Obituary for Luther Pressley Gamble
Psalm 34:18 " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
The Family Tribute Remembering Reverend Luther Pressley Gamble:
Reverend Luther Pressley Gamble, 76, was born in Iredell County on August 1, 1945, and was the son of the late John Ivey Gamble, and Clara Jane Ramsey Gamble. He departed this life on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at MapleLeaf HealthCare, Statesville, NC. following an extended illness.
He was a 1963 graduate of Unity High School and Hood Theological Seminary at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC. Prior to his illness, he was employed with RHA Group Home, Brian Center and Statesville Flour Mill. He loved Western movies, playing softball, singing and making people laugh. He was a friend to many and always sweet and kind to everyone he met. Luther grew up in the Shinnsville Community. At age 17, he accepted Christ as his personal savior. In 1963, he pastored New Parent Home Church. He joined the Shinnsville United Church of Christ where he was a member of the Men’s Choir and Inspirational Choir. He was a jubilant entertainer and member of the Legendary Soul Stirrers Gospel Group. In December of 1985, he founded and organized Community Missionary Baptist Church in Marion, NC. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. After 35 years of faithful service to the community and his church, on October 21, 2018, Mayor Steve Little of Marion, NC proclaimed it "REVEREND LUTHER GAMBLE DAY".
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by siblings, Robena Gamble (Joe) Rucker, John Ivey (Deanna) Gamble, Kay Francis Gamble, Virginia Dare Gamble (Robert) Bailey and Milas Allen (Betty) Gamble; brother-in-law, Richard Mills and sister-in-law JoAnn Wilson; nephews and nieces, Brian Gamble, John Gamble, Tommy Gamble, Corry Bailey, and Darrell Feimster.
He leaves to cherish the memories of his life, his wife, Linda Rucker Gamble of Mooresville; a son, Lawrence Clarke of Troutman; three daughters, Toni Morrison of Statesville, Jotasha (David) Jones of Kennesaw, GA., and Melissa (Rinaldo) Oakley of Sneeds Fairy, NC; one step-daughter, Jackie Kennedy Gamble of Mooresville; one sister, Rachel Gamble of Statesville; four sisters-in-law, Agnes Gamble of Mooresville, Shirley (Harvey) Dalton, Carolyn (Thomas) Reid and Vickie Mills; one brother-in-law John Erving Wilson; thirteen grandchildren, Arianna Jones, Rachael Jones, Gabriel Jones, Meyonna Clarke, Kamryn Morrison, Karson Morrison, Oraishi (Dalton) Oneal, Sydhayia Oakley, Rinaldo Oakley, Jr., Elijah Gamble, Garrett Ferrell, and Quanda Sharpe; seven great- grandchildren, Raelyn Morrison, Braxton Morrison, Riley Ferrell, Garrett Noel Ferrell, Chandon Smith, Starji Smith, and Qua’Riq Bruner. A host of nieces and nephews, Wilbert Jones, Gilbert Jones, Sonya Eberhart, Joan Enis, Betty Stewart, Edna Rucker, Elna Rucker, Vernel Waddell, Rubynell Holt, Sandra Morrison, Myra Henry, Anthony Bellamy, Christopher Gamble, Darryl Gamble, Shawn Gamble, Jewel Adams, Lisa Gamble, Sheryl Woodard, and Kimberly Rann; and a host of relatives, neighbors and friends.
Special thanks to his caregivers: Rubynell Holt, his loving family and the Staff at Mapleleaf Health Care.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Living Water Ministry in Troutman, NC, at 2:00 pm. Reverend Gamble will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, 603 South Center Street, Statesville, NC until taken to the church to lie in state at 12:30 pm. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in Belmont Cemetery, Statesville, NC.
Visit the book of memories for Luther Pressley Gamble at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham is serving the Gamble family.
The Family Tribute Remembering Reverend Luther Pressley Gamble:
Reverend Luther Pressley Gamble, 76, was born in Iredell County on August 1, 1945, and was the son of the late John Ivey Gamble, and Clara Jane Ramsey Gamble. He departed this life on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at MapleLeaf HealthCare, Statesville, NC. following an extended illness.
He was a 1963 graduate of Unity High School and Hood Theological Seminary at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC. Prior to his illness, he was employed with RHA Group Home, Brian Center and Statesville Flour Mill. He loved Western movies, playing softball, singing and making people laugh. He was a friend to many and always sweet and kind to everyone he met. Luther grew up in the Shinnsville Community. At age 17, he accepted Christ as his personal savior. In 1963, he pastored New Parent Home Church. He joined the Shinnsville United Church of Christ where he was a member of the Men’s Choir and Inspirational Choir. He was a jubilant entertainer and member of the Legendary Soul Stirrers Gospel Group. In December of 1985, he founded and organized Community Missionary Baptist Church in Marion, NC. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. After 35 years of faithful service to the community and his church, on October 21, 2018, Mayor Steve Little of Marion, NC proclaimed it "REVEREND LUTHER GAMBLE DAY".
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by siblings, Robena Gamble (Joe) Rucker, John Ivey (Deanna) Gamble, Kay Francis Gamble, Virginia Dare Gamble (Robert) Bailey and Milas Allen (Betty) Gamble; brother-in-law, Richard Mills and sister-in-law JoAnn Wilson; nephews and nieces, Brian Gamble, John Gamble, Tommy Gamble, Corry Bailey, and Darrell Feimster.
He leaves to cherish the memories of his life, his wife, Linda Rucker Gamble of Mooresville; a son, Lawrence Clarke of Troutman; three daughters, Toni Morrison of Statesville, Jotasha (David) Jones of Kennesaw, GA., and Melissa (Rinaldo) Oakley of Sneeds Fairy, NC; one step-daughter, Jackie Kennedy Gamble of Mooresville; one sister, Rachel Gamble of Statesville; four sisters-in-law, Agnes Gamble of Mooresville, Shirley (Harvey) Dalton, Carolyn (Thomas) Reid and Vickie Mills; one brother-in-law John Erving Wilson; thirteen grandchildren, Arianna Jones, Rachael Jones, Gabriel Jones, Meyonna Clarke, Kamryn Morrison, Karson Morrison, Oraishi (Dalton) Oneal, Sydhayia Oakley, Rinaldo Oakley, Jr., Elijah Gamble, Garrett Ferrell, and Quanda Sharpe; seven great- grandchildren, Raelyn Morrison, Braxton Morrison, Riley Ferrell, Garrett Noel Ferrell, Chandon Smith, Starji Smith, and Qua’Riq Bruner. A host of nieces and nephews, Wilbert Jones, Gilbert Jones, Sonya Eberhart, Joan Enis, Betty Stewart, Edna Rucker, Elna Rucker, Vernel Waddell, Rubynell Holt, Sandra Morrison, Myra Henry, Anthony Bellamy, Christopher Gamble, Darryl Gamble, Shawn Gamble, Jewel Adams, Lisa Gamble, Sheryl Woodard, and Kimberly Rann; and a host of relatives, neighbors and friends.
Special thanks to his caregivers: Rubynell Holt, his loving family and the Staff at Mapleleaf Health Care.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Living Water Ministry in Troutman, NC, at 2:00 pm. Reverend Gamble will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, 603 South Center Street, Statesville, NC until taken to the church to lie in state at 12:30 pm. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in Belmont Cemetery, Statesville, NC.
Visit the book of memories for Luther Pressley Gamble at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham is serving the Gamble family.