John Pruitt

John Henry Pruitt made his entrance to Fort Worth, Texas, on August 17, 1927. He was born to Fred Pruitt and Louise Wilson. When folks asked him where he was from, John Henry puffed his chest out and said, “Cowtown”. "If you didn’t know, that was Fort Worth," he would tell you how sorry he was and pray for you.

Sadly, he never met his father. He was reared by Louise and she died with cancer while he was incarcerated. He did not know of other living blood-relatives. John Henry was a member of Kings Crossing Church of Christ, and it was his “family.” He was active in church, serving on the Golden Agers Planning Committee and attending the Golden Agers Camp at Bandina Christian Youth Camp. John Henry made his grand entrance to Heaven on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. He passed from this life early that morning at Wooldridge Place Nursing Center. On August 17, he would have turned 96 years old.

After serving 37½ years in prison, John Henry wanted to go back into prisons to help others. While incarcerated, he earned his GED in 1965 and his associate in arts degree in 1985 from Lee College. He worked at Corpus Christi City Hall for five years and then was employed to work 20 years in the prison ministry for Kings Crossing. He walked and talked the 12 Steps, taught NewLife Behavior’s “Christians Against Substance Abuse” course in jails and prisons. John Henry authored a brochure entitled “What Keeps Me Free” that has helped tens of thousands ex-offenders and addicts throughout the USA and beyond. He also served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for NewLife Behavior Ministries.

John Henry is survived by his dear friend, Blanche Caldwell, fellow members at Kings Crossing Church of Christ, and many others in the community.

In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made in his memory to Kings Crossing Prison Ministries or NewLife Behavior Ministries, P. O. Box 270720, Corpus Christi, Texas 78427.

Thank you, John Henry Pruitt, for being a living reminder that we can change and “God Don’t Make Junk.”

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 25 at 2pm at Sawyer-George Funeral Home.