He was born in Madison, Ill., to Wilson and Rosa Mae King McCaskill. He received his early education there, graduating from Madison High School.
He earned a bachelor of science degree from Bishop College, in Dallas, Tex., and completed postgraduate studies at the Colgate Rochester Theological Seminary in Rochester, N.Y.
He also studied at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, and the former Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, once attended by Martin Luther King Jr.
McCaskill was ordained a Baptist minister as a young man and completed student field work at the Corinthian Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
He held pastorates at the New Hope Baptist Church in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the First African Baptist Church in Philadelphia before taking over Olivet Baptist, in North Philadelphia.
He was renowned for his powerful sermons.
"As a preacher, his exceptional writing ability and inspiring sermons were a hallmark of his oratory," his family said.
He was married to the former Carroll J. Crockett.
McCaskill was active in Democratic politics in the '80s and '90s, and was a strong supporter of Street.
In fact, he got in trouble for appearing at a campaign event for Street while employed by the city, a violation of the city Home Rule Charter. He was suspended for three weeks.
His family described him as a "true people person with a winning personality, who could find the silver lining in any dark cloud."
He was a man of "unwavering faith," his family said, and was a strong family man.
McCaskill was also involved in community activities. He served as a member of the board of the Strawberry Mansion Civic Association, the Albert Einstein Development Corp., Opportunities Industrialization Center and People United to Save Humanity (PUSH).
In addition to heading the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, he was a member of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention USA, and was a member of the Missionary Baptist Pastors Conference and African American Interdenominational Ministries.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Randall McCaskill Jr. and Desmond McCaskill; two sisters, Etta M. Regans and Helen W. Blount, and a brother, Charles J. McCaskill.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 W. Girard Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. A wake will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Olivet Baptist Church, 4950 N. 10th St. Burial will be in Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.
