Columbus Pastor Leon L. Troy Sr., who served Second Baptist Church, dies at 97

The Rev. Leon L. Troy Sr. was much more than a pastor to Columbus residents; he was deeply involved in advocating for its citizens when it came to education, affordable housing, civic engagement and more.

Troy, 97, died on Sunday at StoryPoint Senior Living in Gahanna, and had served for approximately 20 years as senior pastor of Second Baptist Church on Columbus' Near East Side before retiring, but continuing to serve the community.

He retired from ministry but didn't retire from service, said his son, Adam Troy, 63, of the Northeast Side.

"His whole life was essentially centered around trying to create environments where people can maximize their human potential," Adam said.

Born on March 23, 1926, Troy was raised in Toledo, Ohio, and served as a pastor in Oxford, Warren and Sandusky, Ohio, churches before coming to Columbus in 1976. He served in World War II and would talk about his service in sermons, said Adam, often saying that, each day, people should wake up and say, "Good morning, God. Reporting for duty."

Troy was married to his high school sweetheart, Berniece, for 75 years before she passed away in 2021, Adam said.

Speaking truth to power

As a minister, Troy was never at a loss for words, Adam said, but was thoughtful and conscious of the impact of the words he spoke.

"Dad always talked about being in a position to speak truth to power," he said. "He was a visionary. In that sort of classic Black preacher tradition, he was an individual who could cast a vision and bring people along with him in order to bring that vision to reality."

He taught Adam and his brothers, Leon Jr., Keith and Eric, to always reflect on what they planned to do each day for those who were in need.

"Dad was always what we call a 'beyond the walls,' meaning beyond the traditional church walls, leader," Adam said. "He believed in being engaged in not only what we call the sacred aspects of one's life but also the secular."

He believed a balanced life involved God but also where He met mankind in relation to challenges when it comes to people's access to healthcare, education, employment and more. He didn't see his involvement as just limited to the church, Adam said.

'One of the great ones'

He served on many local boards and commissions and was honored many times by varied public officials and organizations, including being inducted into the Columbus Hall of Fame in 2020, and the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame in 2023.

He was passionate about education and instituted educational programs or initiatives in each city he served in, Adam said. He even served on the Columbus Board of Education.

At its Tuesday meeting, Board President Jennifer Adair said that Troy will be remembered for his “kindness, wisdom and leadership.”

Troy was appointed to the board in 1996, a position he held until 1997.

“Pastor Troy firmly believed in the power of education and community outreach,” Adair said. “His dedication to community development was a testament to his passion for fostering community, uplifting those in need and providing them with opportunity for a bright future. He believed in the transformational power of education.”

Carol Perkins, a North Linden area commissioner, knew Troy from her time serving on the Columbus Board of Education from 2007 to 2014, during which time she would go to him for advice and counsel, she said.

"I relied on his wisdom and his encouragement," said Perkins, who continued to speak with him even after her time on the board ended. "I have always considered him to be a friend, even to this day."

To her, he was "an encourager" and he always took the time to listen to people.

"He was passionate, he was kind. ... He knew no strangers," she said. "We lost one of the great ones."

Paving the way for the next generation

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin remembers seeing Troy as a child in City Hall, where Hardin's mother and grandmother worked. At the time, Troy was a special advisor to then-Mayor Dana G. Rinehart on community affairs.

"I very much believe I stand on his shoulders," Hardin said. "In this building, you can sense and feel the space he created for leaders like myself."

To that, Troy would likely say it wasn't him who was special, but that he just carried on the legacy of the leaders before him, Adam said.

It was part of his job to grab the baton when it was handed to him and run the best race he could for the next generation, which is what his dad believed most great leaders should do, Adam said.

"We all stand on somebody else's shoulders," Adam said. "It was love in action with Dad, but also the laying of foundation. I think Dad would be happy to hear that."

A legacy of love

As for his father's legacy, Adam said he believes his father would consider himself "an apostle of love."

"He just always sought to bring love to every situation," Adam said. "No matter how dire the straits may be or how hopeless a situation may seem, Dad absolutely believed he could love you through a situation. I believe part of his legacy and impact is the demonstration that, even when you're on opposite sides ... if love was at the core of that, there was always a way to find common ground, and Dad always started from that point."

Services will be hosted at New Salem Baptist Church, 2956 Cleveland Ave., at 9 a.m. on Aug. 8. Public viewing will begin at 9 a.m. and last until noon, when a service will begin.

Troy is survived by his four sons, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by one of his sons, Jay Scott, and his wife, Berniece.

Dispatch reporter Cole Behrens contributed to this reporting.

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus religious, civic leader Rev. Leon L. Troy Sr. dies at 97