Choose Healthy Life Mourns the Passing of Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts III

Choose Healthy Life, its founder Debra Fraser-Howze, co-chair Rev. Al Sharpton and members of the National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council mourn the loss of Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III who transitioned to the Lord earlier today.

Rev. Butts served as a founding co-chair with Rev. Sharpton of Choose Healthy Life’s National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council. Rev. Butts was in the ministry for 50 years and served with honor and distinction as Pastor at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY.

“He was my pastor and friend for more than 40 years and he had a profound impact on all those he touched,” said Debra Fraser-Howze. “Rev. Butts raised money for the Black church to address teenage pregnancy and worked with me and the ministers to change the face of AIDS –just by the magic of getting tested from the pulpit and encouraging others to do so.  Most recently, he did the same for COVID by getting tested publicly. He moved mountains with a single touch and with grace and dignity and the community is safer because he lived.  Rev. Buttswas so firmly rooted in God and his faith was unwavering.  We pray for his wife Patricia and his entire family.”

"Rev. Butts was a major pillar in the Harlem community and is irreplaceable,” said Rev. Sharpton. “Over the last three years, he and I worked closely as co-chairs of the Choose Healthy Life national campaign to help the Black community fight COVID. We spoke as late as a couple of weeks ago about this work. He will be tremendously missed."

Rev. Butts was a very strong advocate for the health of the community, having been appointed to the United States Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), as well as serving as chairman of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) for which he was a founding member of the organization’s Board of Trustees.

In November 2020, Choose Healthy Life established the National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council to help guide the non-profit organization. His leadership contributed to a highly successful effort to administer nearly COVID-19 tests and vaccines through 120 Black churches across 13 states. Rev. Butts was committed to enhancing the kingdom of God on earth as evidenced by his loyal commitment to the church and community development initiatives including homelessness, senior citizens and youth empowerment, cultural awareness, and ecumenical outreach. Choose Healthy Life offers its sincere condolences to the family, congregation, and to all those who knew Rev. Butts.