John Henry Forehand, III

" Father, I want those You have given to Me to be with Me and to see the glory that You gave Me..." - John 17:24

After more than two years of health issues stemming from head injuries sustained from a fall, John Henry Forehand, III (80) passed peacefully into Heaven's eternity on Monday noon, August 26, 2024 in Bowie, Maryland. Karen, his wife of forty-six and a half years, was at his side. 

From humble roots in Corpus Christi, Texas, to the heights of service in Washington, DC and the halls of the United States Congress, John affirmed his mother's words: " Anybody can be a nobody, but you can be a somebody." John proved himself to the naysayers. He began with service in the US Air Force at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, Texas where as a jet engineer mechanic he shook the hands of a grateful President John F. Kennedy on that fateful November day. John graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M at Corpus Christi earning two undergraduate degrees in political science and management. 

John's early career in Texas spanned roles as executive director of a community development corporation, as a legislative aide in the Texas Legislature, as a consultant to the Governor of Texas specializing in the development of public/private partnerships. 

He rose to the national level as senior professional staff member  of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. His legislative work covered issues in agriculture, energy, water, mining, forestry, public lands, environment, economic development, congressional investigations, Native Americans, NAFTA free trade, and the Outer Continental Shelf.

With his grasp of federal programs/funding and his working relationships across the political aisle, John's work canvassed efforts towards the funding and constructions of senior/handicapped multifamily housing in Corpus Christi, the funding and construction of The Indian Health Services Hospital for Montana's Crow Nation, funding procurement of vehicles, communication and security devices for the new City of Bowie Police Department, and the development and building of the innovative US Navy relocatable jail/prison cells to solve emergency needs. His work took him to the Pacific Basin to create more multifamily assisted housing for the City and County of Honolulu and establishing offices for the United States Department of Agriculture in Majuro, the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The greatest fulfillment in John's life, however, was receiving the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. A colleague prayed "a strong heart" for John upon his first heart attack. On a summer day in 1986 as he walked to his neighborhood office on Capitol Hill, John had his moment of personal revelation with the Savior. With his new birth John followed the path to serve for several years as President of the Full Gospel Businessmen's fellowship, Capitol Hill Chapter. John opened doors on Capitol Hill inviting congressional members and staffers to meetings and events that shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ and testimonies of many. He served the Lord in various ways, in many places, with people from all walks of life. 

John was a member of Cornerstone Church in Bowie, Maryland for over 30 years. He was also a beloved friend of the Mid-Atlantic Community Church in Davidsonville, Maryland and was an engaging participant in its King's Men Ministry. 

John's immediate family includes his wife Karen, son Joshua of Bowie, Maryland; daughter Yuri (Douglas) Sapia and their children Hannah and Samantha of Clayton, North Carolina; Frances Forehand of San Antonio, Texas and her four daughters and seven grandchildren; and son John D. Forehand of Austin, Texas and his three children. 

John's sisters include Myrna McKinney (deceased) of Rockport, Texas and Mary Havelka of New Braunfels, Texas. Brother Bobby Forehand of Corpus Christi, Texas who had tragically passed in early childhood. John's father, John Henry Forehand, Jr. worked for the Railway Express Agency in Corpus Christi, Texas while his mother, Frances Forehand, a full-blooded Cherokee, worked in sales at local dress shops. 

The family sincerely invites and gladly welcomes your comments and sharing your remembrance of John Forehand, III with us. 

"God will fulfill His purpose for you. His steadfast love endures forever. God never abandons the work of His hands." Psalm 138:8.