Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Rev Dr William Gillison

The Reverend Dr. William Gillison, beloved pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Buffalo, NY received his wings on July 4, 2022

Pastor Gillison is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. He was educated in the Lackawanna, New York School System.

Before and after entering the United States Army in 1965, Rev. Gillison sang with a Gospel group known as theThe Gospel Six of Buffalo, New York. For twenty years, the Lord blessed the group to travel throughout the United States and Canada with national recognitions through radio, television and various recordings.

Pastor Gillison was called into the ministry in August 1980 and became Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Buffalo, New York in June 1981. In 1994, Dr. Gillison led God's people into its present three-million-dollar home. The sanctuary seats approximately 1200 persons with a chapel overflow, 16 classrooms and an all-purpose hall for lectures and dining. In December 2001, the 20-year mortgage was paid off in six years.

Pastor William Gillison was the founder and President of the Mt. Olive Development Corp., founded in 1991, a Community Development Corporation. Moderator of the Great Lakes Baptist Association, an association of churches, in Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, Buffa­lo, Lackawanna, Albion, Rochester and beyond. He also received the Rev. Sandy F. Ray award, from the Empire Missionary Baptist Convention, for dedica­tion and leadership.

Pastor Gillison has served as President of the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Buffalo and Vicinity: Area Vice President of the Empire State Convention, an Instructor in the State and Local Congress of Christian Education, Ecumenical Chair of the Black Leadership Commission On Aids [BLCA] of Buffalo, New York Board Member of the Erie County Medical Center; Grace Manor Nursing Home Foundation; Campus Ministries at the Recipient of Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Jesus the Liberator Seminary, Buffalo, New York and Triune Biblical University and Seminary, Kelso, Washington; first recipient of the State of New York e University of Buffalo and Advisory Board Member of Group Ministries. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award; National Conference Brother/Sisterhood Interfaith Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Community Service Award from the Buffalo Lutheran Employment Service. Outstanding Service as Pastor, Preacher and Community Leader from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Theological Seminary and the Erie Community College-Community Collaboration Award.

Pastor Gillison was also honored by SADOO Enterprise, INC. as a Distinguished Citizen and by The Samaritan Center as a "Good Samaritan.

Pastor Gillison is the husband of the former Antonia Davis, the father of four children: Mia, Dwayne, Crystal and Russell, a grandfather and great-grandfather.