Reverend Dr. Tantsi Nathaniel Hercules

Rev. Dr. Tantsi Nathaniel Hercules, retired pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a mentor to many, and friend to all – was born on January 31, 1939 in Trinidad, West Indies and was the eldest son of the late Rev. Thomas Josephus Hercules and the late Johanna Hunte Hercules. Rev. Hercules received his primary and secondary education in the public schools of Chaguanas where he studied chemistry. Preaching his first sermon at age 10, he took his mother’s house dress, converted it into a preacher’s robe and pronounced a blessing on every friend who attended. At age 18, just prior to graduating from high school, he answered his call to preach and after four years of serious study, was ordained an Itinerant Elder in Trinidad, West Indies. In 1967, Rev. Hercules came to the United States to further pursue his education. He attended Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina where he earned a degree in English Literature. While at Allen University, he was the Dean of the Men’s Dormitory and the pastor of Shady Grove A.M.E. Church in Blythewood, South Carolina. After graduating with this Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970, he attended the Interdenominational Theological Center at Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Master of Divinity degree in Homiletics and Church Administration in 1973. Upon graduation, he moved to Brunswick, Georgia where he pastored St. Paul A.M.E. for seven years. While at St. Paul, Rev. Hercules was employed as a Social Services Director for the Brunswick Housing Authority. In 1975, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.®, Iota Gamma Lambda Chapter. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1979 and was the chaplain at Morris Brown College. During his tenure at Morris Brown, he taught World Religions and served as a college counselor. On weekends, Rev. Hercules journeyed to Savannah, Georgia to serve as the pastor at St. James A.M.E. Church for one year. He was then transferred to St. Paul A.M.E. in Stone Mountain, Georgia for six months. From 1982 until 1985, Rev. Hercules served as pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Macon, Georgia. In 1985, he became the pastor of St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as senior pastor for 17 years. While at St. Mark, the church’s membership grew to over 1,000 parishioners. In 1989, Rev. Hercules received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. While serving in Atlanta’s Southwest community, he was very active in the Southwest Ecumenical Emergency Assistance Center and Quality Living Services (SWEEAC and QLS). In 2002, Rev. Hercules became the senior pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Worship Center in Lithonia, Georgia. During his pastorate there, St. Paul grew into a church devoted to serving the many diverse needs and concerns of the Lithonia and Stone Mountain communities. He was appointed to the Lithonia Public Housing Authority Board and served from 2006 until his health began to fail. Throughout his ministry, Rev. Hercules was elected many times as a delegate to the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church. Rev. Hercules fathered five daughters, June Juliana Audrey, Arlene Andrea Pearl, Dawn Lillie, Portia Lea and Tanya Joye, who preceded him in death on December 15, 2010. After more than 60 years of service in the Christian ministry, Rev. Dr. T. N. Hercules was called from labor to reward on December 15, 2020. Rev. Hercules leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Charley, his daughters June Smith of Newark, New Jersey; Arlene Fabian of Brooklyn, New York; Dawn Hercules of Dimona, Israel; and Portia Brantley (Clinton) of Stone Mountain, Georgia; 20 grandchildren; two great-grandsons; two brothers, Cecil A. Hunte and Paul Ladepoo Salanky of Barbados; two daughters by marriage, Nicole Jones of Stone Mountain, Georgia and Teneka Williams (William) of Atlanta, Georgia, five grandchildren by marriage, and a host of brothers and sisters in the ministry. Homegoing Celebration for Reverend Dr. Hercules will be held at 11:00AM Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home South DeKalb Chapel. Attendance is by INVITATION only. The Homegoing Service will be Live Streamed. Reverend Dr. Hercules will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery 5755 Mallory Road, College Park, GA 30349. Visitation will be held 5:00PM-8:00PM at our SOUTH DEKALB Chapel. The Visitation will be Live Streamed. Due to the COVID-19, a mask is required to enter the Chapel. Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur, GA 30034 (404) 241-5656. Please extend your condolences here on our website. Due to the COVID-19, a mask is required to enter the Chapel.

Tributes

Reverend Dr. Tantsi Nathaniel Hercules

January 31, 1939 - December 15, 2020