On Saturday, June 29, 2024, our beloved Pastor Elbert L. Maxwell completed his assignment on earth and went home to be with the Lord.
Pastor Maxwell was born to the late Letha Bell and William Maxwell on August 19, 1940, during a time of segregation in Brunswick, Georgia. He was affectionately known as "Sonny" or "Max" by family and friends. He was educated in the segregated schools of Brunswick, Georgia where he graduated from Risley High School in 1960 using handed-down books from the area white schools. It was during this time in his life where Max started to take up the sport of golf when he caddied part-time at the local, all-white golf club. His time in Brunswick formed his desire to enter the ministry to support civil rights and racial justice.
In 1960 he began his undergraduate studies at Morehouse College where he was a student of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While in college, Max was being groomed in the ministry by the Zion Mission Baptist Association in Brunswick and on July 15, 1961, he was publicly ordained as a minister. It was during this time that he served as an assistant to Pastor Dr. Ralph Abernathy from 1960-1964. He graduated from Morehouse in 1964 and in that same year, he met and married Shirley Ann Dyal. The couple moved to Chester, Pennsylvania. where he enrolled at the Crozier Seminary. While there, he served as the assistant to Pastor Woodson at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey. In 1970, the couple welcomed their first child, E. Lindsey Maxwell II, Esq. The family moved to Montclair, NJ in 1973, when Pastor Maxwell became the senior pastor of Union Baptist Church.
During this time, the membership at Union Baptist doubled in size. Many programs that helped the church family and surrounding community were developed under Pastor Maxwell's leadership. He wrote grant proposals totaling 6 million dollars, which resulted in the funding of the Summer Youth Program that provided jobs for young people in addition to the Essex County Nutrition Project that assisted seniors with 1000 daily hot meals and social services, at 10 sites. While at Union Baptist, he also served as the Fire Chaplain for the Montclair Fire Department, a job that he was very proud of; even becoming a member of the International Federation of Fire Chaplains. He went on to also serve as chaplain for the Clara Maass Medical Center, the Perlow Hospice, and Grace Healthcare Services all located in New Jersey.
In the late 1970's, Max took his love of golf to a new level, becoming one of the first black members of the prestigious Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina and later joined the Del Val Golf Club. In 1980, he and Shirley welcomed their second child, Elizabeth L. Maxwell (Lori).
In 1984, Max and Shirley founded the Sword of the Spirit Christian Church Ministries, Inc. Under his leadership, the church thrived and grew. He was responsible to communicate the Word of God, minister to spiritual needs and provide Biblical leadership for the church. He taught the uncompromised Word of God, how to hear clearly God's call, and how to walk in His' perfect will. Under the direction of Holy Spirit, on September 2, 1984, The Army of the Lord School of Ministry Equipping Institute was founded. He authored the book entitled "God's Biblical Protection Plan for Your Life". With the assistance of First Lady Maxwell, Pastor Maxwell created a weekly prayer call, and the Worship Banner Ministry.
After 44 years of marriage, Shirley passed away in 2007. In 2015, Pastor Maxwell married Donna Walton, and from that union, he welcomed two bonus sons Abdul Smith (Anika Smith) and Kamaal Smith (Monica Smith). Max is survived by his wife, Donna Walton - Maxwell, his children, E. Lindsey Maxwell II, Esq. (Letty Maxwell, Ph.D.), Elizabeth L. Maxwell, Grandson, Elbert L. Maxwell lll, (Kena Maxwell), bonus grandchildren Aleena, Jacob, Issac and Amaya, Kayvon, and Devon, and his sisters Altamese Richie, Christine Wallace, and Trudie Wallace, his nephews, William Maxwell, Jr., and Alfred Floyd.