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Elder John Ashley Knight was born in Pitt County, North Carolina to the late Doc and the late Rhoda Moore Knight on December 5, 1916. Elder Knight departed this earthy life on Thursday, October 1, 2015 surrounded by his love ones. He attended the Pitt County Public Schools. At an early age, he joined Saints Delight Church of God In Christ (then located in Parmele, N.C.) under the leadership of the late Bishop Herbert Purkett. Later in life he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and did work diligently towards the up building of God’s Kingdom. He met and married the late Susie Bynum, August 1936. To this union four sons were born: Jimmie, Wilbur, Franklyn, and Preston. Because they had a strong love for the young, they became foster parents to many children. Their fondness and especially their love for children made it easy for children to want to pattern after them, especially one foster daughter, Louise “Baby Sis” Brown. She quickly became the loving daughter that they were never able to give birth naturally. Elder Knight exhibited some strong morals on life. He believed in being the sole “bread winner” of the family. He felt that there was no job too hard to do. With this belief, he did a little farm work, worked for other private businesses and even at one point commuted to Virginia to work at the Langfield Company and the Ship Yard. The strong will to provide for his family was not a responsibility but a necessity. In November 1959, Elder Knight decided to relocate to Washington, D.C. with his wife Susie. While in Washington, D.C., they became a member of the Refreshing Spring Church of God In Christ (then located in Deanwood) under the leadership of the late Bishop Archie D. Headen. He did not join just to have his name on the roll, but he joined to work. He was active on the Deacon Board and was the conductor of the Saturday evening prayer meeting. When Refreshing Spring moved to its third location on Maryland Avenue of D.C. he served on the Sick Committee, in charge of the Upper Room Prayer, Friday night shut ins, and was a part of many, many, many other auxiliaries that are too numerous to name. Elder Knight remained in the D.C. area for approximately ten years retiring from the public school system as a Landscaper. After retirement, he decided to return to his “old stomping grounds”, North Carolina, not to retire but to continue to work in the Lord. He renewed his membership at Saints Delight C.O.G.I.C. and there he was called into the ministry. His trial sermon message was “I Made a Vow to the Lord”. After the loss, of his wife Susie on August 12, 1976 and the passing of Bishop Herbert Purkett, his first pastor, he journeyed to Windsor, N.C. and began to assist Elder Taft Purkett in the up building of God’s Kingdom at the Refreshing Center C.O.G.I.C. He was currently the assistant Pastor of Refreshing Center C.O.G.I.C. under the leadership of Elder Kenny Campbell. He also was the main musician of the church. On the Jurisdictional level, he was appointed in 1993 to the Greater North Carolina Jurisdictional Prayer Warrior Team by the Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Leroy Jackson Woolard. His good deeds definitely spoke well of him, for many Saints called upon him when they were sick, in trouble, low in spirit, or just in need of prayer. He was known in the area as ‘THE PRAYING MAN OF GOD”. It didn’t matter what your situation was, his belief was, “ONLY PRAYER CHANGES THINGS”. In returning to North Carolina, his life was once again full. But he only lacked one thing---someone special to share his love for the Lord with him. God, seeing his need for a help-mate, directed him to Mother Ella Frances Gorham Randolph of Washington, D.C. On November 5, 1977, they were married. She became his “SWEETIE” and he became her ‘HONEY’. The two became inseparable. They became a team. His desires were hers and vice versa. They both had that same love for children and are known by many children as “UNCLE JOHNNY and AUNT FRANCES”. This great man of God has never shown any selfishness. Before his health began to decline and he was losing his sight in one eye, he always found time for others. He became Bethel’s Taxicab for many without transportation and doing a little landscaping. When he was in good health, he loved taking long walks in his neighborhood and challenging others in doing sit-ups and push-ups. He continued these activities daily until age ninety-seven. His family often times wondered, “WHERE DOES ALL OF THIS ENERGY COME FROM?” He was preceded in death by three sons, Jimmie, Franklyn, and Preston; one foster daughter, Louise; five grandchildren, Annette, Eric, Felicia, Michael, and Marsha; one daughter-in-law, Gwendolyn Marshall Knight; six sisters and six brothers. He leaves to cherish fond memories, his wife of thirty-seven years, Mother Ella Frances Gorham Randolph Knight of the home; one son, Deacon Wilbur Knight of Adelphi, MD; twenty grandchildren; fifty-five great-grandchildren; forty-four great-great-grandchildren; two great-great-great-grandchildren; three daughters-in-law, Wilma Knight of Adelphi, MD, Betty Knight of Nash County, N.C., and Mable Knight of Moreno Valley, CA; one goddaughter, Mrs. Lucky Felder of Santee, S.C.; seven sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; four very special grandchildren, Genia, Earl, Roger, and Charlotte; niece, Vivian whom became his caretakers; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Elder Knight also leaves fond memories to his, Pastor Elder Kenny Campbell and First Lady Campbell as well as his Refreshing Center Church Family. His undying love for his church and church family kept him pressing his way to Windsor.

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Elder John Ashley Knight

December 5, 1916 - October 1, 2015