"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ... Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:1, 14

On January 28, 1927, the Reverend Octavius Allen Gethers, Sr. and Elouise Cooper Gethers were blessed with the birth of a son, Octavius Allen Gethers, Jr. He received his education in the schools of Berkeley and Charleston counties, graduating from Burke High School, Charleston, SC. He also attended South Carolina State College, now South Carolina State University and L.R. Nichols Theological Seminary.

Reverend Gethers was united in holy wedlock to Mattie Addison on November 23, 1960. This union was blessed with three children, Octavia, Addison, and Mario.

Reverend Gethers was an entrepreneur, organizing and operating several businesses. They included: a barbershop, service station, dry cleaners, ambulance service, and funeral home. He was also a longshoreman. He served his country honorably in the United States Army. He established the Gethers Funeral Home in Moncks Corner, SC in 1950 and in 1979 he built a funeral chapel facility in St. Stephen, SC. He served Berkeley County and the surrounding area for more than 55 years helping families in their time of need. Reverend Gethers was committed to providing honest, compassionate and caring services with integrity. He always helped persons in their time of need and showed them respect. He was well-respected by the people whom he served and by his colleagues in the funeral service profession.

Rev. Gethers Christian pilgrimage began in Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC. He later became a member of Mt. Carmel AME Church, Moncks Corner, SC. Octavius later answered the call to the ministry. He was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the AME church on October 7, 1961 by Bishop Cary Abraham Gibbs. He served as a pastor in the AME church for 40 years with only two pastoral appointments, St. Phillip AME Church, Charleston, SC (which is now Greater Middleton Chapel AME Church) and Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, McClellanville, SC. Rev. Gethers retired from active ministry on August 31, 2001 during the Palmetto Annual Conference. He returned to his home church, Mt. Carmel AME, and served faithfully until his death.

Reverend Gethers was a member of the following organizations: life member of the NAACP, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc. (NFD&MA), South Carolina Morticians Association, Inc. (SCMA), National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), South Carolina Funeral Directors Association (SCFDA), and St. John Lodge # 349, F.&A.M. He previously served as treasurer for SCMA, Inc. District 1. He has received numerous service awards from various organizations and churches. He was selected as an honored member of Oxford Who's Who The Elite Registry of Extraordinary Professionals (1992-1993).

Reverend Gethers was a man with outstanding leadership ability, a great flow of words, and an appreciative personal appeal. He knew how to bring out the best in people. He walked with kings, but never lost the common touch.

On Sunday, October 15, 2006, Reverend Gethers answered the call, "Well done thy good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of thy Lord." It was a smooth transition as he quietly slipped away in a peaceful sleep into eternal life with the Lord. Reverend Gethers is at peace now, and he is reaping his great reward reserved for the faithful. He will be remembered as a compassionate pastor, distinguished businessman, a great humanitarian and an untiring public servant. His heart of generous proportion, loving spirit and humble character, more so than his great accomplishments, made his long, useful life one of great fulfillment and satisfaction. He loved and served his fellowman and in so doing, best loved and served his God.

For his family, he has left a powerful legacy. Like Moses, he was a wise leader, powerful in speech and action. Like Daniel, he was a wise counselor, a man in touch with God. He had insight, a keen mind, knowledge and understanding. Like Nehemiah, he was a brilliant planner, organizer and motivator. He was a man with a vision. Like Paul, he was a wise messenger, communicating the Word of God with others and teaching how to apply God's word to daily life.

Those left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Mattie A. Gethers; children, Octavia M. Gethers, O. Addison Gethers, and Mario A. Gethers; siblings, David A. Gethers (Evelyn), Harry A. Gethers (Gail), Ethel G. Davis, Joseph James Gethers (Flora), Alma G. Brown, and Francis Wright (Carrie); sisters-in-law, Marie A. Gadsden and Alice Carter; brothers-in-law, Ransom Addison, Jr. ( Bernice), Gyles Addison, Reverend James Glisson, Beaufort Addison (Margaret), Sr. and Dr. Oliver W. Addison (Elizabeth); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, the Staff of Gethers Funeral Home, Inc. and numerous friends.