Minister Revels

The Legacy of God's 5 Star General!"
"Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

July 5, 1929 was a Friday and it was the 186th day of the year 1929. It was the 27th Friday of that year. The next time you can reuse your old 1929 calendar will be in 2019. Both calendars will be exactly the same! Just so you know.

What happened on that faithful Friday, July 5, 1929, A Star was Born! Not just any Star, but "God's 5 Star General, Cordelia Boyd." Cordelia was born in Fredrick, Oklahoma to Judge Bishop Boyd and Maggie Eleanor Weaver-Boyd in the back of an old box car. For those of us that are wondering, what is a box car? Aunt Jan will explain later.

Cordelia was born the 4th of 14 children: Marie, Arthur (Leon), Elsie, Cordelia, Clars, James Nylon, Orin, Bob, Harriet (Jan), Bonnie, Richard, Jerry, Dorothy, and Edgar. Whew wee! That's a lot of children!!!

Although Cordelia was born in 4th position and was a very sickly child and could not walk until she was 4 years old, she never let a little thing like not being able to walk hinder her. At 4 years old, this born leader found herself doing what just came natural for her, instructing and guiding her older brother and sisters into all truth. For example, she would say, "Pick me up and put me over there." God had something special in store for his 5-star general. He put an early command in her from the very start. Cordelia started grade school in Fredrick, Oklahoma, then the family moved to Englewood, Colorado in 1939, then on to Denver, Colorado 1 year later. Cordelia continued her education in the Denver Public schools. She was always learning and growing. She earned a certificate in cosmetology and later opened her own wig shop in her home, called "Cordelia's Wigs."

Cordelia had a beautiful baby boy William E. Hike Jr. (Billy) whom she and everybody else loved. He was her only child and grew right up along with her younger brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Some years later, Cordelia met and married Otis Revels Jr. Throughout their marriage they acquire and manage their Real Estate holdings in Denver. During these years, Cordelia organized and lead many choirs, at Union Baptist Church, Wayside Church of God in Christ and Bethsaida Temple. In 1967, she started the sweet little lambs' choir and the young adult choir at Bethsaida Temple, under the leadership of Bishop Earl O. Holiman and First Lady Aurelia Holiman. One of Cordelia's proud choir accomplishments was that she was over this choir for 28 years and taught them 150 songs during that time.

Cordelia loved young people and she had one rule for joining the choir after getting saved, "You must have the Holy Ghost to be in this choir!" So, if anyone wanted to join the choir and didn't have the Holy Ghost, she would tarry and pray them through, until they received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongue as the Spirit gave them utterance. Then Cordelia would say to them, "There it is! You got it! You got the Holy Ghost! Just open up your mouth and speak! As the candidates started speaking in their heavenly language, Cordelia would break out speaking in tongues too and go to shouting and praising the Lord for filling that person with what she so affectionately called, "the precious gift of the Holy Ghost!"

Cordelia took such joy in taking her grandchildren and others to minister in song and prayer in many nursing homes, hospitals, homeless people and the sick and shut in. Cordelia still felt that she was not doing enough for the Lord. So, she fasted and prayed and ask God, what else could she do for him? Cordelia felt as if she should go out of the country, into the mission field and minister. As an answer to her fasting and prayer, God gave her this Scripture, Acts 18:10, "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." God let Cordelia know that she did not have to go out of the country on the mission field, He had people right in Denver that needed to be ministered to. God birthed the jail ministry to Cordelia. Cordelia went to the men's jail and ministered through song and the Word of God for 7 years by herself.

Cordelia did not stop there, she then went to ministered in the women's jail for 3 years, totaling 10 years of jail ministry in Denver. Eventually, Otis retired from Sundstrand Aerospace Corp. and they sold their real estate holdings and moved to Highland California in 1982. Cordelia continued her jail ministry in the San Bernardino juvenile hall boys Unit 10 for 25 years. Cordelia ministered in the jail ministry for a total of 35 years.

During these years she has earned many awards, certificates, commendations in the juvenile hall and even received a letter from the White House under President Bush. Cordelia was the official chaplain of the san Bernardino Police Department and proudly carried her police badge.

Cordelia and Otis served as proud members of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland California, under the leadership of Pastor Robb Zinn. Otis served as a proud usher, collecting the money every Sunday and Cordelia served as a proud choir member and served in the Sunday school department all while hosting Bible studies in her home for a season. It was Cordelia's strong influence that caused the Immanuel Baptist Church family and Pastor to assist her in the juvenile hall ministry famous Christmas parties! Cordelia loved all of her California family for all of their love and support to her and Otis over the last almost 40 years of being in California.

Cordelia's influence was vast and deep! Through the years Cordelia made many, many, many friends, acquired many Godchildren and sons and daughters in the ministry.

After many years of choir, music, jail, homeless shelters, nursing home, home bible study groups, hospital ministry's that spanned 66 years, God called His 5 Star General Home. There are a few things very significant about a U.S. 5- Star General. Firstly, out of many Generals in the U.S. Armed Forces, there are only nine 5-Star Generals. Secondly, and most importantly, 5-Star generals can never retire, they are always considered active duty. At any moment, they can be called upon to serve in active duty!

Cordelia never retired even after having what she called "a stupid stroke!" Cordelia often stated that she was injured on the front lines of the spiritual battlefield doing the work of the Lord. Although injured, she fought her way back from that "stupid stroke" and continued on the battlefield for the Lord. She marched right back to the juvenile hall ministry, and then kept on ministering after that. God knew Cordelia would answer His call no matter what case he presented her with, right up until the day God called her home. On Veteran's Day, Cordelia s answered her final call to the Lord. Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Cordelia Revels, God's 5 Star General!

Cordelia is survived by her only son (William Everett Hike Jr.), Stepson (Virgil C. Revels) and Stepdaughter (Faye Revels). Four grandchildren (Eric, Billy III (deceased), Felicia (Lisa), Billy IV). Eight great-grandchildren (Kasem, Danielle, Shaun, Tasha, William V, Everett, Tevin and Audra); 19 great-great grandchildren; Goddaughter (Isis Eskander) and whom she called her last God-granddaughter (Wynona Wright); and a host of family, relatives and friends.

Visitation : December 5, 2019 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace
6601 Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 996-0869

Celebration of Life : December 6, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

House of Joy Miracle Deliverance Church
3082 Leyden Street
Denver, CO 80220

Interment : December 6, 2019 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Fairmount Cemetery
430 South Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80231

Reception : December 6, 2019 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Pipkin Braswell
6601 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80220