Thurman Lee Tyus was born March 13, 1950, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Harry & Bessie Tyus, who were musically talented.  He was the fourth of eight children, Mildred, Samuel, John, Daphne, Andre, Lynx, Raquel, after leaving Indiana the family moved to Cleveland where they settled down.

In 1971 he was married to Vertine Folds (Tyus); to this union, three children were born Thurman II, Harry & Juanita. Thurman was a hardworking, loving, caring, and praying father, that had a unique parenting style.

He was known to many as “Termite” or “Weedhopper” because of his stature, athletic appearance, and mustache. He was multi-talented, a phenomenal guitar player, testimony leader, choir director, singer, and songwriter. He played semi pro football and was drafted by the Cincinnati Beagles, but he declined and decided to go fulltime in ministry. Thurman worked at OSU as an orderly, Under the title conscientious objector in the Armed Forces and he also earned a Medicine and General Animal Science Degree.

He started his career at John Hay High School as a Security Guard. Then he was transferred to South High School to continue as a Security Guard and Girl’s Track Coach. For several years, Thurman opened and ran his own business/entrepreneur in Cleveland called “Weedhopper” Tire Company. He worked as a salesman at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

He has played various roles while he was here with us to all ages and walks of life. Thurman was an ordained & licensed Pastor, Mentor, Counselor, Father Figure, Teacher, Friend, Confidant, and an overall role model for church associates and many other people all over Ohio.    He was a fantastic girl track coach that took his team to the Ohio State Track & Field Championship from 1987-1991. The South High School Girl’s Track Team won multiple Cleveland School District championships from 1988-91 indoor & outdoor track & field and cross country.

His hobbies include hunting, fishing and he trained horses for competition, and dogs for hunting sport.  He enjoyed home cooked food, especially his mom’s and soul food of all kinds.  He had great charisma and was a people person with ties to the hunting, fishing, Amish, and education community.

One of His favorite songs was “WHAT A FELLOWSHIP”, he “LOVED” to play the guitar spending countless hours perfecting this wonderful gift God gave him.  He said, to be great at what you do you have practice and put your best foot forward.

He was raised in the church since birth, and in his own words, he said “I was a single saved brother praying in fear of God night and day, choosing to walk with alone, having to leave others behind, to please him that called me to be a soldier.” As brother who loved to play in the park with his baby sisters & brothers, he transitioned in his lifetime from minister, to Elder to Bishop became prevalent as you can see God taking him higher and higher.  His work as minister started with his uncle Bishop John Lee at the Lord Jesus Christ (Newborn/Lighthouse) for many years. Then the Lord led him to The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ under the pastoral direction of Bishop S. R. Tyus until he was called out to do his work in the late 1980s with Outreach Ministries. After much toiling, traveling, and laboring, the Lord led him even higher, and in 1990, he established The Evangelistic Temple #1 Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. Thurman set up many alters and settled at 10303 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44105.

He was a sanctified & fiery leader, A man with a standard that had great faith and soundness.  He preached the unadulterated Word of God, not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power.  There is so much more we could say about Thurman and his commitment to God, to show love, kindness and help people.

He has remained faithful in the work of Lord, Saying, “We will go over this Jordan, we will fight the good fight of faith. This is not our home; we are looking for a city and foundation whose builder is God.  He will be greatly missed; words can’t express how much, and the good thing is, his labor was not in vain because he left behind a church family that plan to continue in what he started.  We can’t measure what he has done for us down through the years, but we are thankful & grateful to God for having good Pastor that really cared about our souls.

He was preceded in death by both his parents Harry & Bessie and his siblings, Mildred, Samuel, John. He leaves to mourn his three children, Thurman, Harry (Misty) and Juanita; four grandchildren, Brandon, D’Angelo, Aaliyah, and Jaden Tyus; four siblings, Daphne A., Andre, Lynx and Raquel; one Uncle, Squire Tyus; one Aunt Mary Ruth Spearman. He also leaves to mourn many nieces, nephews, cousins, church members, and friends worldwide. He was the BELOVED PASTOR & BISHOP OF THE TEMPLE #1 CHURCH.