Bishop Ralph L. Jefferson Of Bellport And Formerly Of Southampton Dies November 4

Bishop Ralph L. Jefferson of Bellport and formerly of Southampton died on November 4. He was 87.

Bishop Jefferson was born November 6, 1932 to William Lankford Jefferson and Lillie Mae Chatmon Jefferson. Married on December 16, 1953, he celebrated 67 years of marriage to Mrs. Ada Purnell Jefferson, and they were the proud parents of Jerry, Joseph, Theresa, Victoria, Ralphael, and Loretta.

Bishop Jefferson received his formal education at Southampton Public Schools and obtained his New York High School Equivalency Diploma. Continuing his educational pursuits, he became a Religious Major at the New York Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Religious Education degree at the American Bible College of New York. He later earned a Doctorate degree from the United Christian College, Brooklyn, New York, O.M.K Religious Bible School B.R.E T.H.B. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University in Southampton. He earned an Associate of Applied Science from Suffolk Community College and a Moody Correspondence Certificate in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

Service to his country was paid in full in 1954, enlisting in the United States Marines in the 0311 Infantry, stationed at Camp Leguene, North Carolina, Hawaii, Guam, Philippines Islands, and Atoll Islands. He fought in the Korean War, was wounded in action, and earned three Battle Stars and a Purple Heart, with an honorable discharge ranked corporal.

Bishop Jefferson was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost in 1957 under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Arnold King. He held various positions in the church since accepting Christ during his tenure at King’s Chapel Church of God in Christ in Southampton, including Sunday School teacher, minister and elder. He also served as the YPWW District Treasurer in the South Shore District of the Eastern New York Jurisdiction.

His call to ministry was accepted in February 1959, and he was ordained an elder in the Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop O.M. Kelly. In July 1964, he founded Jefferson Chapel Church of God in Christ in Port Jefferson with his wife and five small children. With a fast-growing congregation, and after several moves to meet the demands of expansion, Pastor Jefferson and congregation moved to Bellport. There they built and completed Jefferson Temple Church of God in Christ in 1975. This church sets on 2 acres of land and stands as a beacon light to the community.

An outstanding record of service on the district and jurisdictional levels under the leadership of Bishop O.M. Kelly, Bishop F.D. Washington, Bishop Ithiel Clemmons and Bishop James Gaylord include: Area President of the Leadership Conference New York, Assistant Dean at the O.M.K. Religious Training Institute, District Superintendent, Executive Board Administrative Assistant and Special Assistant.

Bishop Jefferson was consecrated and installed to the sacred office of Bishop in the Church of God in Christ in the Western Canada Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction on May 20, 2005.

Bishop Jefferson has been celebrated in other ecumenical and civic arenas such as: “Man of the Year” by the Long Island Advance newspaper for Outstanding Service to the Community, Inaugural Guest to the late President Ronald Regan, dining with notable dinner guests: the Reverend Jesse Jackson, the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King, United States Ambassador Andrew Young and Bishop Desmond Tutu.

In his desire to mark and reflect his enormous life, he wrote and published “Miracles Do Happen” in 2016.

Bishop Jefferson was predeceased by his parents William L. Jefferson and Lillie Mae Chatmon Jefferson; his son Jerry Jefferson; his brothers Lawrence Edward Jefferson and William Lankford Jefferson; his sister-in-law Charlotte Jefferson; his brother-in-law Superintendent Arcell Vickers.

He is survived by his wife Mother Ada Purnell Jefferson; his children Deacon Joseph Jefferson (Susan) of Amityville, District Missionary Theresa Jefferson Partlow (Paul) of East Patchogue, Evangelist Victoria Jefferson of Bellport, Superintendent Ralphael Jefferson (Laurie) of Amityville, and Evangelist Loretta Jefferson of Bellport; 19 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters Mother Dorothy Shaw (Frank) of the Bronx and Supervisor Marion Vickers of Hempstead; a host of nephews, nieces and loved ones.