Rev. Dr. Louis Grant Bond

Obituary for Rev. Dr. Louis G. Bond

Devoted parish minister of fifty-four years, Rev. Dr. Louis Grant Bond, age 76 of South Grafton, MA died unexpectantly Friday, January 27, 2023, at UMASS Medical Center in Worcester MA. Born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 6, 1947, he was the son of Joy Louise Mitchell and Luther Grant Bond, Sr. Louis was a graduate of Baltimore City College, a renowned college preparatory high school in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon high school graduation, he was accepted to Boston University where he completed his undergraduate education after which he attended Boston College to complete graduate studies in psychology. Following Boston College, Rev. Dr. Bond was accepted to Harvard University School of Theology where he earned a graduate degree in Theology. He earned his Doctorate degree in the Philosophy of Psychology from California Western University.

When not in the pulpit, Dr. Bond served on many community advisory boards such as Worcester Family Health Center where he served as a board member and later Board Chairman and the United Way of Central Massachusetts. He was also co-founder of the Covenant – St. Andrews Cancer Care Program, hosted several COVID and Flu Vaccine Clinics sponsored by UMASS Memorial Health and still found time to pursue his passion for working and sporting breed dogs as a breeder and an American Kennel Club Licensed Judge. Judging afforded him the opportunity to travel to many foreign countries such as Australia, Finland, Brazil to name a few.

Louis was quite the intellect. He was brilliant and had an insatiable desire to learn and create opportunities for others to become educated. He was on the Planning Board for Roxbury Community College where he became a dean and later Interim President. His desire to run a business led him to become President and CEO of B & R Corrugated Container Corporation. Following his passion for the arts, he became CEO of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Inc. Later along with his close friend & college roommate, Jonathan Radin, and Robert he co-found, JLuRob Enterprises, a theatrical Production Company. In additional to gospel concerts, JLuRob also produced and sponsored the Top Dane Event for the Great Club of America.

Mind you, Louis did all of this while still serving the Lord and fulfilling his pastoral responsibilities at the two churches he served: St. Andrews UMC and Covenant UMC. In 2000, Pastor Bond successfully led the merger of those two distinctively different demographic congregations. The Telegram and Gazette front-page cover story titled the merger “Ebony and Ivory.” It was the first time a merger like this happened in Massachusetts. After his retirement, in true New England style Louis managed to pull a “Tom Brady” and came out of retirement for three and a half years to serve Covenant UMC and East Douglas UMC up until the end. Well done my good and faithful servant!  

In addition to his parents, Luther Sr. & Joy Louise Mitchell, he was predeceased by his brother, Rev. Luther G. Bond II. He is survived by three Aunts: Pearl Bond Dean (his Godmother), Mandy Bond Bynum, Chloe Bond Queen, his partner Robert Edward Layne, his sister, Monica Phillips Bond, his children, Jordan Robert Bond and Meredith Robin Bond and her spouse, Joshua Boyd, and their children – (his grandchildren) - Alexander Luther Boyd and Emerson Audrey Boyd.

He also leaves a host of in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews who are listed in the program for you to review.  A brother-in-law: Richard O Hill, Jr., his sisters in-law: Yvonne Blackmon and her children Swayne (his Godson) and Rochelle Blackmon, Marcia Hill Kreaime, Deannest Hill, Amelia Parker Bond, and her children, nieces Judith Amelia Bond, Yolanda Bond Thompson, and her children Brittany Bond, Bethany Thompson and Mallory Thompson,  Melanie Bond Johnson, her husband Jerry Johnson and their children Bernadette Amelia Johnson, Jerry Nero Johnson II, and Hilton Grant Johnson, Allyson Bond Bracey and her husband Brian and their children, Elena Nalanie Bond – Cordew, Devin Eugene Bracey, Saniya Michelle Bracey, Brianna Emery Bracey, and Carter Elise Bracey, three Goddaughters: Natalie, Jasmin, & Kamille Hampton, and Godson, Jason Cook, as well as numerous cousins in Baltimore, Maryland, friends and his Church Families in Worcester, MA (Covenant-St. Andrews United Methodist Church), and in East Douglas MA, (East Douglas United Methodist Church), respectively.

Calling hours were on Friday, February 3, from 4PM until 7PM at Covenant St Andrews United Methodist Church, 24 Hamilton Street, Worcester MA.

A Service of Remembrance was on Saturday, February 4, at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 Main Street Worcester 01608.

To view the Remembrance Service via "live stream" please visit https://www.wesleyworc.org

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