In Memoriam
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Bishop Lucian D. Booker, 61, dies
Jennifer Hewlett
Jhewlett@herald-Leader.Com
Bishop Lucian D. Booker Sr., a man who once sold his home to purchase a church and who often gave people money for car and mortgage payments and the necessities of life, will be eulogized Saturday. Bishop Booker, pastor of New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle in Lexington for the past 28 years, died Friday at St. Joseph Hospital on Harrodsburg Road. He was 61.
He was known throughout the state for his work with inmates in Kentucky jails and prisons. Many years ago, he started a program called Road to Deliverance to help substance abusers in and out of Central Kentucky jails. Among other programs Rev. Booker started were some designed to keep youths and young men on the right path, said his sister, DeLena Cooper of Lexington.
Rev. Booker, who was born and grew up in Lexington, was a self-taught man, Cooper said.
New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle had its beginnings in a rented facility on Pine Street. Rev. Booker later sold his home off Alexandria Drive to purchase a church building on Ash Street. The church, now located on Martin Luther King Boulevard, is one of the largest predominantly black churches in Lexington.
In addition to his sister, Rev. Booker is survived by his wife, Mary Shannon Booker; three sons, Victor Smith, Darryl Jackson and Lucian Booker Jr., all of Lexington; two daughters, Lucrecia Booker Weathers and Dena Booker Dunn, both of Lexington; three other sisters; four brothers; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services have been set for 11 a.m. Saturday, but the location has not been decided upon. There will be a memorial tribute at 6 p.m. Friday at New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle. O.L. Hughes & Sons Mortuary is handling arrangements.