Pastor Jerry T Vaughn, Sr.

Obituary For Pastor Jerry T Vaughn, Sr.

Life and Legacy of Pastor Jerry T. Vaughn, Sr.

Jerry T. Vaughn, Sr. was born on May 6, 1957, to Zephyr E. Rogers and Thomas E. Vaughn in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jerry was the youngest of five (5) children. He was educated through the Indianapolis Public School system, graduating in 1976 from Arsenal Technical High School. Jerry received his certification as a Master Welder through Ivy Tech.

At a young age, Jerry developed a deep love for Christ, music, and sports. He was an avid fan of the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts, Arsenal Technical High School Titans, and Indiana University basketball. Jerry started playing the drums with a local band, the Soul Expressions, when he was in high school, which led to a lifelong love of playing and singing music.

Jerry met the love of his life, Cynthia, who he affectionately called “Cynthy” in 1977. Their courtship led to marriage on July 30, 1982. To this union was born one son Jerry Thomas Vaughn, Jr. (Jay). Jerry and Cynthia enjoyed spending time together. They enjoyed drinking morning coffee, eating dinner together, watching the evening news, and talking about current events. Jerry and Cynthia enjoyed taking rides and road trips. Together they made many priceless memories that will last a lifetime.

Jerry loved to celebrate holidays, especially summer barbeques and fireworks together and with family. Jerry was a devoted family man. He loved his parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, - his entire family. He made sure his home always had an open door when it came to his family. Anything they needed; they were welcomed to it. Jerry was very generous. He loved entertaining his family. He loved being surround by them. Jay and Jerry had a special bond. Jay was truly the apple of his dad’s eye. He supported him in all of his endeavors and took great pride in watching him grow into the man that he became. They shared a special love for sports and music. Jerry mentored Jay on the drums. Seeing them play together brought so much joy. They were both avid sports fans, talking for endless hours on the phone going back and forth about the games. Throughout Jerry’s life, he never wavered on the love he had for his son.

Jerry was called many things, but the one that melted his heart the most was being called “PawPaw”. He loved his “grands” unconditionally. He enjoyed seeing them and spending time with them. He was known for the special trips with baby girl to get Speedway slushes and taking the grands to McDonalds, where he let them order whatever they wanted on the menu. He found joy in supporting them in their activities and checking in with them to make sure they were well.

Jerry worked at Interstate Foundry for 10 years. Then he went on to work for the Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Washington Township until he retired in 2019 after 35 years. Jerry took great pride in the work he did. He was a building foreman at several MSD schools: Harcourt Elementary, John Strange Elementary, and Clearwater Elementary. Jerry enjoyed working with his coworkers. At the end of the school year, Jerry would take his grill to the gathering to barbeque for them.

Jerry’s love of music continued through playing with the Indiana Wonders and the United Gospel Singers until he became a founding member of the Mighty Gospel Imperials. The Mighty Gospel Imperials have been together for over 30 years and have all became brothers. They rehearsed weekly and went out and ministered around the country. The Mighty Gospel Imperials have recorded and released two (2) CDs.

Jerry rededicated his life to Christ in 1983, where he was a member of True Victory Church of God in Christ, under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Lionel T. Rush. He was a faithful member and went on to become a Deacon. Jerry went on to further his growth in Christ and ministry by joining Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Pastor J. C. Williamson. Jerry was a faithful and dedicated Deacon and Trustee. Jerry was then led by God to join Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Pastor James A. Green where he received his calling to ministry. He became an ordained minister and served faithfully in ministry as the first Assistant Pastor at Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. During his service as an Assistant Pastor, Jerry was given the opportunity to serve as the Interim Pastor of Christ Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church. After serving as the Interim Pastor, Jerry was asked to become the Pastor. Jerry was officially installed as the Pastor of Christ Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in May 2016.

As Pastor of Christ Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Jerry worked tirelessly helping to build the ministry. During Covid-19, Pastor Vaughn worked diligently to educate himself, write grants to develop and produce an online ministry to ensure that the word of God continued to go forth from the church. He loved the Christ Emmanuel family and continued steadfast in prayer and the sharing of God's word. Pastor Vaughn ensured that even though we were able to return to church, the online ministry continued to broadcast and be available to all those in need. Pastor Vaughn had a great love for the church, its parishioners, and the community.

On Monday, September 23, 2024, Pastor Jerry T. Vaughn, Sr. transitioned from this life to his reward in heaven. He was preceded in death by his mother, Zephyr E. Rogers and his father, Thomas E. Vaughn; mother-in-love, Juanita J. Rush; son, Jerry T. Vaughn, Jr. (Jay); grandson, Julian R. Vaughn; brother, Julian White; sister, Jackalan E. Wallace; brother-in-love, Richard L. Rush; and bonus daughter Hasina Shafeek.

Left to cherish Jerry’s memory are his wife Cynthia M. Vaughn; daughter-in-love Iesha Vaughn; granddaughters: Tamara D. Vaughn (Baby girl), and Shaniya L. Vaughn (Niya); grandsons: Jayson T. Vaughn (JayJ), Jerry T. Vaughn III (Trey), and Arie Drain; sister Rita D. Holiday; Brothers: John E. White, Jr. (Ethel), and Jesse J. White (Carrie); Sisters-in-love: Patricia A. Robinson, Deborah J. Rush, and Mary E. Rush-Wilburn; brothers-in-love: Titus T. Rush, Jr. (Alice), Glen A. Rush, Timothy E. Rush, Sr. (Beverly), Gerald M. Rush, Kenneth J. Rush, Sr. (Laurie), William E. Rush, Sr. (Sonya), and Robert J. Rush; and uncle Bennie Rogers (Cate). Also left to cherish his memory are “His Girls”: Katrina, Tommeka, and Paula; godchildren: Alexandria, Garrett, and Raja-nee’; bonus children: Fred, Donald, Teia, Lamont, Teddy, India, Donte’, Richard III, Kenneth Jr., and Kristopher; The Mighty Gospel Imperials, Christ Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, close friends, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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Christ Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church

5435 E. 34th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46218

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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Visitation

Oct

4

FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1301 North Goodlet Avenue
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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Funeral Service

Oct

4

FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1301 North Goodlet Avenue
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222

11:00 AM

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