Bishop David Linwood Purnell Jr., evangelist

Bishop David Linwood Purnell Jr. was born Aug. 13, 1951, to the late Reverend David L. Purnell Sr. and Evangelist Mary Cannon-Purnell. He transitioned from this earthly life to eternal rest  May 3, 2020, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

Bishop Purnell was raised on the farm of T.S. Smith with his parents and his siblings. He was educated at the Phyllis Wheatley School in Bridgeville. Bishop Purnell was employed at Speakman Company in Wilmington and the Clam Factory in Bridgeville. Being raised on a farm, he was a true outdoorsman. He enjoyed crabbing, fishing and hunting with his brothers and grandsons. In his later years, he developed a liking for sports driven by his grandchildren’s participation and excelling in it. He enjoyed watching the Shorebirds with his grandchildren. Bishop Purnell was the epitome of a family man, taking every chance he could to vacation with his children and grandchildren.  At family gatherings you could find him falling prey to the shenanigans of his grandkids, frequently bursting out in song and making up some classics like “I’m fat and I’m proud,” a remake of James Brown’s “Black and Proud.” One of his most cherished duets was with his daughter Eunice titled “Don’t Let Your Faith Fail” from her album “Wait On Me.” His favorite songs were “Heal the Land,” In the Garden,” We’re Gonna Make It” and “Something About the Name Jesus.” During his downtime you’d most likely catch him sitting in a recliner or rocking chair of some sort watching westerns or having a conversation about the Word of God quoting Proverbs 4:13, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 119:115 and Psalm 34:19.

Bishop Purnell accepted Christ at the tender age of 8 years old, influenced by the missionary work of the late Sister DeGrilla-Coffer and Sister Daisey Matthews of New Jersey. Bishop Purnell continued his mentorship with Sister Coffer for two years. In his youth, he joined The First Church of Deliverance under the leadership of the late Pastor Hilton Palmer. At the age of 13 he began mission work and ran revivals with fellow ministers, traveling to Ohio, Michigan and various states across the country preaching the Gospel. Bishop Purnell joined Refuge Temple Revival Center, founded and pastored by the late Apostle Leon Williams. He was very versatile in the ministry, joining the music ministry, playing the tambourine and the drums. His diligence and faithfulness led him to be ordained a minister by Apostle Williams and he began traveling, doing regional and international ministry. He traveled to Jamaica and the entire East Coast from New England to Florida. Bishop Purnell also assisted Apostle Williams during tent revivals as the leading minister of the Faith Clinic.

Bishop met the love of his life, Evangelist Ella Purnell, and  they united in marriage My 22, 1971 for 49 years of wedded bliss. This union birthed and nurtured eight children. This union also began the turning point and acceleration of Bishop David Purnell’s ministry as we know it today. Bishop Purnell joined Refuge Temple Deliverance Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Lester and Pastor Virginia George. He served under Bishop George, as head of the music department, youth leader and associate pastor. Not only was Bishop Purnell the head of the music department, he also was a musical trailblazer for his family being the first Purnell to play the organ and the drums without formal training.  Numerous nephews, cousins, grandchildren, his doting son and other family members have followed suit over the years. God would ultimately lead him to start Victory Temple Ministries in 1981. It wasn’t until 1988 that he established Victory Temple Church Incorporated on Main Street in Bridgeville, which grew like wildfire by the divine order of Almighty God and Bishop’s submission to the will of God and led him to Victory Temple’s current location in Coverdale Crossroads in Bridgeville. As pastor and bishop he continued travel to St. Lucia, the entire East Coast and surrounding areas like, West Virginia and Ohio. Bishop didn’t limit his ministry to the church walls. He hosted gospel radio station WKDI 840am with Pastor Delice in Denton Md., and he was on the local television gospel station on channel 28 owned by Twin B. Brown in Wilmington.

Bishop Purnell wouldn’t allow the ministry to stop in the church building or on radio; he made sure that Victory Temple exemplified true servitude. Outreach was his core. Victory Temple Church served via Prison Ministry, Food Pantry, School Scholarship Fund, Praise in the Park gatherings, Marriage Ministry, Singles Outreach, Music Ministry, and Youth Ministry. The young people were important to him. They were so special to him that he’d give away his money to any child at any given time.  He believed in them having something to do to stay away from the pitfalls of the world. Bishop Purnell and Victory Temple Church hosted the very first Christian Prom in Sussex County, DE and hosted and participated in youth basketball tournaments and step team competitions in Delaware and West Virginia with Delaware holding the title every time. He was a pillar of the community and an advisor of the First State Community Board. He fathered many bishops and pastors along the Eastern Shore.

He was preceded in death by his father, the Rev. David L Purnell Sr.; mother Evang. Mary Cannon-Purnell; aunt Martha Massey; sister Dorisand Purnell; brother Jeffery Purnell; mother-in-love Pastor Virginia George; son Lawrence Dennis. and spiritual father Apostle Leon Williams.

Bishop Purnell leaves to cherish his wife of 49 years Evangelist Ella Purnell of Bridgeville; three sons Quinton Sykes of Bridgeville, Robert Spencer of Wilmington and Tyrence Purnell Sr. (Latoria) of Smyrna; four daughters, Dawn Sykes of Wilmington, Joan Hicks of Laurel, Eunice Purnell-King (Vaughn) of Harrington and Danielle Purnell of Seaford; three brothers, Thomas Purnell (April) of New Castle, Paul Purnell (Christine) of Townsend and Michael Purnell (Patricia) of Bear; five sisters, Gladys Quail, Pauline Wright, Betty Harmon all of Seaford, Matilda Ross of Laurel and Thelma Jones (Bishop Michael Jones) of Millsboro; four uncles, Howard Smack and Hollis Smack (Tanya), both of Bridgeville, Michael and Gregory; two goddaughters, Lynette Williams of Seaford and Tana Warren of Millsboro; 39 grandchildren, raising one as his own, Terron Sykes of Wilmington; 51 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, and special friends Billy Henry, Bill Jackson, Bruce of Diamond Auto, Whitney of Whitney Auto, Ms. Evon, Ms. Cathy of Seaford Pizza King and church and extended families Robert and Edith Clay and family, Bishop Ethel Williams and family, Elder Anthony Johnson and family and Bishop Carlos Cannon and family.