Rev William Toomer

William Dewitt Toomer was born on May 6, 1940 to the late Dewitt Toomer and Lucille Cherry in Cairo, Illinois he was the 7th of 9 children.

In 1959 William graduated from high school and did agriculture work. He moved to Chicago where he obtained a factory job. 1961- 1968 he advanced to press operator. In 1969 William completed a 96 hour course in personal development in computational and language skills and advanced to the mechanical division.

William joined First Baptist Institutional Church in 1970 under the leadership of Pastor Emeritus Floyd P. Piper and continued to serve under the late Dr. O Everett Piper and now current under the leadership of Pastor Aaron Brasfield. William became president of usher board, Sunday school teacher, and a deacon.

First Baptist is were William met Edna Lynn Rice. Later they were united in holy matrimony in 1973. As of March 7th they celebrated 48 years of married. William and Mrs. Edna didn’t have children together but William took on the responsibility of raising  his wife grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 1974 William received his license to preach, he enrolled for classes at the Chicago Baptist Institute in that same year him and his wife opened up a dry cleaners on the west side.

From 1975-1980 William became the chairman of the Evangelistic Committee of the First Baptist Church. William took on more courses in “Practice Preaching and Ministry of the Laity” at the Northern Theological Seminary. William became the Pastor of the Junior Church at First Baptist. Reverend William Toomer assisted Pastor Piper with the radio broadcasting program. Rev. Toomer graduated from the Chicago Baptist Institute with a Bachelor of Theology Degree. Rev. William Toomer and Sister Edna Toomer became proud parents on April 10, 1998 when they adopted there great grandson Arnale Alex Toomer.

The Toomer’s continued to work and serve faithful at First Baptist as a family. 2003 the Toomer’s retired together and moved there family to Fort Pierce, Florida. In 2013 Sister Edna health failed, so they moved back to Chicago, IL.

Rev. William Toomer took care of his wife until her death 2021. Rev. Toomer continued to live his life faithfully serving God and enjoy his retirement. At the beginning of 2024 Rev. William Toomer health begin to fail. He departed this life on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at home peacefully with his niece (Charity Drake) and his homecare worker (Valerie Phillips) by his side.

Reverend William Toomer was preceded in death by Edna Toomer (wife), father, mother, Jessie Ray Toomer, Charles J. Toomer, James V. Toomer, and Walter Pearson (brothers);  Alice Elkins and Selina Purchase (sisters).

Reverend William Toomer leaves to cherish a son: Arnale Alex Toomer of Indianapolis, Indiana; Two sisters: Ora Mae Henry and Williemima Mock; And a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

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