Wiley Champion

(Nov 23, 1946 - Dec 28, 2021)

Pastor Champion was a badass.

A preacher, a pastor, an outsider gospel singer who was raised in the Jim Crow South. He fled to California and joined a gang before becoming born again, spending the rest of his days traveling with his electric guitar to congregations and people’s homes from San Jose to Shreveport.

Brother of Bettye Swann, husband of She'ren Champion, father of Heliena Champion.