John E. Jeffrey Sr., 87, Organized Free Will Baptist Churches

Born December 18, 1915 in Logan, West Virginia, he moved to Lorain County 50 years ago.

He served in the US Army Air Corp. during World War II as an air craft mechanic and crew chief state side and over seas.

While working in the coalmines, John began to serve the Lord by becoming licensed to preach the Gospel in 1948 at the Day Star Free Baptist Church in Mingo County, West Virginia. One year later, he was ordained to preach the Gospel at the Greenville Free Will Baptist Church in Logan County, West Virginia. After moving to the Lorain County area, he worked for a short time at General Motors in Elyria and American Brake Shoe Company, Elyria. During that time, he was able to help organize the first Free Will Baptist Church in Vincent, Ohio. From there he was instrumental in the re-organization of many Free Will Baptist churches in northern Ohio until they were able to establish the Cuyahoga-Lorain County Conference of Free Will Baptists in 1955. He was pastored at the Vincent Free Will Baptist Church, Vincent, Ohio (Sheffield Township), Wellington Free Will Baptist Church, Wellington, Ohio, and Rockport Free Will Baptist Church in the state of Washington, 1st Free Will Baptist Church of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Buffalo Free Will Baptist Church, Buffalo, Ohio, and finally retiring from the ministry in 1998 from the United Free Will Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio.

He was a member of the United Mine Workers Union, and served on many Free Will Baptist State and regional boards.

Surviving are his daughters, Charlotte Ann Jeffries, of Percell, OK, Phyliss Jean Jeffries, of Cumberland, Ohio, Norma Lucinda Kelly, of Lakeland, Florida, and Alice Lucille Adams, of Norwalk, his son, Duane W. Jeffrey, of Lorain, 20 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Flora Mable "Grannie" (nee Bartley), in 1997, son John E. Jeffrey Jr., in 1994, his parents, Scott Jeffrey and Lucinda (nee queen) Jeffrey, brothers, Garland, Ray, Arnold, and Lewis, sisters, Martha Williams, Myrtle Runyon, and Norma Roberts, a grandson, Brian S. Adams, and a granddaughter Melissa D. Adams.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Ave., Lorain. The family will also receive friends on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m. in Midway Baptist Church, 41812 Griwald Road, Elyria. Rev. Robert Prichard, pastor of West 11th Free Will Baptist Church, Cleveland, and Rev. Paul Peterson, pastor of Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church, Elyria, will officiate. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon.

The Disabled American Veterans, Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20 will conduct full military honors.