Rev. William Barnwell (or, as I always called him, Sweet William) passed away today. William was the pastor of an Episcopalian church adjacent to the St. Thomas housing projects in New Orleans. I can’t say enough good things about him. He will be deeply missed. 
William Barnwell was the pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in the Garden District of New Orleans. He was a gentle soul, but always challenged his wealthy parishioners to get involved with poor people right next door to the church in the St. Thomas housing projects.
I was working at Hope House and living in St. Thomas when I first started getting involved with the death penalty. William invited me to speak at his church. Some very influential parishioners got involved and made personal phone calls to the governor about upcoming executions.
William was the first person I called when I wanted to set up a support group for the families of murder victims in New Orleans. He went to his parish council, got us funding, and helped me start the group. We called the program SURVIVE.
William had been on ventilator for 11 days before he passed away. In a way, he died like Jesus. No one could visit or be around him. Not even his wife could get in to see him.
It always gave me hope to see that William could be the pastor of a wealthy church in the Garden District, get connected with poor people in St. Thomas, and get involved with a controversial topic like the death penalty. He was a gentle, intelligent, spiritual man.
