Obituary Record

Arthur Cornelius Winters, S.F.D., was the fifth son in a family of seven sons, born to James and Maud Robinson Winters. He was born on December 2, 1916, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His schooling, prior to entering the Society of the Devine Word community was varied. Father Winters attended Public School No. 2 in Pleasantville, New Jersey, from 1919 until 1928. He was enrolled in St. Peter's Catholic School for one year (1928-1929) and then went on to complete high school in 1933 at Holy Spirit.

Father Winters arrived in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, at St. Augustine's Seminary in September 1934 to begin his studies. He entered the Novitiate on June 20, 1937, at Holy Ghost in East Troy, Wisconsin. His First Vows were taken in Techny, Illinois, on June 21, 1939. His Perpetual Vows were professed at St. Augustine's, Bay St. Louis, on June 21, 1944, and his Ordination was celebrated by Bishop Gerow on January 6, 1945, also at St. Augustine's. The First Mass celebration on the following day, which happened to be the Feast of the Holy Family, had the character of a "real family feast." Father Winters' mother and one brother, who traveled from their home in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and another brother, who was a soldier, were in attendance. The uniqueness of this Mass was accentuated by the fact that Mrs. Winters was able to experience four of her sons at the altar. Father Winters' brother, Father Richard Winters, S.V.D. was ordained about four years before and assisted Father Arthur during his First Mass, while the other two sons were his Altar Servers. What a unique moment in the history of the Society of the Divine Word. This was significant because two young African-American brothers were now ordained to the priesthood. This touching Sea Coast Echone of family participation gave a renewed richness to the Feast of the Holy Family.

After Ordination, Father Winters enjoyed short-lived assignments as Assistant Pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lafayette, and subsequently to Notre Dame, St. Martinville. These assignments were brief, because before too long Fr. Winters was requested to return to the Bay. His versatile talents as a teacher, a poet, a musician, a sportsman and a genial community man demanded his presence at St. Augustine's Seminary. His talent for writing poetry has been recognized by the Catholic Poetry Society of America. He is cited for such in "Negro Catholic Writers" by Sister Mary Anthony Scall, R.C.M. He has numerous poems and stories in the St. Augustine Messenger. He was the author of "Children's Corner" in the St. Augustine Messenger and signed his works with the original signature of Father "Acorne" (Arthur Cornelius).

In October of 1948, Father Winters became the Editor of the St. Augustine Messenger and maintained this assignment until he became the Assistant Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lafayette in 1949. In 1952, he was named Assistant Pastor of Notre Dame, St. Martinville. He returned to St. Augustine's, Bay St. Louis, in 1954 to teach and serve as Director of Music in the minor and major seminar until his assignment back to Notre Dame, St. Martinville, in 1962, as Pastor. The parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lafayette, became his home as its Pastor from 1966 through 1970, and until 1978, he was assigned as Pastor to St. Joseph's, Meridian, Mississippi. Fr. Winters assumed the role of Pastor to St. Francis, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1978. In 1993, Father Winters returned once again to St. Augustine's in Bay St. Louis to begin his "retirement assignment." In his retirement, he served the community with music in their daily Liturgy of the Hours and the Celebration of the Eucharist. Father also held a position on the House Council at St. Augustine's for three years. He gave further service to the Catholic Community of St. Ann's Church in Clermont Harbor as their music director and organist. When the Pastor was unavailable he also celebrated the Masses at St. Ann's.

Father Winters celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary as an S.V.D. Missionary priest on January 6, 1970. His Golden Jubilee was celebrated on January 6, 1995. This momentous occasion was shared with, and attended by his brother, Fr. Richard Winters, who celebrated his fifty-fourth anniversary as an S.V.D. Missionary priest on the same day. Father Arthur also celebrated sixty years in Vows as a religious in 1999.

He had unique talents as a musician, writer and teacher at St. Augustine Seminary, and at the many parishes he ministered in over the years. Father wrote poetry and music throughout his lifetime.

Father's health started to deteriorate July 12 when he became ill and was found in his room at Saint Augustine's. He was treated in the hospital for nine days and transferred to a nearby care facility for ongoing care. Last Thursday, Father Arthur was re-admitted to Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi for a surgical procedure.

After the surgery, Father's health became worse and God called him to his eternal reward on Thursday, July 28, 2000. May God reward him for his life of goodness and love to the people of God.

Visitation will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Augustine Seminary Chapel in Bay St. Louis. A service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel with burial in the seminary cemetery. Hartwell's Christian Mortuary in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Sun Herald