SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Former Bishop Talbert Swan I passed away at Baystate Medical Center on Saturday, according to his nephew Bishop Talbert Swan II.

Swan was a resident of Springfield since 1946 and was the founding pastor of the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ from 1980 to 2010. He was a longtime community activist and served as the President of the Greater Springfield NAACP.

He was very active in the Springfield community. He was a founding member of the Springfield Action Commission and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Baystate Health. He was declared Bishop in 2017.

His brother, former State Representative Ben Swan Senior, reflects on this brother’s legacy, “He’s a good guy, calm. They know him as this person whose been helpful to other people. He was a peacemaker.”

Memorial services will be held on Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the Macedonia Church of God in Christ on Tinkham Road.

Congressman Richard Neal released the following statement on the passing of Bishop Swan:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Talbert Swan at the age of 95. A prominent community and civil rights activist, Bishop Swan had a profound impact throughout the Greater Springfield Community. As founding pastor of the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ, President of the NAACP, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Baystate Medical Center, and a founding member of the Springfield Action Commission, Bishop Swan taught by example, inspiring thousands to live a life of service.

“As we continue our celebration of Black History Month and the immeasurable contributions of Black Americans, let us remind ourselves of all that Bishop Swan has done on behalf of the City of Springfield. My thoughts are with the entire Swan family during this difficult time.”