:: TRIBUTE PLAQUE FOR REV. JOHN PORTIS

The Tribute Plaque in honor of Rev. John Portis has been made. A dedication ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd at 3:00 p.m. in Heritage Park. All are welcome to attend. A brief reception will follow at McMorran.

Rev. John Portis was a man who made outstanding contributions to the City of Port Huron during his lifetime. In December of 2008, the Port Huron City Council unanimously approved the effort, spearheaded by Operation Transformation, to honor Pastor Portis’ life, memory and accomplishments with a Tribute Plaque in Port Huron’s Heritage Park.   Financial donations are currently being accepted at Operation Transformation to pay for the expenses of an all-weather, bronze plaque.  

Rev. Portis received the Spirit of Port Huron “Brotherhood Award” in 1984, and certainly exemplified the essence of what Brotherhood is all about.  Over the years, he displayed leadership in fostering understanding and promoting harmony and goodwill among all.  Rev. Portis was a local pastor at St. John’s Baptist (4 years), Pilgrim Baptist (9 years), and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (37 years) for a total of 54 years in ministry (1954 – 2008).  He also founded the South Park Ministerial Alliance in 1980 and was the President of this group until 2004.  All of this was done while he was a full-time employee at Cawood’s Auto Company.  He was a major voice of the African-American church community during this time and seen by many as a “father figure”.   

Rev. Portis served on the Advisory Board for the City of Port Huron’s Community Relations in the 1980’s.  He served on the St. Clair County Mental Health Board.  He was a long-standing member providing leadership for the NAACP, and was recently inducted into their Wall of Fame.  He served on numerous advisory boards in the South Park community and was a member of the South Side Coalition. He also formed a group called “Brotherhood”, an organization that provided scholarships to encourage young men to pursue leadership and academic excellence

Rev. Portis sat on the Board of Directors of Operation Transformation, an ecumenical ministry designed to help churches work together with the civic community to see needs met and people strengthened.  He worked behind the scenes to develop the strategies and programs needed to carry this vision out. 

Rev. Portis was very instrumental in providing mediation and racial reconciliation, working tirelessly to strengthen relationships, without any praise or publicity for himself.  He was known as a very giving, selfless person and was a wonderful role model of love and acceptance.   Pastor Portis died in July, with hundreds attending his funeral.  He had a great love for the Port Huron community and worked tirelessly to benefit our city.  His gentle spirit will be missed.  He was a pillar of the community, and is an excellent choice for the honor of being recognized as a city leader with a plaque in Heritage Park.