Monday marks one year since New Birth Missionary Baptist Church senior pastor Eddie L. Long died after battling an aggressive form of cancer.

He died at the age of 63.

Long became the Lithonia megachurch's senior pastor in 1987, when the congregation had only 300 members. The church had grown to more than 25,000 members by 2010.

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Juana Alzaga (standing) instructs members of the Buford Highway Orchestra Project at the Latin American Association in Brookhaven on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. The orchestra, which is comprised mostly of children of parents who lack legal status, will be featured in the documentary “La Orquesta” coming this month to PBS. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller