On Dec. 4, Richmond lost a good, decent and caring citizen, Dr. Willie Woodson, longtime pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in North Side who came out of retirement to pastor Trinity Ghanaian Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Woodson was both absorbed and engaged at many levels to advance the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was kindhearted and contagiously gentle. He was keenly aware of the needs and hurts of his fellow man. He often served in the role of mediator, helping competing persons and diverse verses to become blended and committed to work for the common cause.

Dr. Woodson was a minister, teacher-mentor, educator, community organizer and a beloved servant. There was no issue with himself and need to be the center, always singled out for applause. He served his fellow man with an air of distinction and devotion.

Dr. Woodson was a good pastor and preacher, a very able and humble servant. We shared a common bond: We both left our Pentecostal roots and joined the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Woodson also followed me as executive director of Community Learning Week/ “Living the Dream.”

There are three things I know Dr. Woodson cared about deeply — race relations, serving and helping — assessing any way he could to meet the needs of others — and a good theological discussion.

Serving the cause of the “dream” was his passion.

Being deeply religious compelled him to always do the right thing. He autographed a spirit of caring, enabling, when neces- sary, a spirit of forgiveness.

Dr. King, giving a summary of his own life during what would be his final sermon in 1968, could well have been giving the sum and meaning of Dr. Woodson’s life when he said, “Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say ... I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody. ... I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry... I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.”

Yes, that’s what Dr. Woodson tried to do, too.

For Dr. Woodson’s life and service, let us all double our efforts to live the “dream.”

REV. TYLER C. MILLNER SR.

Axton

The writer is pastor of Morning Star Holy Church in Martinsville and founder of Community Learning Week, the annual Richmond community celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that is now known as Living the Dream.