BISHOP Carlton Pearson was well-known for his religious beliefs.
Following his tragic death at the age of 70, people want to know more about the Oklahoma megachurch founder and his ex-wife.
Who is Carlton Pearson's ex-wife, Gina Marie Gauthier?
Gina Marie Gauthier was born in 1961 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and married Carlton Pearson in 1993.
The 61-year-old has built a career as a life coach.
Gina's Instagram bio on her page, @phit4livinglife, states: "Transformational Consultant and Spiritual Life Coach encouraging others to live a P.H.I.T. (Physiologically Healed, Internally Transformed lifestyle."
According to famous-christians.com, she studied psychology and business administration at Louisiana State University and previously worked as the constituent services director for Rep. William Jefferson.
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Gina reportedly filed for divorce from Carlton in 2015, but it is unclear when the divorce was finalized.
Do Carlton and Gina have children?
Gina and the late Carlton have two kids together, including daughter Majestè Amour Pearson and son Julian D'Metrius Pearson.
The former couple welcomed Julian, now 29, on July 9, 1994, while 27-year-old Majestè was born in 1996.
While little public information is available on the pair's eldest child, Carlton took to Facebook to share a 2016 birthday tribute for his son in which he described their "close" relationship.
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He wrote: "Today is my son Julian's 22nd birthday. It's hard to believe our cute little boy has grown to be the charming and handsome young man he is so seemingly quickly. He'll always be my hero and champion son.
"We are close as father and son as well as deeply connected friends. I love him dearly and believe in him absolutely! Happy earth and birthday Julian D'metrius Pearson!"
Majestè is building a career in the entertainment industry.
The singer released the Christian song, Trust In Me, in 2023.
According to her YouTube channel @majesteamourpearson8516 — where she has over 1,500 subscribers — Majestè is an "artist, activist, and healer" who "gives thanks to her spiritual & musical mentors, for assisting her on the path to fulfilling her destiny."
It also states that she "is working on her debut album" and "made her National Television debut" in 2018 on season 2 of The Four on Fox.
She frequently shares music-related content with her 38,300 followers on her Instagram page, @majestepearson.
According to famous-christians.com, Carlton and Gina raised their kids in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Who was Carlton Pearson?
Carlton was born in 1953 in San Diego, California.
He was a well-known bishop who, "early in his ministry," was "considered a rising star on the Pentecostal preaching circuit," per the Associated Press.
He was often featured on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which brought him to an international audience, according to the outlet.
After beginning a ministry in 1977, Carlton founded Higher Dimensions Family Church — which was later renamed to New Dimensions Church — in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1981, and it gained about 6,000 members.
However, according to the outlet, he faced controversy when he started teaching what he referred to as "the gospel of inclusion," a form of universalism, which does not recognize hell.
His church's membership decreased to a few hundred people by 2008.
In 2007, Carlton "helped lead hundreds of clergy members" from across the US in advocating for Congress to pass "landmark hate crime and job discrimination measures for gay people."
The Associated Press states that he "was shunned by other evangelical leaders, branded a heretic and later became a United Church of Christ minister."
Higher Dimensions' building was later foreclosed, and Carlton preached his last sermon there in September 2008 "as the church was absorbed into All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa."
His story was then told in an episode of public radio’s This American Life, which inspired the 2018 Netflix film, Come Sunday.
According to famous-christians.com, Carlton was also "an accomplished singer" who had record deals with Atlantic Records, Tommy Boy Records, and Warner Bros.
Carlton died on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer.
A Facebook post shared on his account said, in part: "We are saddened to inform you that Bishop Carlton D’Metrius Pearson, one of the most popular and influential preachers in America and around the world, who sacrificed everything for a message of unconditional love and acceptance by God, died peacefully the night of November 19, 2023, at the age of 70, after a brief battle with cancer that had returned after first defeating it 20 years ago.
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"He was surrounded by his family."
As The Associated Press reported, Carlton's agent, Will Bogle, said the bishop died while in hospice care in Tulsa.
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