Activist remembered as ‘consistent’ and ‘committed’ civil rights advocate
By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to The AFRO
A funeral service was held on March 1 at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) for the Rev. Graylan S. Hagler, the longtime Washington, D.C. pastor and advocate for justice. The church, located at 5301 North Capitol St, NE, is where Hagler was recognized as pastor emeritus.
Credit: AFRO photo
A seminal figure in D.C.’s religious and social justice movements, Hagler died on Feb. 17, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. News of the death sent shockwaves from the local community and those who were familiar with the reverend’s work nationwide.
Hagler would have turned 72 years old on March 1. On March 2, he was laid to rest at Rock Creek Cemetery.
Hagler, a longtime pastor at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, once sought political office as a D.C. Council candidate, was known as a powerful orator and a reliable presence at rallies for progressive causes.
Born March 1, 1954, Hagler spent 30 years as senior minister of Plymouth Congregational UCC before retiring in 2022. During his many years of service, he emerged as a larger-than-life pastor whose ministry blended spiritual leadership, social activism and deep community care, the church said in an announcement.
Hagler also co-chaired the D.C. Poor People’s Campaign and the Black Homeownership Strike Task Force – two causes that placed him in the forefront in the battle against systemic inequity in the District.
During Hagler’s homegoing service, his nephew, Jamal Hagler, shared a childhood memory that he said he has never forgotten.
“I went to school and told my teacher I was having a bad day. I had spent the previous day with my uncle at church and had kept hoping that he would stop preaching,” Jamal said.
“But he never stopped preaching. He used his voice to call attention to the needs of others. And even when his physical voice began to fail, his words remained powerful. Looking back now, I don’t think about how long he preached. I think about why he preached. And I am grateful that he never stopped.”
Dany Sigwalt, one of Hagler’s caregivers who spoke during the tribute service, said she believes she benefited more from their hours together than he did.
“I met Rev. Hagler in 2014 when I was hired to run his campaign for D.C. Council and I got to witness what a legend he was in real time,” she said. “Everywhere we went, someone knew him, someone hugged him, someone had a story. And he gave me the history, the context, and the real ‘T’ about who stood where and why.
“He taught us that justice is real, that it’s within reach, that it’s rooted in love, and that we’ve got to keep it going – keep the work going in pursuit of justice.”
Hamil Harris, a longtime member of the Black Press, recalled his first time meeting Hagler years ago.
“He was an activist minister in both his life and his words who challenged economic injustice in every city in which he lived – from Chicago, to Boston, to Washington, D.C.,” Harris said. “I will never forget how he stood by me when I was reporting on Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign during which Obama faced criticism for his support of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.”
“Rev. Hagler said Black reporters had a job to do and he made sure that I was granted access to interviews with everyone I needed to finish my stories,” Harris continued. “Hagler’s commitment went far beyond the walls of his church and he was always available. He had a passion for his church members and his community. Even as he began to visibly suffer from cancer, he continued to speak out and challenge the status quo – even when what he said was unpopular.”
D.C. community activist Phillip Pannell described Hagler as a “consistent voice for progressive causes.”
“Our paths crossed often because I am a member of Covenant Baptist UCC, which is a sister church to Rev. Hagler’s church, Plymouth Congregational UCC. I remember him as a prophetic voice who was very involved in the fight for justice, especially racial issues,” Pannell said. “I worked with him on D.C. statehood efforts and on LGBTQ issues as well.”
Pannell said “One thing for sure – there was nothing ambiguous about Rev. Hagler. You always knew where he stood.”
Hagler is survived by his daughter, Aziza Hagler Norouzi; brother, Dr. Nathaniel Hagler III (Royace); partner, Parisa Norouzi; and a host of other relatives, friends and parishioners.
