Nathaniel Sealey

Reverend Nathaniel Sealey, age 84, was called from earth to glory on Thursday, March 14, 2013. He is preceded in death by his parents, A.C. and Mary Sealey; wives, Lucille and Earnestine Sealey; brother, C. Wesley Sealey, one daughter, Brenda Jean Sealey and four sons, Wallace Sr., Larry Sr., Laquan Sr., and Adrian Sealey, Sr. Nathaniel Sealey was born on October 13, 1928, in Greene County, Alabama. The eldest of thirteen children born to the late A.C. Sealey and Mary Peebles Sealey. He attended school at Center Chapel and Bailey Quarters in Gena, Alabama. On December 30, 1950 he married Lucille Parham. From this marriage union came eleven children. In 1960, Nathaniel moved his family from Alabama to Columbus, Ohio. In 1968, on Easter Sunday, he accepted Christ as his personal savior and united with the Holy Church of God under the leadership of Bishop Manuel F. Rampley. After becoming saved, Nathaniel instituted “several laws and precepts” in his home. One was Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Another was the family prayer. He believed that our strength come from God through prayer. Through prayer and consecration to God, he received the gift of healing. When the spirit of God would move upon him, he would jerk his arm and shout “Woo”. God healed many people through him. Nathaniel's favorite songs were, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, Precious Lord, and Just One Moment in God's Kingdom. Nathaniel was called into ministry and was later ordained. He served as an adult Sunday school teacher, land Assistant Pastor at the Holy Church of God. After the death of Bishop Rampley he served as Pastor. Matthew 25:35-36 read, “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me, I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” He visited with the sick at nursing homes and in the hospital. He fed the hungry. He clothed the naked. Nathaniel opened his home to strangers and would feed any one. There was always a guest invited to sit at the dinner table, or to spend the night. Much of his adult life was spent in construction of new homes and as an independent auto mechanic. He loved automobiles, and on any given day, except Sunday, Nathaniel could be found repairing any model of vehicle. During the week, he rose up early in the morning to view God's sunrise. Many weekends, he and his family could be found spending time together at Nelson and/or Franklin Park. He cared about animals. A stray dog was no longer a stray dog once he crossed Nathaniel path. Many days, he could be seen in the backyard feeding birds, and he could be heard singing his favorite song, His Eye Is On the Sparrow. Airplanes amazed him. No matter what he was doing, when he saw an airplane, he would stop to watch it until it was out of sight. He would often take his family to the airport and together they watched the airplanes take off and land. On October 1, 1986, his first wife, Lucille, of thirty-five years passed away. In 2000, he married his second wife, Earnestine Dozier and gained two stepchildren. In 2005, Nathaniel became ill. As his health deteriorated, he could no longer preach the word of God, but Nathaniel's faith remained. He enjoyed listening to gospel music, and would listen attentively as the word of God was being read to him. Nathaniel leaves to cherish his memories, his children, Charles Sealy, Sr, Patricia (Ira) Daniels, Jacqueline Stewart, Edward Sealey, Renata Sealey, and Towanna Sealey-Durdin; daughters-in-law; Shirley, Vera and Naomi Sealey; step children, Devin and Conrad (a.k.a. C. Vaughn) Dozier; brothers, Andrew (Bertha) Sealey, James Sr. (Ruby) Sealey, Oliver (Bertha) Sealey, Willie Sr. (Tylepha) Sealey, of Alabama, Almer Sealey, Murphy (Wanda) Sealey, Robert (Martha) Sealey; sisters: Sadie M. Simms, Guessella (Mira) Daniels, and Annie (Bester) White of Alabama.; sister-in-law, Lela Sealey; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.