Prince A. Hartley (1913-2008)

[Pastor Gary]

My uncle, Prince Hartley, passed away today in Blacksburg Virginia. He was 95 years old.

Prince Hartley was an itinerant Evangelist for decades in the COGOP, traveling all over the U.S. running revivals. He was noted for his astounding ability to quote verbatim extensive passages of KJV scripture from memory during his sermons. He was also a published poet and author, had a local radio ministry for many years, and was a man of impeccable Christian character.

For years he lived with an "adopted" family in Blacksburg who cared for him like their own grandfather (for which we are grateful) and they attended one of TCOG groups for several years... most recently I heard they were again attending a COGOP church.

One of my precious memories of Uncle Prince was my high school graduation gift from him: a big fat Cruden's Unabridged Concordance. I thought (at that time) it was the stupidest gift anyone could ever give a teenaged boy. I was a mediocre Christian at the time, and certainly had no aspirations to any kind of teaching/preaching ministry.

As it turns out, that gift was a flash of prescience and perhaps a bit of the prophetic on his part: it is the only high school graduation gift I remember, still have, and still use 39 years later.

Aloha, Uncle Prince. You left a legacy and led many to heaven.

[soulsearcher]

Prince Hartley "ran revivals" for my grandparents most everywhere they pastored and was one of my all-time favorite childhood "characters" in the church (there were so many ).

God rest his sweet soul. I had not thought of him in years. What a wonderful and long life he celebrated. And what a legacy for you, PG.

[pastorsa1]

I remembered him from a revival around 1982 in Rolesville, NC. He could really quote the Bible. It was amazing!

[MacUser]

Sounds like a Great man. His Reward day has arrived! Imagine his excitement.

[paul]

My uncle, Prince Hartley, passed away today in Blacksburg Virginia. He was 95 years old.

Prince Hartley was an itinerant Evangelist for decades in the COGOP, traveling all over the U.S. running revivals. He was noted for his astounding ability to quote verbatim extensive passages of KJV scripture from memory during his sermons. He was also a published poet and author, had a local radio ministry for many years, and was a man of impeccable Christian character.

For years he lived with an "adopted" family in Blacksburg who cared for him like their own grandfather (for which we are grateful) and they attended one of TCOG groups for several years... most recently I heard they were again attending a COGOP church.

One of my precious memories of Uncle Prince was my high school graduation gift from him: a big fat Cruden's Unabridged Concordance. I thought (at that time) it was the stupidest gift anyone could ever give a teenaged boy. I was a mediocre Christian at the time, and certainly had no aspirations to any kind of teaching/preaching ministry.

As it turns out, that gift was a flash of prescience and perhaps a bit of the prophetic on his part: it is the only high school graduation gift I remember, still have, and still use 39 years later.

Aloha, Uncle Prince. You left a legacy and led many to heaven.

PG, our prayers for your family. Certinally a full and productive life was led and now an awsome reward in heaven.

Some things are beyond coindence. On my book shelf I have a big fat Cruden's concordance. It was given to me by Dr. Oliver Shanks a retired pastor of the fourth Baptist church in St. Louis where I grew up. He was 84 at the time and I was 15. dates Nov.26 1961. " to a young minister still in his teen age years." I have cherished it, when I was backslidden in the Navy in my locker was a bible and that concordance.

Again my prayers for your family and continue to pray for Amy

[Martha]

The following is from a book of poetry by Prince A. Hartley

THE JOURNEY’S END

O Soul when from thy mooring freed
And worms upon my flesh shall feed,
May I with spiritual eyes behold
That land where no one shall grow old.

For veils of flesh obscure the prize
That waits for me beyond the skies.
With mortal eyes I cannot see
What faith has long been showing me.

These hands of flesh can never clasp
Celestial things beyond my grasp.
These feet with steps now getting slow
May falter and refuse to go.

Though life on earth we all do cherish
These mortal bodies soon shall perish
But when life from this body goes
My soul in glory shall repose.

Then I shall see and understand
The works of His creative hand.
And blessed forever I shall be
With those who have preceded me.

By Prince A. Hartley
from his book “Prince’s Book of Rhythm, Rhyme and Reason”


He is now with those he loves who have already gone on. In his book he wrote many poems about his mother. Gary, I just imagine him with your Mom and Dad, Sybil and Gerald and others who have gone on. Soon we will join them and what an awesome reunion that will be!

Martha

[DGBrock]

Prince Hartley was in our home many times during revivals. He was a walking Bible. Not only was my life impacted then, he taught me some of his techniques for memorizing scripture that stayed with me until this day.

Regardless of his age, children and young people related to him. Perhaps that is why he is still fondly remembered today by so many.

[free]

Here is a link to an article our state (VA) did on Brother Hartley earlier this year...Those of you who knew him will find this interesting:

ftp://virginiacogop.org/VirginiaCOGOP/WOT_February.pdf

[free]

Try this link:

http://www.virginiacogop.org/virginiacogop1_014.htm

And click on the Feb/Mar edition and go to page 13...Hope this works this time!

[Pastor Gary]

Try this link:

http://www.virginiacogop.org/virginiacogop1_014.htm

And click on the Feb/Mar edition and go to page 13...Hope this works this time!

Thank you for posting that link... I had forgotten about that. Great memories of a great man of faith.

[Dr. Ron]

PG...I did not know he was your uncle,.


He was indeed a "Prince" of a guy. He was named appropriately...

His reward will be rich.

Rest in peace dear soldier.

[Gerald Creasy]

Was he a member of the SCV?

I know some Sons of Confederate Veteran groups initiate members with them holding a short sword, and her he is with a short sword and a Rebel Flag.

[Pastor Gary]

Was he a member of the SCV?

Not sure, Gerald --- I know he was a proud son of the southland, and loved his southern heritage. He celebrated the south without any of the negative racial attitudes sometimes attributed to that; he preached many revivals in al-black, all-Hispanic, and mixed ethnicity churches before it was probably even legal in some places.

I know he was a huge supporter of George Corley Wallace, and received some kind of certificate from Wallace making him an honorary Governor's Staff Member, which, I suppose, is the Alabama equivalent of one of those Kentucky Colonel things.

I don't think his father was old enough to have fought in the War Between the States, but perhaps his grandfather.

[Gerald Creasy]

Was he a member of the SCV?

Not sure, Gerald --- I know he was a proud son of the southland, and loved his southern heritage. He celebrated the south without any of the negative racial attitudes sometimes attributed to that; he preached many revivals in al-black, all-Hispanic, and mixed ethnicity churches before it was probably even legal in some places.

I know he was a huge supporter of George Corley Wallace, and received some kind of certificate from Wallace making him an honorary Governor's Staff Member, which, I suppose, is the Alabama equivalent of one of those Kentucky Colonel things.

I don't think his father was old enough to have fought in the War Between the States, but perhaps his grandfather.

Thanks for the response: Yes, in todays culture many simpletons can not separate Pride or even comfort in Southern Heritage, equating such for ONLY the negative.

I am sorry for your loss. I know my mother had a book of his poetry.

I tried to find an online obituary but could not. Blacksburg is near Roanoke and the Bedford-Roanoke-Lycnchburg area is thick with Creasys

[one love]

I had no idea that was your grandfather... I will be praying for the family. I do beleive he went to the blacksburg TCOG I remember in a convention one of our old overseers said that man is a walking bible.
My what a testimony...