Portion of W Jackson Street Dedicated in Memory of Bishop Roderick A. Coffee
On Saturday, March 5 at 12:00 noon, at the intersection of W Jackson Street and Jefferson Street, the public is welcome to attend a street dedication ceremony in memory of the life and legacy of Painesville’s Bishop Roderick A. Coffee, I.
Bishop Coffee was a lifelong resident of Painesville and began his service to ministry in 1986. He started as the Youth Minister at New Hope Baptist Church and in 1993, became the Senior Pastor at Union Congregational Church (now Union Community Church) where he grew the congregation from three members to over 300 members. Bishop Coffee continued his devotion to God and community and was elevated to the position of Bishop in October 2019.
Bishop Coffee served the community as a Chaplain for the Lake County Jail, Lake Hospital Systems and Lake County Ecumenical Shelter. He was the co-chair of the Jack Britt Stadium Building Project, member of the Painesville Youth Council, co-organizer of Black History Awareness for Painesville City Local Schools, president of the Painesville Ministers Associated, two-term president of the Lake County Branch of the NAACP and founding member of Begin the Conversation Lake County, an organization dedicated to addressing the inequities of the criminal justice system and building a relationship of trust between officials and citizens.
Bishop Coffee passed away in February 2020 at the age of 63. His wife of 43 years, Lady Charlene Coffee, his children Dante, Roderick II, Maurice I, JaLissa, and his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, continue to honor his legacy and the impact he had on the greater community.
“Bishop R.A. Coffee, I Memorial Parkway” will be posted above W Jackson Street signage, from Richmond Street to Newell Street, in the City of Painesville in memoriam.
Bishop Coffee was a lifelong resident of Painesville and began his service to ministry in 1986. He started as the Youth Minister at New Hope Baptist Church and in 1993, became the Senior Pastor at Union Congregational Church (now Union Community Church) where he grew the congregation from three members to over 300 members. Bishop Coffee continued his devotion to God and community and was elevated to the position of Bishop in October 2019.
Bishop Coffee served the community as a Chaplain for the Lake County Jail, Lake Hospital Systems and Lake County Ecumenical Shelter. He was the co-chair of the Jack Britt Stadium Building Project, member of the Painesville Youth Council, co-organizer of Black History Awareness for Painesville City Local Schools, president of the Painesville Ministers Associated, two-term president of the Lake County Branch of the NAACP and founding member of Begin the Conversation Lake County, an organization dedicated to addressing the inequities of the criminal justice system and building a relationship of trust between officials and citizens.
Bishop Coffee passed away in February 2020 at the age of 63. His wife of 43 years, Lady Charlene Coffee, his children Dante, Roderick II, Maurice I, JaLissa, and his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, continue to honor his legacy and the impact he had on the greater community.
“Bishop R.A. Coffee, I Memorial Parkway” will be posted above W Jackson Street signage, from Richmond Street to Newell Street, in the City of Painesville in memoriam.