Donald Bernard Curtis Obituary

…well-loved by the people because he freely gave of himself to the people, as a gift in return to our Heavenly Father, who created all people in His image and in His likeness.

Don’s sunrise occurred on April 17, 1950; the first of four “golden drops” born through the union of the late Bernard and Annie Butler Curtis. God granted his desire for a peaceful transition from temporal life to eternal life when He beckoned him home after the sunset of April 13, 2022.

Don’s Early Pursuits:

Born into a family of educators, obtaining a good education was an expected mandate. Don began his academic studies at White Marsh Elementary School in Mechanicsville, Maryland and completed his elementary education at the St. Joseph's Colored Parochial School in Morganza, Maryland. During the Civil Rights Era, Don was one of the first Blacks to attend Ryken High School, an all-boys catholic high school in Leonardtown, Maryland. As a young man, Don balanced learning with interests in music and sports. He honed his drumming skills playing with local bands called “The Searchers” and “The Dontels”, both composed of family members and friends.

In terms of athletics, Don enjoyed Track & Field and playing basketball. Competing in the high jump, long jump, triple jump, 220/440 races along with basketball meets, he amassed quite a collection of awards and championship trophies. Under his quiet, humble demeanor, Don became Ryken High School's basketball phenom. Upon graduation, Don continued his studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland in 1968 as one of the first Blacks in attendance. His intention was to propel his love of basketball.

Prior to graduating from college, Don caught the "love bug" upon meeting Catherine Bernice Woodland. They wed in August 1970 and made their home in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

Eventually his superb athleticism was recognized in October 2017, when Ryken High School inducted him into their Basketball Hall of Fame.

Don’s Divine Purpose:

Dedicating his life and livelihood to the betterment of others, Don held several influential positions across his professional career that allowed him to become a pillar within local communities. He served in the capacities of:
President of the Maryland Association of Community Action Agencies
Executive Director of the St. Mary’s County Housing Authority
Executive Director of the Maryland Rural Development Corporation
His accomplishments were noted as one named in the Who’s Who Among Outstanding Business Executives, and the Who’s Who Among Leading Young Americans.

Don’s divinely-appointed gifts and fiery zeal became evident as energies shifted from corporate initiatives to ministry assignments. Simply stated: Don’s love for God’s Word drove him to discover and declare the TRUTH about The Gospel mysteries.

Understanding that relationships are paramount to God, Don organized The Marriage Workshop®, a Christ-centered marriage enrichment ministry, designed to teach couples how to glorify God through their marriage. Together, he and Catherine published their first marriage training manual and tape series called “The Fine Art of Marriage: When Two Become One”.

In December 2000, Don stepped into full-time ministry as the founding pastor and gifted teacher of Christ's Church in Waldorf, Maryland. Christ's Church is a family-focused congregation on a mission “Putting Back Together the Broken Pieces of Peoples' Lives” through sound, biblical teaching, consistent application and tangible support.

As a pastor, Don saw the need to evangelize in non-traditional ways. His passion to unveil the mysteries of the One True God to all with ears to hear inspired him to utilize a variety of mediums to share the message of salvation. Embracing the worldwide reach of advancing technologies, Don explored the riches of info available and initiated his own personal contributions. He created two blogs on WordPress: “Christ In You Roundtable” and “Jesus and The Father”. Both expounded upon concepts that fascinated Don the deeper his own understanding grew over the years - God as our Father and Christ in You.

Beginning in July 2016, Don hosted an online broadcast called "Good Morning, Mechanicsville", creating an impressive listenership throughout the US and in more than 100 countries across six continents including Jamaica, Tonga, Russia, China, Ukraine, South Africa, Nigeria, Israel and others. He left a gift of over 700 messages that can be accessed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week on social media platforms in addition to websites such as Sermon Audio, YouTube, TuneIn Radio, iTunes, Spreaker, Spotify, Apple podcasts, IHeart radio and WBR-FM radio in Wigan Borough, England.

Throughout his personal pursuit for nature’s healing, fundamental discoveries about how wonderfully we are made inspired Don to conduct introductory knowledge-sharing workshops emphasizing God’s desire stated in 3 John 1:2 - that we …"Be in Health".

What’s jazz got to do with it? God created everything; even music and there is no limit to the possibilities of how He might reach a soul. With an appreciation and love for jazz, Don coordinated Sunday afternoon jazz sessions at Christ’s Church featuring local, talented performers. He launched “Sunday Afternoons with Don Curtis” - an online compilation of tunes (mostly jazz) from the well-known to the up-and-coming artists. In 2018, Don became a founding Board Member of Jazz in The Country, Inc. a private, nonprofit foundation supporting the vision of the historic Mt. Bethel Retreat Center in King George, Virginia; to expand its facility offering summer camps to area youth. Their annual jazz fest provides a vehicle to reveal God to more people - performers, volunteers, attendees, vendors, corporate sponsors; folks who might never step foot into a church.

Don’s Sentimental Personhood:

A multi-faceted man, Don demonstrated genuine love for people and never hesitated to lend an ear or a hand to anyone in need. Many sought his counsel on various topics - spiritual, personal, relational, financial, business-related or any concern. He was regarded as the Curtis-Butler family minister and Bible scholar. Don considered it a privilege to speak at retreats, collaborate with other pastors, officiate weddings and homegoing celebrations. Alongside ministry, for a short period, he provided comfort and guidance to families soliciting services through Trinity Memorial Gardens before officially retiring at the age of 65. God only knows the countless number of lives Don positively influenced as pastor, podcaster, family man, supervisor, friend, confidante, teacher and leader.

Family was VERY important to Don, especially his grandchildren. He made frequent trips to Indiana to spend time with his one and only granddaughter, Charisma, and to California to kick back with his grandsons Jacob, Darrell and DaVonte. He treasured being among his children, but the GRANDS held a particularly special place in his heart and he made sure they knew it! Whenever possible, he was in the audience at their events cheering them on with eager support.

Naturally, Don missed the presence of his brother Gary who departed this life in 2012. Now… sentiments about his sisters, Carolyn and Joan… that's another story! Stemming from their close childhood, the fellas got a kick out of toying with and taunting their sisters. Over the years, the joy of teasing increased tremendously, especially toward the baby sister, Joan, who quickly learned to take it all in stride or dish it back! Don welcomed every opportunity to lovingly tease anyone anywhere at any time. Many of you witnessed him in action or were recipients of his unexpected, light-hearted sense of humor. Sharing laughter was his preferred medicine and he treasured freedoms to be expressive in this manner with all he knew and loved.

Making fond memories enhances one’s reflections later in life. Don often reminisced about “fun” times growing up: stripping tobacco with cousins, chopping wood for the home cook stove; mowing the lawn on hot summer days; fishing & crabbing, working at “the Sale” (the Charlotte Hall Farmers Market), and Frank Abell’s Restaurant. Mama’s home cooking, stories about his pet chicken becoming Sunday dinner and hog-killing season were favorite highlights. He spoke of a pivotal lesson learned about sharing that he never forgot. After reaching home, walking from a hard day’s work and enjoying a cold bottle of grape soda, he was forced to share that soda with his pesky sisters. Thereafter, he learned to simply finish his soda before arriving home! In this, God was preparing him for a life dedicated to serving others. Don lived fully, unapologetically creating meaningful connections that developed into lifelong friendships with extended family and friends, literally from everywhere.

To sum it all up, Don’s life hidden in Christ is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Don leaves to cherish his legacy and memory wife Catherine B. Curtis; children Juanita Kelsaw of Indianapolis, Indiana; Dereck Curtis (Adriana) of Trabuco Canyon, California; Chandra Curtis of New Haven, Connecticut; Reema Wheeler of Baltimore, Maryland; grandchildren Jacob Smith, Darrell Curtis, Charisma Kelsaw, DaVonte Curtis; sisters Carolyn Curtis and Joan Waters; sister-in-law Ruth Curtis (Gary, deceased) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, Christ’s Church family and friends.

Rest assured that our Heavenly Father welcomed Don saying,
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
(Matthew 25:21, NKJV)

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