Obituary
Flora Pearl Bumbrey, was born to Lola Mae Copeland and James Breelove, March 3, 1948, in Bainbridge, Georgia.  At the age of 70 she departed this life on December 4, 2018, surrounded by her family at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware.

The Five Stages of Grief

The five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

If you’ve ever read or talked to someone about grieving and loss, you likely have heard of the Five Stages of Grief. This is an idea that people refer to when they talk about the way people often progress through the experience the grief cycle, from the first news of a loss through a wide range of emotional changes.

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed the Five Stages of Grief and introduced them in her 1969 book “On Death and Dying,” then later refined them further with her coauthor David Kessler. The five stages of grief were originally used specifically to talk about the way a person tends to react to news of a terminal illness. But they’ve come to be recognized as a normal part of grieving when talking about all kinds of loss, including death and dying.

Celebrating the life of Ossie L. Waller another man to be admired.

Ossie L. Waller (O.C.) retired from the Norfolk Sanitation Department.

Norfolk, Virginia Waste Management Division.  He worked there for thirty (30) years.

O.C. was my step Granddaddy when I came to Virginia he would take me fishing on the pier all night.  He would give me a five ($5) allowance every week.  He used to take me on the garbage truck and teach me how to hustle.  I am Earl Woodlen Jr.

7 sTAGES OF GRIEF

A newer model offers seven stages of grief, adding some key emotions that are not included in Kubler-Ross’ work. The Seven Stages of Grief begins with shock and disbelief, and it also adds guilt, neither of which is included in the five stages. The full Seven Stages of Grief proceeds: shock and disbelief, denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, depression, acceptance. Other models offer four stages of grief (reeling, feelings, dealing, healing) and six stages of grief (shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance).

If you’ve ever been through a loss, or observed a friend who was grieving, you probably recognize the overwhelming emotions described in these stages. But you might also be thinking that the grief you’ve experienced wasn’t quite that tidy. The truth is that grief does not always follow any specific timeline and that people grieve differently. As David Kessler of Grief.com points out, one person might move straight from denial to depression; another person might skip denial altogether.

If you were to draw a picture of your journey through grief, it would be unlikely to look like a straight line progressing through the stages of loss. In reality, it might look more a tangle as you progressed from denial to acceptance to bargaining, back to denial, on to anger and depression, and so on. You might also find yourself “stuck” in one of the stages.

Perhaps your anger or your depression is persistent, and you can’t seem to move past it. This is as normal as it is to bounce between the stages out of the order that Kubler-Ross created — though it certainly doesn’t feel good, and it’s something you can work through with the help of a therapist or health professional.

Understanding Grief

So the Five Stages of Grief aren’t intended to tell us exactly how our grief will go. Instead, the idea of the stages is to help us make sense of the emotions and impulses that are commonly felt during the grief process. If you’re still feeling anger months after a loss, you shouldn’t feel like there’s something wrong with you and you must progress to bargaining right away.

The framework of the five stages isn’t telling you what to do — it’s just giving you language to help you understand what’s happening in your head and your heart as you go through the grieving process.

Whether you’re just beginning your grief journey, or you’re “stuck” in depression, or you’ve proceeded through all five (or seven) stages and back again, you don’t have to go through your grief alone. You can turn to others who have gone through a loss for support and commiseration, and you can talk to a professional grief therapist for help with moving through your grief.

A grief support group is something you can attend online and/or in person — you can often find local grief support groups through a hospital or hospice. They may also be able to help you find a grief counselor or therapist. And you don’t have to choose one form of support if you’re feeling overwhelmed — you can attend a grief support group in your town, visit a grief counselor, and check in on an online support group, if you find that all three help you.

Other Grief Models

A newer model offers seven stages of grief, adding some key emotions that are not included in Kubler-Ross’ work. The Seven Stages of Grief begins with shock and disbelief, and it also adds guilt, neither of which is included in the five stages. The full Seven Stages of Grief proceeds: shock and disbelief, denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, depression, acceptance. Other models offer four stages of grief (reeling, feelings, dealing, healing) and six stages of grief (shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance).

If you’ve ever been through a loss, or observed a friend who was grieving, you probably recognize the overwhelming emotions described in these stages. But you might also be thinking that the grief you’ve experienced wasn’t quite that tidy. The truth is that grief does not always follow any specific timeline and that people grieve differently. As David Kessler of Grief.com points out, one person might move straight from denial to depression; another person might skip denial altogether.

If you were to draw a picture of your journey through grief, it would be unlikely to look like a straight line progressing through the stages of loss. In reality, it might look more a tangle as you progressed from denial to acceptance to bargaining, back to denial, on to anger and depression, and so on. You might also find yourself “stuck” in one of the stages.

Perhaps your anger or your depression is persistent, and you can’t seem to move past it. This is as normal as it is to bounce between the stages out of the order that Kubler-Ross created — though it certainly doesn’t feel good, and it’s something you can work through with the help of a therapist or health professional.

Obituary

"HER GRACE"

BISHOP EMMA LORETTA CURRY CREAMER

Bishop of The Cathedral of Fresh Fire, Inc.

Bishop Emma Loretta Curry Creamer of Wilmington, DE was born September 6, 1939 in the railroad town of Altoona (Blair County), Pennsylvania.  Her life’s journey ended on Good Friday, April 10, 2020, in her beautiful home in Wilmington, surrounded by her family and loved ones.  In the time that we were blessed to have this angel here on earth, she inspired countless men, women and children in the faith until her final days. 

1963, she was united in Holy Matrimony with Leon Creamer of Wilmington, DE.  They had three children, Yarah, Le’Andre and Helena.  While her three children were yet toddlers, Bishop Creamer traveled and sang pro­fessionally as a backup singer with Shirley Caesar and recorded with Dorothy Norwood, The Roger Robert Singers, the Gospel All stars, James Davis & the Cloud-Davis Specials and finally her own group, The Emma Creamer Singers.

God favored Bishop Creamer with an all-inclusive free trip to Israel in 1988, which fulfilled a lifelong dream. Upon her return, she expressed how the Bible came alive as she physically walked and relived the high events of Jesus, such as: a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee; visit to Old Jerusalem; visit to the Wailing Wall; took Communion in the Upper Room; walked through the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb of Jesus; was baptized in the Jordan River and was blessed by the Bible teaching on spots like the Mount of Transfiguration and so much more. After which Bishop Creamer received her Attestation of Pilgrimage by the Mayor of Jerusalem. This experience changed the power of her preaching!

By the inspiration and direction of the Holy Ghost, she publicly accepted, acknowledged and made full proof of her call as Pastor by being ordained as an Elder in 1991 by Archbishop Jesse Delano Ellis II, founder and presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ. Within a year she was appointed Overseer in The United Pentecostal Churches of Christ.  In 1994, she was led to establish The Cathedral of Fresh Fire, Inc. with the main objective to, “Let the Fresh Fire of the Holy Ghost illuminate the darkness of sin, eliminate the power of Satan and eradicate coldness with the warmth of the love of Christ.”

 (Continued) Obituary
"HER GRACE"
BISHOP EMMA LORETTA CURRY CREAMER
Bishop of The Cathedral of Fresh Fire, Inc.

Bishop Creamer’s ministry also birthed multiple theatrical/musical productions:  “Over in Glory Land,” 1994; “The Blood,” 2003, the first gospel play to sell out the Grand Opera House, Wilmington’s largest performing arts venue, and “Behold The Lamb,” 2010.  Bishop Creamer's musical releases included, “Move with the Spirit,” 1973; “There’s Nothing as Precious as Jesus,” 1975; “Yes, Lord,” 1976; “Call on Jesus,” 1983; “Don’t Stop Praying,” 1998;  “CHOSEN,” 2003; and “Thy Word is all that Matters,” 2005.  Many publications including her book, “My Amazing Journey of Faith," 2013, were biographical and inspirational.

Under the leadership of Bishop Creamer, as the Pastor of CFF, with the help of God and concerned people, made a remarkable difference in the lives of the people of the formerly blighted Riverside Community. People of all ages were empowered by “Pastor Creamer” as she was known for her love for all people, freely shared her ministry without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age or sex. Bishop Creamer helped them rise above their circumstances and environments to become productive, employed, community advocates and viable members of society. Drug addicts and ex-cons became Deacons and prostitutes became Missionaries. Pastor Creamer also touched thousands of souls through her weekly “Wings of Healing” local telecast and conducted outdoor baptism services at public pools before hundreds of witnesses in the local community. Bishop Creamer’s ministry became a resource of hope across the Metropolitan Wilmington community, Chester, PA, New Jersey and Maryland.  

Over the life of her ministry, Bishop Creamer received numerous awards, honors and proclamations including:  The Key to the City of Wilmington, from Mayor Thomas C. Maloney (1974), a proclamation from the City of Wilmington as an outstanding gospel singer, The Wilmington Award from Mayor James Sills (2006) for her contributions in the faith-based initiatives, and a nomination to Who’s Who Among Great American Preachers (2005). In 2009, she was given proclamations of acknowledgement of community contributions from United States Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., United States Senator Edward E. Kaufman (DE), Governor Jack A. Markell, Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn and Mayor of City of Wilmington James M. Baker.  In 2015, State Senator Margaret Rose Henry (2nd District), issued a proclamation in honor of her elevation to Bishop.

Bishop Creamer established a charter campus of The Chesapeake Bible College & Seminary in 2003 and in 2005 was given an honorary doctorate in Church & Ministry Leadership and Pastoral Counseling.  In November 2012,

Bishop Creamer and her parishioners achieved the full payment of the mortgage on The Cathedral of Fresh Fire building and celebrated with a mortgage burning service in April 2013.

On August 8, 2015, Overseer Creamer was consecrated to the honorable position of Bishop at the anointed gathering of The Pentecostal Churches of Christ National Holy Convocation in Cleveland, OH, by Presiding Bishop J. Delano Ellis II.  Since her retirement in 2015, God has continued to manifest Himself to and through the ministry of The Cathedral Of Fresh Fire, a remarkable legacy of Bishop Emma L. Creamer.  Anyone entering the building can feel, see and know that all the glory belongs to God and the “Fire Continues to Burn”. 

Although we celebrated Bishop Creamer’s 80th birthday in September 2019, she was honored at a grand “80/50” Birthday Celebration, shared with her daughter Pastor Helena M. Creamer, on December 6, 2019.  The affair concluded with a special moment for all when she spoke what would become her final blessing over her family and loved ones gathered:

“I’m very happy in my soul.

I thank God for you all.

Continue to love the Lord.

Continue to talk to Him.

Continue to be close to Him.

Don’t leave Him alone,

Stand by Him.  Always be there, ‘cause

He’s gonna always be there for you.

God bless you!

If it were possible to summarize Bishop Creamer’s years of formal ministry and pastorate, she might tell you that,

“You better see this thing!”

Then this great leader and woman of God would surely say what King David said in Psalm 71:17, 18:

  “O God, you have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God do not forsake me, until I declare Your Strength to this generation, Your Power to everyone who is to come.”

Bishop Creamer leaves to cherish her legacy, Leon Creamer; her three children, Yarah Gilbert (Charles), Le’Andre Creamer and Pastor Helena M. Creamer; five grandchildren, Milana Gilbert, Nasia Creamer, Malcolm Gilbert, Marcus Gilbert and Neiko Creamer; a daughter in love, Tawana Creamer, two sisters, Twylia Edwards and Faye Gilbert; three godchildren, Pastor Tammy Lindsay, Candace Reason and Dena (LeMon) Bass; four long time devoted sister/friends, Elder Carolyn Martin-Pettaway and Elder Delnora Roberts; Joan (Russ) Lewis, Helen Williams; a multitude of spiritual sons and daughters and a host of other relatives, friends, colleagues, Community Leaders and her loving church family of The Cathedral of Fresh Fire, Inc. 

Willie James Spruill also known as “Blimp” passed away on Wednesday January 30, 2019 in Hyattsville, Maryland. Willie Spruill, originally from Norfolk, Virginia where he married Patricia Newsome, moved to Washington DC over 30 years ago. As a young man, he worked with a few of his brothers at the Pancake House in the Wards Corner section of Norfolk. Along the way, he developed a love and skill for cooking which he inherited from his mother, Viola
Tyler. Upon moving to Washington D.C., he became a chef and worked at various restaurants throughout the DC area such as ESPN Zone and restaurants at the MCI Center
now known as the Verizon Center. Years later he enjoyed working on the Norwegian Cruise Line in which he traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii.

He lived on the island for a few years also working at The Honolulu Country Club. Although he loved the beautiful island, he eventually settled back in the DMV area in Hyattsville, MD.
Willie Spruill is preceded by his mother, Viola Lucille Tyler, sister, Carolyn Stone, sister-in-law, Dietra Bell-Spruill and nephew. Ryan Collins. He is survived by his father, Jasper
Spruill; son, Xavier Junis Spruill; daughter, Tarneshia Latrice Rogers; stepchildren, Arthur Tookes Jr., Judith McCracken, Kevin Newsome, Lunden Collins and Blake Collins; one
sister, Lisa Miles; six brothers and six sisters-in-law, Stephon and Edwina Tyler, Hurrie Lee and Theresa Spruill, Jimmy and Cortiza Spruill, Jasper and Charlina Spruill, Albert and
Eunice Giggits Stone Jr, and Curtis and Lois Waller; some very special nieces and nephews, Nicole Stone, Ellen Waller, Corey Stone, Corey Stone Jr and Coley Stone, along with a
host of grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.