Rev. Dr. William Lamar Cody of Atlantic City, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mr. & Mrs. Wayman F. Cody, Sr. He attended the E.M. Stanton Elementary School, the Barrett Jr. High School, and the Benjamin Franklin High School. While in High School he demonstrated his leadership qualities having been at various times, the editor of the school newspaper, the captain of the student patrol, Chief Justice of the Student Court, President of his Senior Class, and Valedictorian at his graduation.
Rev. Cody attended the University of Pennsylvania on a full tuition scholarship won in a city-wide Junior Chamber of Commerce “I Speak for Democracy” oratorical contest. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from that institution. He received his Master of Divinity Degree from the Temple University School of Theology, where he won the Russell B. Conwell Award in Public Speaking. He received his Doctor of Divinity from St. David’s Theological Seminary and Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce University.
Rev. Cody was licensed to preach by Presiding Elder J.S. Benn under the pastorate of the late Bishop John D. Bright, upon a vote of confidence given by Allen AME Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pastor Cody was in his teens at the time. He was ordained a Deacon in 1955 by Bishop D. Ward Nichols and ordained an Elder by the late Bishop George W. Baber. His pastoral charges include: Ben Salem AME Church – Ben Salem, PA St. Paul AME Church – Malvern, PA Union AME Church – Easton, PA Vernon Temple AME Church – Southampton, Bermuda, W.I. Fisk Chapel AME Church – Fair Haven, NJ Grant AME Church – Boston, MA St. James AME Church – Atlantic City, NJ
Morris Brown AME Church – Philadelphia, PA
In June 1972, Rev. Dr. Cody was appointed Pastor of St. James AME Church in Atlantic City, NJ. He first showed his love for the congregation by making possible, the purchase of a new station wagon to transport the Senior Citizens to and from church.
New clubs organized under his leadership are the following: AME Men’s Club Generations of Spirit Choir Stewardess Board #2 Women’s Club Cody Starlites Choir The Junior Stewards (re-organized) Young Men’s Club
Under Rev. Dr. Cody’s leadership, ownership of Bright’s Villa, which was a North & South low and moderate income housing project valued at $ 2.5 million dollars, was transferred to St. James. For four years he managed this property for The Church. In 1996, Rev. Dr. Cody was sent to St. Paul AME Church, Pleasantville, NJ where he pastored for 12 years before retiring in 2008.
He served the Atlantic City Community as: President, Board of Trustees, Atlantic Community College, Mays Landing, NJ Vice President, Atlantic City Branch NAACP
President, Atlantic City Frontiers International Chairperson of the NAACP Atlantic Housing Development Corporation Administrator of Bright’s Villa & Chairman of Bright’s Villa, Inc. Chairman, Citizens Committee to Study Municipal Government Honorary Chaplain, Atlantic City Police Department Member, Fellowship of Churches
Rev. Dr. Cody served for 2 ½ years as the acting Presiding Elder of the Atlantic City District during the illness and later death of Presiding Elder James W. Waters.
Rev. Cody was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, 3 brothers, and 1 daughter.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory: his lovely wife Birdie, daughters, Michelle Hinton-Beyah and Dawn Hinton Davis (Robert), brother, Eddie Cody, Sr. (Lois), brother in-laws, Rev. Frank Dowlen (Haydee) and Bobby Dowlen, sister in-laws, Tina Cross and Patricia Smith (Rev. Smith), nephews Eddie Cody, Jr. and Freddie Cody, Jr., and niece Karen Woodlan.
Rev. Cody also leaves to mourn:Grandchildren; Ricardo (Lisa), Danielle, Ibin, Myisha, Malika, great-grandchildren Ricardo, Jr., Tevon, Cameron, and Aaron, along with a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, colleagues and friends.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Saint Paul’s AME Church, 1203 Harrison Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday at the church at 11:00 am. Burial will be held at the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
Arrangements are entrusted to and written condolences may be sent to: www.Adams-Perfect.com.