"Dad, as I sit here and type this message I still don't know what to say. I miss you very much, its just hard to believe you are no longer with us here on this earth. You were always a loving father, a beautiful man. When I came to take care of you in Kingston at the time you needed it it was comforting to see the love and support that other people had for you. It was comforting to see that you had another family outside of the one you created. I appreciate how they took care of you and loved you just as much. I wish we had more time together before you left. But I most certainly loved the time we did have together, especially when you came to Georgia, we were looking forward to another time like that. You are forever in our hearts and we love you always. Love Vicky"
In loving memory of
Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Coston, Sr.
August 13, 1934 - January 7, 2021
Family and friends may visit on Friday January 15, 2021 from 2pm to 6pm. If you would like to attend calling hours at the funeral home, please reserve your space here: https://app.planhero.com/gatherings/7714-rev-arthur-l-coston-sr-calling-hours
Reverend Dr. A. L. Coston Sr., 86, of Kingston, NY went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at home. He, a native of Sampson County, North Carolina and the eldest of 7 children, was born on August 13, 1934 to the late Clyde L. and Rosie L. Coston and the oldest brother to his six siblings: Marie Sutton, Betty Herring (deceased), Rosie Anna Henry, Mary Ann Holloway, Ada Jane Bell (deceased), Clyde Edward Coston, as well as his adoptive siblings Romanda Coston, Robert Coston and Mona Coston (deceased).
He was married to Sarah P. Matthews (deceased) and they had 6 children; Arthur L. Coston Jr. (deceased), Vicky R. Hogan (John), Atlanta, GA; Sonya A. Miguel (Keith), Staten Island, NY; Danny E. Coston, Staten Island, NY; Deatrice C. Williams (Hans), Staten Island, NY; and Colette Z. Coston (Neville), Kingston, NY. He later remarried Rev. Grace L. Coston and step-fathered Renee M. Selby (Gary, deceased), Newburgh, NY, Ray A. Degraffenried (Jeanette), Newburgh, NY, Anchone Hassell, Staten Island, NY, Cederick R. Hassell (deceased), Reverend Dr. James L. Hassell (Alonda), Yonkers, NY, adopted Christina G. Coston, Newburgh, NY, fostered Zena Jacobs, Kingston, NY and spiritually fathered Pastor Carla Broadnax (Bill), Kingston, NY. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
He is a product of the Sampson County Local School District, North Carolina where he graduated from the Garland Colored High School in 1952. He grew up as a member of the St. Stephen AME Zion Church of Garland, North Carolina. Realizing the most important single thing that he could do in his life was to accept and establish a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he was baptized in the Coharie River, Ingold, North Carolina at the age of thirteen.
Upon completing his studies at the Garland High School, as a young man he relocated to Harlem, NY and afterward Staten Island, NY where he, a conscientious family man, worked during the day and attended classes in the evening. In the early 1970's, he received his first class Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license as a Radio Engineer and Announcer. He attended the Staten Island Community College where he received an Associate's Degree in Applied Science. He continued his studies at Richmond College on Staten Island and received a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He was also employed in a wide variety of diverse positions for thirty-one years, three months and twenty-five days and retired from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles on September 30, 1999 as the Supervisor of the Mid-Hudson New York Six County Road Testing and Investigation District.
When he relocated to the Hudson Valley, Reverend Dr. A. L. Coston Sr. and his family became members of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Newburgh, NY where God profoundly manifested in the flesh what had been revealed in the spirit, the call to ministry. Still determined to continue his education, he attended the Newburgh Bible Institute between 2000 and 2010 and the Community Bible Institute in Poughkeepsie, NY where he graduated in three years with a four-year Bachelor of Theology Degree. He also attended the New York Seminary School and made the decision to stay and teach Master's I and II at the Newburgh Bible for several years.
In 1987, Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston Sr. (an Associate Minister at the time) and Rev. Grace Coston became members of the New Central Baptist Church in Kingston, NY where the Rev. J. W. Kitchen was the pastor and chose him to be his personal assistant to help with the routine affairs of the church. On Sunday, November 15, 1987, Pastor Kitchen and the New Central Baptist Church Family ordained Minister A. L. Coston Sr, who was blessed with the opportunity to preach his own ordination sermon, into the Gospel Ministry. As Pastor Kitchen went home to be with the Lord on December 6, 1987, God showed Reverend Dr. A. L. Coston Sr. and New Central favor by directing their paths to cross as he was asked to become their pastor. On January 28, 1988, the congregation voted to have Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston, Sr. to become their Pastor where he served for 32 years, was loved by many and referred to as "The Great One".
Walking in a determined dependence upon the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston Sr. enrolled in and attended evening classes at the New York Theological Seminary in New York City. In June 1996, he graduated with an earned Master of Divinity Degree. In May 2005, he received a Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) from the Eastern Theological Consortium of Christ Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY and is also a Fellow of the Consortium of the Eastern Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston Sr., who has been a member of the Central Hudson Baptist Association since 1982, served for nine years as the Corresponding Secretary of the Parent Body, six years as the Parent Body's General Recording Secretary and four years as Moderator.
In addition to his work at New Central and the Central Hudson Baptist Association, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Ulster Literacy Association, a trustee of the Kingston Library System and member of the Board of the Kingston Consolidated School District. He also served his community in many capacities on Staten Island, Ulster County and in Kingston such as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and a School Board advisor just to name a few.
Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston Sr. also loved to fellowship with other churches as well as attend his weekly Monday Night Fellowship in Kingston, NY especially if fish and rice were on the menu. He also enjoyed family summer vacations to North Carolina and annual family dinners at his home in Kingston, NY.
This mighty man of God, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and brother; a trusted confidante, colleague and friend; an anointed leader, pastor, preacher and teacher; a humble man after God's own heart who was meek as a lamb yet with a roaring voice like the Lion of Judah; an admirable role model to emulate in this day and age, who will forever be affectionately remembered as "the Great One" who touched so many lives, will truly be missed.
Arrangements are entrusted to Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Friday January 15, 2021 from 2pm to 6pm. If you would like to attend calling hours at the funeral home, please reserve your space here: https://app.planhero.com/gatherings/7714-rev-arthur-l-coston-sr-calling-hours An additional hour of visitation will be held on Saturday January 16, 2021 at the New Central Baptist Church, 229 E Strand St., Kingston, NY 12401 from 10am to 11am prior to the funeral service, which will begin at 11am. The service will be live streamed on YouTube with details to follow.
Burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newburgh, will be held privately.
A tribute for Rev. Dr. A. L. Coston, Sr. can be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.
Tributes
"To the family of our dear friend, Dr. Arthur L. Coston, Sr. May you be comforted by your memories of your dad, uncle and granddad. We will miss his sweet gentle spirit, his laughter and his smile. Revelyn & Modele "
"NEW HOPE INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH 80-82 CENTRAL AVENUE TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK 10591 Telephone (914) 631-7082 - Fax (914) 631-9070 Deacon Jermaine J. Garrant I Deacon John A. Inzar Co-Chairmen Deacons Ministry Co-Chairmen Deacons Ministry CONDOLENCES ?We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.? 2 Corinthians 5:8, as is Reverend Dr. Arthur Lee Coston, Sr. In appreciation, love and respect for such a rich and dedicated Christian life, and for the sake of those he loved, we, the Officers and members of the New Hope Institutional Baptist Church, extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to Reverend Coston?s family, to his son (our local neighbor) Reverend James Hassell and to his other sons and daughters. We also send sympathy to the New Central Baptist Church of Kingston, to the Central Hudson Baptist Association, to the greater Kingston community, and to his extended family, friends and associates. We thank God that we were able to be blessed with sermons from Reverend Coston as a guest preacher and as a friend of our late Pastor Reverend Dr. John H. Gilmore. At this time, we prayerfully commit the family into the hands of the Lord; that you may be ever mindful of God?s strength and power during this hour of bereavement. For as it is written in the book of Revelations 21:4, ?And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away?. Done on the twenty-first day of January in the year of our Lord 2021, Respectfully Submitted, Deacon Jermaine J. Garrant I Deacon John A. Inzar Co-Chairmen of Deacons Ministry Sister Grace Minter Church Secretary ?Evangelizing The Lost, Discipling The Saved; Touching Lives, Transforming People? {Matthew 28: 19 & 20} "
"I served on the Board of Education with Arthur. He was so kind and caring toward his colleagues and the students he served. We have lost one of the gentlest of souls. With my deepest condolences. Maureen Bowers "
"To the Coston family and the New Central Baptist Church Ministry my sincere condolences on the loss of a great man. Rev Coston will truly be missed.
Leon Washington"
"To the family of Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Coston, Sr. - May our Lord bless and comfort you during this time of grief.
Please accept my sincere condolences.
Victoria Browning-Wiley"
"To the family, our sincere sympathy and prayers are with you. Psalms 37:37, "?Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.," (KJV). This has always been my favorite scripture for Dr. Coston, the man of God. I have beheld (Looked ) upon his righteous. He was a humble soul, and kind, truly the "Great One". Dr. Coston demonstrated and personified what "holiness" truly looked like in human flesh. Nine years I shared with him in the HCCK Fellowship (Catskill, Chatham, Hudson, Kinston, NY) and came to know him as a brother, friend, mentor. and wonderful colleague in the gospel. The Mount Tabor A.M.E. Church Family in the Catskill, New York shall forever remember him as a gracious role model, humble, generous, caring, and kind. Servant of God "WELL DONE" enter into the Master's rest. Thank you for your great blessings in my life, shared wisdom, compassion and inspiration. Your earthy work has ended. Your life in heaven has just begun - Gabriel blow your horn loud, "Servant of God is entering in. RIP"
"Reverend Coston and Sister Grace married Clayton and I in 2005, but I knew both if them from years before when I rented them their apartment at Lakeshore Villas. I adored them both from the first moment I met them. Our hearts go out to all of Reverends family and friends at this time. Christine Tingle"
"Pastor I don?t know if I?ll ever find another like you. You are known as the Great One . The Man who never judged, belittled, or looked down on someone. The One who never gave up faith in me even when I gave up on myself. The one who always put a smile upon my face even when all I wanted to do was frown. Let?s add Awesome to the Great One. Father you will be missed by many"
"To Colette and Family, please accept our most sincere condolences on behalf of your Hospice Family. We continue to pray for peace, strength, and for God's continued protection over you all as you celebrate the life of your father a true servant of God. He is safe and secure in his fathers loving arms. You Hospice Family!"
"To The Family, my sincere condolences.
To my friend who often call me and the Mrs.
His spiritual children, you will be greatly miss. You were very encouraging and supportive to me, my ministry, and our Church fellowship. We will miss your warmthness and your gentle smile and laughter.
To the family stay strong in the Lord.
Jesus Peace and God Love!
Rev. Darwin Abraham and Sis Arlene Abraham and the State State Street AMEZ Church Family (Hudson, NY)."
"My sincere condolences to the Coston family & the New Central Baptist Church Ministry. Coming as a visitor, I want to thank for your warm welcome and allowing me to have communion with you and your ministry. You will truly be missed. "
"My Pastor I can believe you?re gone I am going to miss you so much you?re teaching, guidance our talks and you?re preaching now you?re at rest in the arms of Jesus l love you my Pastor "
"Daddy, I love you! Thank you for allowing me to care for you. You are always my Dad and I'm always your Zee."