Britt A. Starghill, 46, Camden church pastor and leader in redevelopment

IS CAMDEN a hopeless case?

Britt Starghill didn't think so.

As pastor of Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, Britt wasn't only concerned with the souls of his parishioners, but also with the soul of the impoverished city around him.

He was founder of the Nehemiah Project, a community development corporation devoted to fighting the blight afflicting the Gateway section of the city.

He adopted the Whittier School, with the aim of seeing to it that its students got the best education to ensure their success in the world beyond the classroom.

He helped to send Camden High School's basketball team to Puerto Rico twice.

But basically, the Rev. Britt Armando Starghill was an old-fashioned preacher who thrilled his parishioners with his spirited delivery of the Christian message, accompanied by the music of the pipe organ and Hammond organ he purchased, and, of course, the sweet-sounding choirs.

He died June 2 of a heart attack at the age of 46.

"Dr. Starghill passionately believed that education was the great liberator for children living in impoverished communities," Camden Mayor Dana Redd said in a statement.

"To this end, he ensured that children of our community and region had an opportunity to attend colleges across the state of New Jersey, as well as our nation."

She said Britt "encouraged his members and the surrounding community to give back and take an active part in the city's revitalization efforts."

Britt Starghill came to the historic Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, founded in 1856, in 1997 from his native Detroit, where he was co-pastor of the Samaritan Baptist Church with his father, the Rev. Robert Starghill Sr.

When he arrived, he took a look around and realized that the church and the community around it needed some serious work. He took on the job.

That's what the Nehemiah Project was for.

New Jersey Assemblyman Gilbert Wilson said in a statement, "Though Pastor Starghill had an interest in all his families, he took special interest in black and Latino males. His focus was on community development, especially through the Nehemiah Project."

"The Nehemiah Project is a vision that comes from believing that Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church is a template church for equipping and liberating ministries of and for the people throughout the world," the church said in a statement.

Before his death, the church said, Starghill was "leading the church's strategic plan, a three-to-five-year program to ensure the church would remain relevant, and discipleship continue to grow as the demographics of the community change over the next five to 10 years."

"We recognize that this is a tremendous loss for our church family, the city of Camden, and beyond," his family said in a statement.

"However, to us Britt was a devoted husband who adored his children. He was revered by his parents, who are still living in Detroit, and he will be sorely missed by his sisters, brothers, and a host of other relatives, beloved colleagues in ministry, and very dear friends."

Britt grew up in Detroit and earned his bachelor's degrees in economics and religion from Virginia Union University in Richmond, a master of divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and a doctorate in ministry from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, N.Y.

His wife, the former Catherine Lynn Fruge', is an attorney and executive director of the Workforce Operations & Business Services at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. They married in 1999.

Besides his wife and parents, the Rev. Robert Starghill Sr. and Betty Starghill, he is survived by a son, Britt; a daughter, Brie; a brother, Robert Starghill Jr.; and six sisters, Chantay Blankenship, Janet Smith, Renee Starghill, Karen Boozer, Dinah Barnett and April Starghill.

Services: Were June 13.

Donations may be made to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, c/o Thomas McDade Clay, director of institutional advancement, 1100 S. Goodman St., Rochester, N.Y., 14620.