The day condemned killer Frances Newton took her last breath, prison chaplain Richard Lopez was also in the death chamber, standing at her feet quietly commending her spirit to God.

He was a silent presence for the family and friends of Karla Faye Tucker as they witnessed her execution and when Gary Graham was put to death, he stood with teary-eyed supporters the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and political activist Bianca Jagger.

When Lonnie Johnson, the 100th killer sent to Texas' death house by a Harris County jury, was executed Tuesday, a prison chaplain was there for him, too.

Lopez is among the two prison chaplains who serve as pastoral guides for those who are scheduled for execution. They visit inmates, say prayers, read Scriptures and assure the inmate of a loving, forgiving spiritual being.

Sometimes they are there to listen. Other times it is the chaplain who is a calming presence when the inmate has vowed to physically fight his fate.

"We try to represent the presence of God," said Lopez, 63, an ordained deacon in the Catholic church and director of chaplain support for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "We want to offer some presence of who we think God is. Just to let them know they are not there alone."

On execution day, Lopez or another TDCJ chaplain who works with inmates scheduled for execution, meets with the condemned for several hours. They may help the person make approved phone calls, sit with them during their last meal or offer comfort to their families.

Lopez sometimes reads Roman 10:9, which refers to salvation. Other times, he may read from John 14, a comfort Scripture. His prison parishioners are Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Of the more than 160,000 offenders under the supervision of TDCJ, at least 35,000 said they are Christian with connections to many different denominations, including Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian. Offenders also identified themselves as Hare Krishna, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist.

In his final comments, Johnson alluded to a spiritual belief: "I'll see you in eternity. Father take me home."

Chaplains are important to the execution day process, said Michelle Lyons, a TDCJ spokeswoman. TDCJ chaplains spend most of the afternoon with the condemned.

"In a number of cases, the inmates have made peace with their situation and are looking to what's beyond," said Lyons. "The chaplains have made a big impact on the day of execution. In spending the last hours with the chaplain, we've seen the prisoner 'turn around.' For some of the inmates, that really is their only outside contact. Their family and friends have not kept up with them."

Lopez said their conversations with the prisoners are held in strict confidence.

In addition to the chaplains, inmates also receive guidance from volunteer spiritual advisers.

Volunteer spiritual adviser Glenna Balch makes the four-hour drive from Austin to the Polunsky Unit near Livingston to visit death row inmate Charles D. Flores about once a month.

She came because he requested someone of the Quaker faith. She brings him poetry, Quaker literature, and shares Bible passages. Between visits, she writes him. Her role is also part friend.

She is not deterred by a suggestion that a prisoner's interest in religion could be viewed as insincere.

"Even if it were, it would still be worth doing, that something good could come from an imperfect intent," said Balch. "It's not about converting. It's about helping him find his own way to God."

The inmate's mother, Lily Flores, appreciates the contact Balch gives her son. She says Balch helps him deal with being on death row.

"A lot of guys on death row don't ever get a visit from anybody, especially if they are from out of state," she said.

A few spiritual advisers who are well-known to TDCJ officials have been included on the execution witness list for the inmates. Some of these spiritual advisers attend the burial services of the death row inmates. An inmate can select an adviser.

Lopez, who was self-employed for 27 years before going into prison ministry and becoming an employee for the state, won't say how many executions he's witnessed. Nor will he divulge his stance on the death penalty.

After each execution, he spends time in quiet meditation praying for help to move on.

"I say many prayers for everyone involved," he said. "I pray to the Lord to give all of us strength in what we have been asked to do. There's just pain and sorrow on all sides."

salatheia.bryant@chron.com