at St. Paul AME Church in Cokesbury, SC, where he served with great dedication and faith.
Rev. Temple was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Rose L. Galloway-Temple. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Leslie Brown Temple; one son, Richard Benjamin Temple of Greenwood, SC; two bonus daughters, Ashli Glover and Kendra Drayton, both of Greenwood, SC; two sisters, Robin Turner of Buckeye, AZ, and Reenai (Dr. Taulton) Dancy of Swansea, IL; two bonus granddaughters, Noriah Drayton and Nyomi Drayton, both of Greenwood, SC, who loved their Pa-Pa dearly; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul AME Church, Cokesbury, SC. The service will be officiated by Rev. David F. Richards, III, with Rev. Mary E. Thomas presiding. Burial will follow at Oakbrook Memorial Park.
A public viewing will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Percival-Tompkins Chapel. Rev. Temple will lie in state at St. Paul AME Church on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 10:00 AM until the service hour.
Special Acknowledgement to the Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont staff and Dr. Joanna Metzner-Sadurski and staff at The Cancer Center of Self Regional Healthcare.
The family is at the home, and Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is honored to serve the Temple family.

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