Deacon Theotis Jefferson

By Faith, the Great Deacon Theotis Jefferson has gone home. 
He was born on June 9, 1931, to Graylon and Willie Mae Jefferson. He was the second child of eleven children, growing up on the family farm in the small town of Sanderson, Florida. He attended public schools in Baker and Columbia counties. His godly parents taught him the Holy Scriptures and insisted he attended church and Sunday School. 
In 1947, as a 16-year-old teenager, he gave his life to God. He was saved and baptized with the Holy Ghost and served diligently in the Church of God by Faith, under his first pastor, Elder D.H. Henry. As a young leader in the local church, he was appointed as youth director. 

Upon completion of high school, Deacon Jefferson moved to Daytona, Florida for a short time. He attended Church of God by Faith where Elder Elbert Wright served as pastor. Later, he moved to Gainesville, Florida, there he met Joseph Camps and introduced him to Church of God by Faith where Elder Horace A. McKnight, Sr, served as pastor. 
Deacon Jefferson met and married Katie Marie Hill, daughter of Elder and Mrs., Pershing Hill. A few years later, God blessed them with seven children, Bernard, Wayne, Yanetta, Alvin, Darryl, Clarence, and Garnett. After serving in the U.S. Army, he relocated to Jacksonville, Florida and began attending Jacksonville #1 where he was selected as a deacon in 1956. Later that year, he was selected from the Jacksonville District as chairperson, campaign manager and fundraiser for the Matthew-Scippio Academy. Deacon Jefferson was also a driver for our first Bishop, Aaron Matthews, Sr. as well as Daddy Bright. 

Deacon Jefferson also served as a National Sunday School Teacher and Usher. On the district level, he served 30-years as Chairman of the Jacksonville District Finance Board and 20-years as Sunday School Superintendent, Board of Christian Education member and Usher. At the local level, he served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Church clerk and Sunday School Teacher for 47-years. Deacon Jefferson was appointed to the National Finance Board in 1976. For approximately 45-years, he served God's people by assisting in fund acquisition for church repairs, purchases, loans, and church construction. It is believed that Deacon Jefferson is the longest serving member on the National Finance Board.

*NOTE: Mask wearing will be required for attendees in both services

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