Bishop John Redmon, Sr.

Celebration of Life!!

Bishop John David Redmon Sr. was born June 13, 1949, in Mobile, Alabama to the parents of the late Pastor Mark and Sis. Pearl Redmon. He was the fifth of eleven children. He attended Dunbar Elementary School and Central High School of Mobile, AL. Bishop Redmon was later drafted into the United States Armed Forces and was sent to serve his county in Vietnam. While there, he escaped many near death experiences, and attributed his safe return home to God, because of his praying Mother and Church family. After his release from the Army, he later settled in Louisville, KY. Bishop Redmon was baptized in Jesus’s name and received the Holy Ghost under the leadership of the late Bishop Gabriel Crutcher. He was assisted on the altar by the late Elder Martha Beckham. He was also called to preach the Gospel the same night he was saved! He often told the story of how he was dressed in a pink suit and when the Lord filled him with the Holy Ghost, he rolled on the floor, dirtying up his pink suit. He said, “My suit got dirty, but my soul is clean.” Bishop Redmon later met and married Mary Ann Redmon (Moore) of Louisville, KY. And to this union, they were blessed with nine children; and one of which was named John Jr. who looked just like his father and was affectionately called “Little John”, who preceded him in death on February 12, 2020. Bishop Redmon faithfully served in ministry and was later sent to Pastor Mountain View A.O.H. Church of God in Birmingham, AL. In 1987, the Lord called him to establish the Mount Zion Apostolic Church, which was later changed to The Greater Mt. Zion Temple of Deliverance, Inc. and it remains so today. In January 1992, Bishop Redmon met and married Annette Ryan Redmon, and together they continued to build the ministry, add fellowships, and birth Pastors for the Kingdom of God. Bishop Redmon had a TV ministry, as well as radio and prison ministry. Many souls were saved through evangelism and outreach tent revivals near and far. Bishop Redmon loved preaching and teaching the Word of God. He never tired in traveling near and far to bless the body of Christ. He was later ordained to the office of Bishop by the late Bishop George W. Ayers, Prelate of the A.O.H. Churches of God Inc. Through the years other ministries and churches were added under his bishopric. Bishop Redmon was an avid lover of music and prolific musician who played guitar, drums, trumpet, bass guitar, lead guitar, trombone, and he even mimicked mockingbirds. He loved to play and bless the people of God with his gift. His motto was “I just want to be a blessing to the people of God”, and indeed he was. Bishop Redmon traveled and played many years at Pentecost. His guitar could be heard from the time you stepped out of the car, until you arrived inside. He loved playing and would do it with a smile. He was dubbed the “One Man Band” because God gifted him to play over 15 different instruments, without having taken any formal/informal music lesson. Throughout his life, God proved Himself faithful to Bishop Redmon by opening doors of opportunity and favor for him. He believed God for the impossible, speaking things that weren’t as though they were and then watching them come to pass. Things did not come easy for him, but he persevered through every test and trial that came his way and he always trusted God to see him through. Bishop Redmon was a very humble man who served God in any capacity. During his lifetime, he received many honors, awards, and certificates of achievement, but he only bragged about what God had done for him. In 2014 Bishop Redmon was diagnosed with cancer, which he later found out was caused by Agent Orange, a chemical used by the military when he was in Vietnam. He fought a 7-year battle that affected his hearing, and other areas of his body. Despite his many surgeries and cancer treatments, he persevered and remained faithful in ministry. He was always found teaching, preaching, and serving his parishioners.

No matter what it looked like, or how he felt, Bishop continued to believe God for his healing, he yet pressed on proclaiming the goodness of the Lord. Even though Bishop didn’t receive his physical healing on this side, we know that he is now totally healed and cancer free and is now resting in the arms of Jesus! His legacy will live on because this anointed Man of God was loved by many, and he remained a true soldier on the battlefield until the Lord called him home on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

He leaves to cherish, his loving and devoted wife, of 30 years, Annette R. Redmon. Eleven children: Alonzo (Yvette) Tarver, of Louisville, KY. Arletha Redmon, Mary (Deon) Wright, Gwendolyn Redmon, Pamela Redmon, Shannette Redmon, Annette Redmon, SaRita Powell, Latrisha Redmon, Rian (Ricky) Robinson, Timothy (Myeshia) Powell, of Charlotte, NC. Also, twenty-three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves to cherish three sisters and one brother: Mary Redmon, Fannie Hunt, and Martha Smith of Mobile, AL, and Mark Redmon Jr. of Mississippi. And a host of aunts, uncles, and nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends; along with his family of Churches: Greater Mt. Zion Temple of Deliverance Inc., Soldiers of the Cross Ministries, and Greater Hope Temple of Deliverance.

Philippians 1:21: For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.