Famous Jehovah’s Witnesses – Both Active and Inactive

Politics
Dwight D. Eisenhower – 34th president of the United States was raised as Jehovah’s Witness, but left the religion as an adult. He was born in 1890 and died in 1969. “I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Religious Leaders

Charles Taze Russell (also known as Pastor Russell) – Jehovah’s Witness and founder of Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. He was born in 1852 and died in 1916. “To me it seems as plain as can be that the Bible declares that all the wicked will God destroy; again, that those who, during the Millennial age when brought to a knowledge of the truth, shall prove willful sinners will be punished with everlasting destruction.” ~ Charles T. Russell

Sports
Chet Lemon – played professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers from 1975 to 1990. He won the World Series with the Tigers in 1984, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Game 4 of the 2011 American League championship series. He was introduced to the religion as a teenager and remains an active Witness today.
Lou Whitaker – “Sweet Lou” played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers from 1977 to 1995. Like Chet Lemon, he too was with the team when they won the 1984 World Series. He threw out the first pitch for Game 5 of the 2011 American League championship series. He remains an active Witness.
Serena and Venus Williams – both are world champion professional tennis players. Each has been ranked no. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association, and while the sisters are competitive professionally, they maintain a close personal relationship. “I always like to win. But I’m the big sister. I want to make sure she has everything, even if I don’t have anything. It’s hard. I love her too much. That’s what counts.” ~ Venus Williams

Hollywood and other Actors, Actresses, and Musicians
Prince – singer, songwriter, musician and actor became a Jehovah’s Witness in 2001. He has been well known for his flamboyant lifestyle and explicit lyrics. Despite his stage persona, he suffered a great tragedy when his newborn son died just days after his birth. He then lost both his father and mother just six months apart, and it was reportedly his mother’s wish for him to become a Witness.
Valerie Campbell – Mother of British supermodel Naomi Campbell, she was raised Jehovah’s Witness and made a living dancing as a showgirl after having Naomi at a young age. She was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer around 2005 and underwent a mastectomy, where she found her faith to be a necessary support system.
Terrence Howard – a television and film actor as well as a singer, Terrence has yet to become an active Witness, but as host of the PBS documentary series called Independent Lens, he introduced the film Knocking, which was an inside look at the Jehovah’s Witness faith.
Jacob and Joshua Miller of Nemesis Rising – openly gay twin brothers and former reality television stars who were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses but were disfellowshipped due to their sexual orientation and participation in the reality TV show.
Larry Graham – bass player of Sly & The Family Stone and Graham Central Station who converted Prince to the Jehovah’s Witness faith, having followed the religion since 1975. He is still an active Witness today. “Pastoral theology and care helps people look deeper at the intersection between their inherited religious traditions and their current life situations.” ~ Larry Graham