Elder Taft Purkett

“Servant of God Well Done” Pastor Emeritus Taft Purkett, 93, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, at the Commonwealth Senior Living Churchland House. Pastor Taft Purkett was born in Plymouth, North Carolina. He was the eldest son of ten children born to Bishop Herbert L. Purkett and Susie V. Gaylord-Purkett. Taft received a Certificate of Achievement in Carpentry from Norfolk Division of Virginia State College in 1959, now Norfolk State University. Pastor Purkett served in the US Army for two years and worked at the Norfolk Naval Supply Center for twenty-two years. He resigned from the supply Center with a total of twenty-four years of honorable service rendered. Taft was united in marriage to Dorothy Jones-Purkett, July 23, 1953. To this union were born three (3) sons, Joseph, Timothy, and Titus. He was a praying man who always put God first in his life. The foundation of his ministry began with his father, Elder Herbert Lee Purkett. In 1961 Elder Taft Purkett and family moved to Norfolk, Virginia. He and his wife faithfully worked in ministry at the Mother Church, known as C.H. Mason Memorial Church of God in Christ. In 1967, Taft Purkett, a praying and anointed man of God, was highly recommended by his Pastor, the late Bishop D. L. Williams, to the Pastor Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Portsmouth, Virginia. His prayer ministry has reached many souls near and far. A dedicated man of God, Elder Purkett spent many hours in prayer in Macedonia. His constant prayer was for God to add to the church daily souls such as should be saved. Elder Taft Purkett served as the Pastor of Macedonia Church of God in Christ for 44 years. Under his leadership a groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 20, 1979, for the new edifice. What seemed impossible to man was possible for God, and with the blessings of God and much prayer the leadership and members journeyed into a beautiful edifice. As a churchman, the late Elder Taft Purkett was an assiduous supporter of the Virginia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He willingly and fervently served in various areas of ministry to include: ● Chaplin of VA., Second Jurisdiction ● Superintendent, Portsmouth District Being a man of much insight and great faith, Elder Herbert Purkett saw the need to build a medium white sided, wooden church that he named Refreshing Center Church of God in Christ. Upon Bishop Purkett’s demise in 1975, Elder Taft Purkett was appointed Pastor of the Refreshing Center Church of God in Christ. It was under his leadership that the church was bricked with an extension added to the building. Later Pastor Purkett added an annex room, two bathrooms, a hospitality room, a full pastor’s study, a ladies’ lounge, a secretarial office, and a heating and cooling system. God truly blessed Pastor Purkett and all that he did for God’s people. Pastor Purkett’s famous saying was: “Much prayer, much power; little prayer, little power; no prayer, no power!” Pastor Taft Purkett is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Purkett, a son, Titus Ray Purkett; his parents, Bishop Herbert L. Purkett and Susie V. Gaylord-Purkett; three brothers, Administrative Assistant Cornelius Purkett (Sarah), Administrative Assistant Herbert Purkett, and Bishop James Gaylord; two sisters Missionary Virginia Gorham (James, Sr.) and Mother Edith Bell (Orlander, Sr.) one sister-in-law Mother Keturah Purkett and one brother-in-law Armstead Hoggard. Pastor Taft Purkett leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Deacon Joseph Purkett (Sharon), and Pastor Timothy Purkett, Sr. (Michelle); three grandchildren, Timothy Purkett, Jr. (Denise), Torrin Purkett, and Courtney Purkett; three great grandchildren; four brothers, Benjamin Purkett, Eugene Purkett (Linda), William Purkett (Saundra), and Elijah Purkett, and one sister Alice Hoggard; sisters-in-law Emeritus State Supervisor Evonia Purkett, Julia Purkett, Melba Purkett, Mother Josephine Gaylord, Alice Heckstall; two brothers-in-law Billie Jones, Charles Jones and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, along with his former Macedonia and Refreshing Center, Church of God in Christ families.

Elder Taft Purkett

July 8, 1929 - May 24, 2023