Elder Joseph Crawford departed this life on Saturday, September 19, 2009 after a lengthy illness. Elder Crawford was born in Moncks Corner, South Carolina on September 10, 1927. He was the fourth of seven children born to the late Paul and Serena Frost Crawford. Elder Crawford lived his early life in Moncks Corner where he attended Berkeley County Schools, served in the United States Air Force and attended Berkeley County Veterans School where he obtained his certification in Brick Masonry. His family affectionately called him "a bricklayer second to none." He met and married the former Evelyn Johnson of Charleston, SC on October 1, 1948 and they had five children. After residing for a time in Moncks Corner, Joe and Evelyn moved the family to Boston, MA. There, he attended Wentworth Institute for Construction Engineering where he studied cost estimation and blueprint reading. He worked as a brick mason on some of the largest construction jobs at various hospitals and commercial building in the Boston area. In 1962, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost at Refuge Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Boston, MA under the pastorate of Honorary Apostle Theodore Hester. During his years at Refuge Church, he participated in outreach street services and was a regular attendant of Bible study and Sunday School as he believed in studying the word of God. He worked with the Missionaries as a male companion for their hospital visits, prayer band and home visits. As a Deacon, he was a member of the Brotherhood, the Male Choir and as a general worker. For many years, he served as one of the Bible Class instructors at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Norwood, MA. For his efforts there, he received a letter of appreciation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1979, after 29 years in Massachusetts, he and his wife returned home to Moncks Corner where they joined the Greater Refuge Temple in Charleston, SC, under the pastorate of Apostle Walter Lee Jackson. There he served as a Deacon and was later called to the ministry and ordained Elder in 1984. At Greater Refuge Temple, he served as a Junior Church Pastor, young adult Sunday School Teacher and Director of the Drama Guild. He also served as State Sunday School Outreach Coordinator under Superintendent Sister Brenda Jackson. During that time he wrote a tract entitled "Remember What, Why and When." One of the greatest Sunday School Outreach Services was held at the mall in Greenville, SC. For his theological training, he attended Evangelistic Training Classes under Bishop Theodore Hester in Boston, MA. He completed correspondence courses through Church of Christ Bible School in New York and attended and completed courses at Cummins Memorial Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, Summerville, SC. He served as Pastor of St. John Church in Hendersonville, SC, where he led the renovation of the sanctuary, adding new lights, building a dining room and pastor's study. After leaving St. John Church, the Lord blessed him to purchase a parcel of land on which he built a church. He was the Founder and Pastor of Triumphant Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Forty-One Community of St. Stephen, SC. His vision was that Triumphant Church would be steadfast, unmovable and grow to its fullest potential in the Lord. HIS FAVORITE SCRIPTURE - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 His Favorite Song - I Will Trust In The Lord The Greatest Force in His Life Was Prayer. He leaves to mourn his passing: his beloved wife of 60 years, Evelyn J. Crawford; two sons: Joseph U. (Hitoe) Crawford of Ladson, Sc and Stanley Mark Crawford of Moncks Corner, SC; three daughters, Jacqueline C. Scardoni of Lithonia, GA, Cynthia (Jackson) Wall of Hyde Park, MA and Joan C. Ballou of Moncks Corner, SC; one sister, Minnie Hutchinson of Summerville, SC; one brother, Arthur Crawford of Summerville, SC; two sisters-in-law, Mary More Gibbs of Irvington, NY and Sally M. Collins-Johnson of Piscataway, NJ; one brother-in-law, Marcus Johnson of Boston, MA; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Elder Crawford was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, O'Neal Crawford and Lewis Crawford and a sister, Gladys Crawford-Brown.