Hal Ondra Black

Spartanburg, SC- Reverend Hal Ondra Black, 81, husband of Lillie Buchanan Black, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 4, 2017. Born October 10, 1936 in Waco, NC, Ondra was the son of the late Ural Alexander and Epsie Hord Black. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Carolina College in 1958 and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX where he received his Master of Divinity on March 2, 1973. While attending Southwestern, he met his wife, Lillie, and the couple moved to Michigan where he pastored three churches during the 15 years he was there. Ondra and his family returned to North Carolina, for a short period before moving to New Jersey where he pastored Hope Baptist Church for the next 23 years. While there, he had the opportunity to serve on the State Executive Board for the New York-New Jersey Baptist Convention and as a Trustee on the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This led the church to begin a ministry to the deaf and to reach out in to the international community that was so prominent in the New York area. Ondra retired from full time ministry in 2002 and moved to Spartanburg where he accepted the position of Associate Pastor and Minister to Senior Adults at Roebuck Baptist Church. He served the Spartanburg County Baptist Network as the Senior Adult Ministry Coordinator. In 2015, Ondra became the 21st recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Spartanburg County Baptist Network. He was also recognized by the South Carolina Baptist Convention for his more than 50 years of church ministry. On May 17, 2016, Ondra was recognized by The Senate in Columbia, SC for his lifetime of service to the ministry and his passion for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to his wife, Ondra is survived by his son, Graham Alexander Black of Germany; and his daughter, Kellie Denise Cathey and her husband, John, of Stanley, NC. The family will receive friends Sunday, December 10th, 12:30-2PM at Roebuck Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2PM, officiated by Reverend Dr. Tim Williams and Reverend Sal Barone. Burial will be held in The Old Capernaum Cemetery in Cleveland County, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Spartanburg, 250 E Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 or to Roebuck Baptist Church, P O Box 490, Roebuck, SC 29376 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.