DETROIT (WXYZ) — Rev. Nathaniel Slappey Sr. and his son Nathaniel Slappey Jr. lived a life of faith, family and fellowship throughout metro Detroit.
Slappey Sr. became ill at the end of March and was taken to Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield. His son, Slappey Jr., a week later came down with coronavirus symptoms and went to the same hospital.
Family: “They went home together.”
— Rudy Harper (@RudyHarperWXYZ) May 14, 2020
A prominent Detroit pastor and his son died due to #COVID19 complications, according to the family.
Rev. Slappey and Slappey Jr. we’re laid to rest together on Tuesday.
The Slappey legacy: @tv20detroit at 10@wxyzdetroit at 11 pic.twitter.com/WLoooDdaje
Slappley Sr. died due to COVID-19 complications on April 30th, according to the family. His son died two days later.
They father and son were buried on Tuesday during a private memorial service.
For 50 years, Slappey Sr. was the helm at New St. Luke Baptist Church.
He was a committed husband and stated an outreach program targeting at risk youth and provided food and clothing to the disadvantage.
Slappey Jr. was a girl's basketball coach at Country Day School.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See all of our Helping Each Other stories.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.