Elder Henry Gross Jr., age 69, made his transition into eternity at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, October 25, 2013. He was born in Lee County in Lambert, MS to Henry and Marie (Brantley) Grose Sr. on May 07, 1944. Elder Henry Gross Jr. moved to Kenosha, WI, where he worked at J. I. Case and then Snap-On Tools as a machinist for a good many years until retiring in 1981.
Elder Henry Gross Jr. was united in holy matrimony to Irene Powell on July 20, 1973.
After being born again, Elder Gross found new life, joy, and an unquenchable zeal in serving the Lord anyway possible. He loved serving people with a great volume of love. One of his ways of showing his love was by serving his famous ribs during the fundraiser and the ministries annual picnic. While you were eating he was preaching. They called him "The Preaching Deacon."
Elder Henry Gross, Jr. was favored with charisma and charm in which God enabled him to be a mentor to men of God from various churches. While yet a deacon, he started a men's fellowship; where men from various other churches would gather together at restaurants or at someone’s home every Saturday morning to preach and talk about the goodness of the Lord. That vision is still carrying on today.
Elder Henry Gross Jr. was a founding member of Blessing Center Outreach Ministry under the leadership of Chief Apostle Dr. Mark W. Webb and Bishop E.N. Cooksey. God blessed him to become a Deacon and later a Minister in 1995. In 2005 Elder Henry Gross Jr. was ordained as a Licensed Elder through Outreach Ministries Inc. with the approval and blessing from his current Pastor, Apostle Anthony C. Powell Sr. of the Empowering Faith Fellowship Church.
In 1996, Elder Henry Gross Jr. and his family relocated to Memphis, TN. to retire. After a great search for a church home, they were under watch care and later became full-fledged members of the Bethlehem Revival Center Church of God In Christ, Memphis, TN. where Bishop Leslie Williams Sr. is Pastor. The charm and charisma that he carried with him made everyone fall in love with him; including his new church family. He served there faithfully for seven years, until returning back to Kenosha to assist his son, Apostle Anthony C. Powell Sr., in ministry.
Elder Henry Gross Jr. was very instrumental in helping his son Apostle Anthony to carry out the assignment and the vision that God gave Apostle Anthony for Empowering Faith Fellowship Church. He served faithfully in servitude to his son, Apostle Anthony C. Powell Sr., his daughter-in-law Pastor Cynthia E. Powell, and the entire Empowering Faith Fellowship Church until the Lord called him home. He was a counselor, he was a adviser, he was a father and a friend to Apostle Anthony…
Elder Henry Gross Jr. leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 40 years, Irene Gross; his mother Marie Grose; one brother Johnny (Shirley) Grose of Cleveland, MS; his mother-in-law, Irene Powell; one aunt Evelyn Joyce (Lee Curtis) Jordan of Kenosha, WI, five sons and seven daughters: James (Denina) Powell of Kenosha, WI; Apostle Anthony C. (Cynthia) Powell, Sr. of Kenosha, WI; Eric (Patricia) Powell of Racine, WI; Vanetta Powell of Kenosha, WI; Michelle Maxey of Kenosha, WI; Felecia (Dennis) Wade of Kenosha, WI; Shinelle McKinney of Kenosha, WI; Elder Shawnelle Gross of Kenosha, WI; Latrice Jelks of Kenosha, WI; Krystal Jelks of Kenosha, WI; and Chyana Knighten and Denrio Powell of Tunica, MS; as well as 31 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and special friends Jerry (GrandPa) Thomas Sr., Frank Farfalla Sr., and Nurse Wendy McBride.
Preceding in death are his grandparents Ratliff and Bernie (Stuart) Brantley; his father Henry Grose Sr.; his father-in-law Willie Powell; his brother-in-law Calvin Powell; his sister-in-law Marie “Cookie” West; Seven uncles: Dover Brantley Sr.; Windfred Brantley; Lee Woody Brantley; James Brantley, and Bobby Brantley; Three aunts: Mertha Brantley, Margie Brantley-Steele, and Verlie “Baby Sista” Mae Taylor.
Elder Gross carried such an angelic, giving, and loving spirit that when you were in his presence, you knew you had been touched by one of God's Beloved Angels.
Before you left the room, he would make sure you knew how much he loved you by saying his favorite words, "I love you and ain't nothing you can do about it."
Praise God for the life of our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and cherished friend Elder Henry Gross Jr. — UNTO GOD be the Glory!!
A Homegoing Celebration will be held at New Brighter Day Baptist Church, 1225 25th Ave in Kenosha on Friday, November 1, 2013 at 11:00am. Interment will be at Green Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 9am – 11am.
Mr&Mrs David McPhee says
Condolance to the family, keeping you in our prayers.
Tina Posey says
Dear Irene and Family – My thoughts and sincere prayers are with you all. Gross was certainly very loving and kind to all who were in his presence. I certainly felt it whenever I was around him. I will always remember him with fondness for the kind man he was.