To Dr. Boyd English

Boyd English was born on April 12, 1927, in Marlboro County, Bennettsville, South Carolina. He was the 8th child born to John and Edna English. He had five sisters and two brothers. He graduated from Bennettsville High School in 1944 and moved to New York shortly thereafter. He met Rose Singletary in Great Neck, New York in the early part of 1946. They married on July 6th, 1946, and from this union they had two sons; Junior and Moses, and two daughters; Sallie and Edna. Pastor English received salvation in 1957 after hearing the gospel preached by Supt. Eddie Burns in a tent revival. He became a member of the Bayside Community Church of God In Christ, in Bayside New York under the leadership of Pastor Thomas E. Burns. He became an ordained Deacon in 1961 and was called into ministry a few years after. Through much tribulation, in 1967 he became the Pastor of Philadelphia Church of God In Christ in Westbury, NY. Pastor English was ordained and installed as Pastor by Bishop O.M. Kelly in 1968. The Lord blessed Pastor English and the ministry grew to one of the most recognized churches in Westbury at 859 Prospect Ave., where the presence and anointing of God dwelled for over 50 years. The Lord blessed mightily in ministry and Pastor English’s life was forever changed when he met his mentor Bishop John D. Ware, from Memphis, Tennessee. Bishop Ware had received the gift of knowledge from the Lord at the age of 6 and Pastor English sat at his feet to gain all the knowledge and wisdom that he could learn from him. This loving father and son relationship lasted over 20 years. Pastor English received his bachelor’s in theology in 1973 and a Doctor of Divinity in 1988. Dr. English became the Assistant to Supt. Eddie Burns of the Middlesex District, and shortly thereafter became the Supt. of the Middlesex District and served as Superintendent for over 25 years. Dr. English served faithfully in the Eastern New York Jurisdiction under the esteemed leaderships of the late Bishop O.M. Kelly, Bishop F.D. Washington, Bishop David Grayson, Bishop J.P. Lee, Bishop Frank O. White and was currently serving under Bishop Harrison Hale. Dr. English has held many positions in the COGIC, and throughout his ministry many souls have been saved. His ministry has produced several Evangelists, Ministers, Elders, Pastor’s, Superintendents and Bishops. Dr. English was the last one of his siblings; his sisters and brothers preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 76 years, Rose Lee English, his sons; Junior English (deceased) and Moses Boyd English (deceased), two daughters; Sallie English- Caldwell (Reginald, deceased), Edna Charain English-Ellison (DeJon), 6 grandchildren; Lamont C. Hodges, Cecily Johnson, DeJah Broadhead, AyJon Ellison, Maurice English, and She-nay English (deceased), 7 great grandchildren, his Goddaughter Nancy Bianco, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.