MANSFIELD: Rev. James Earl COSBY, 67, passed this life on Sunday, March 1, 2015 in Hospice House North Central Ohio, Ashland after a brief illness.
Rev. Cosby was born on Tuesday, July 29, 1947 to the late Elex and Beulah (Allen) Cosby in Canton, Mississippi (Madison County) and had lived in Mansfield, Ohio (Richland County) the past 47 years.
James was employed in the steel industry first with DSL where he served as the first African American Union President of United Steelworkers Local Union #7597 serving for 20 years, and retiring from Empire Detroit Steel Mill in 2004 after 21 years of service.
He was a member of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.
James became an ordained minister in 1993 and pastored several churches in the Mansfield and Willard, OH communities.
Rev. Cosby was very involved in his community, and church as a member of the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance where he was former vice president, NAACP where he held numerous positions, Richland County Democratic Party, founder of the Cosby Educational Heritage Center located in the Ocie Hill Building to name a few.
James is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christeen; his four children, Victoria Cosby, Dayton Ohio, , James Cosby, II, Beavercreek, OH, and Jasmine and Brandon Lindsay, Mansfield; nine grandchildren including Tiara Cosby-Jones, Dayton, and James Cosby, III, Florence Kentucky whom he help raise; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Rutha Jefferson, Mansfield, and Linnie Gowdy, Jackson, Mississippi; and one brother, Lawrence Cosby, Tougaloo, Mississippi.
In addition to his parents James was preceded in death by a stillborn son; and six siblings including Deloris Redmond.
Friends may call Thursday after 2 p.m. at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church where the family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.
Homegoing services will be held at the church Friday, 11 a.m. with Dr. Derek Williams presiding and Rev. Clinton Herans of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church delivering the eulogy.
Interment will be in the Andrews Chapel Cemetery in Flora, Mississippi on Monday at 11 a.m. -
Memorial donations to Cosby Educational Heritage Center. P. O. Box 3962 Mansfield, Ohio 44907
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