Jeffrey Carlton Coffey

What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
(Westminster Larger Catechism)

Jeffrey Carlton Coffey (September 5, 1984 - January 19, 2022) was born in Roanoke, VA to Freeman and Mary two months earlier than his due date. He was deaf in one ear and had ruptured both his lungs at the time of birth and wasn't given much chance to survive by the doctors. But, in God's grace he passed his ear test and came home exactly two weeks to the day he was born with fine lungs. He moved around a lot as a child with his parents, wherever they pastored in Oklahoma, Virginia and Missouri. He is a loving son, beloved husband, dedicated father, and a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. He loved and served his family unconditionally above and beyond his ability despite his health challenges. He believed in 1Timothy 5:8 and lived by it in providing for his family.

Unfortunately, he had a very hard life from a very young age going through things no child should ever go through, which led him astray from the  Lord. But one fine day at the brink of taking his life on those train tracks in Buena Vista, VA when he was 22, in His great grace, the Lord reached out and saved him through His Word that pierced through his heart from that $5 Bible which he was compelled to buy from the Family Dollar nearby just to prove God wrong first; thus extending his life 15 more years to be a witness unto Him! He went to Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC in the fall of 2009. 

While in Bible College, he met Smitha and was married on May 17, 2011. He was an unconditionally loving and patient husband. Both were a great team. They are blessed with two beautiful and precious treasures, Eliana and Seth whom he loved very dearly and spent a lot of time with them pouring his heart for God into their lives. He even homeschooled them while in India and instilled in them the Word of God along with catechizing them from a very young age. He always prayed for their salvation. He had the privilege of baptizing Eliana on April 9, 2021. 

He moved to India with his family in 2015 and served the Lord there for 4 years before moving back to the States for medical help and been waiting eagerly for the immigration papers of Smitha to go through for the family to join him. He was more Indian than Smitha was and adapted himself without any reservations. He earned his Master of Divinity while in India and taught in a Bible College, helped in the library and pastored an English congregation. He worked with young couples in the church along with his wife. He also worked with children in the church as well as taught in a local private Christian school. He had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land as well as Jordan & Egypt with his family in 2017 which he enjoyed.

He loved reading and studying the Word, and believed in the total Sovereignty of God! He studied very extensively teaching himself and his family the truth of God's word, and leading them in the ways of God. He was never shy of his reformed faith and taught it to as many as he could. He also loved and enjoyed teaching the Word of God, and having long conversations about theology. He loved reading Systematic Theology, the Early Church Fathers, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, writings of the Puritans and Reformers, Confessions and Creeds and so much more. He read and studied broadly about the early Christian Church history which he loved and desired to do Ph.D. on some day. He also loved cooking and had the skill to make deliciousness with whatever is at hand.

He was a humble Pastor loved by his congregation in India. He was sacrificial and secret in his generosity to anyone that he saw in need. He always had the interests of others before his. While there were many that loved him and saw his worth, there were also those that considered him awkward and misunderstood, ill-treated and looked down upon him. But he was always forgiving and never complained but delighted in his Lord and His Word.

He stood for what he believed and never compromised the Word of God for anything or anyone. He spoke boldly of the truth and always spoke against God's name being used in vain and for selfish ideals and motives, though he was disliked by many because of it. He was fearless when it comes to defending the Word of God and wasn't afraid to die for the sake of the gospel. He had the opportunity to have many a conversations sharing about God with atheists, agnostics, and unbelievers, especially in his industrial work place and during his hospitalizations. 'Speak where the Word speaks, and stay silent where it is silent' is something he lived by, which his father taught him. He believed that our faith is not measured by our successes or failures but is measured in knowing God; and did everything he could diligently, to know his God and search the truth from His Word and walk by it! 'Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart' was his life song and the first question of the Westminster Catechism cited at the beginning of this obituary was his life’s motto!! He was passionate about his Saviour!!!

He is survived by Smitha, his beloved wife of 10 years, daughter Eliana Krupa (his princess, sweet-heart, sweety-pie, baby girl, super Eliana-butterfly-cupcake-snickers bar-buttercup with cherry on top) aged 9yrs and son Seth O'Neal (his tiger, lil’ man, buddy boy, buddy boo, ninja, superman, dinosaur, Sethy boy, sissy pants) aged 8yrs. He was previously deceased by his father Lewis Freeman Coffey (1952-2016), mother Mary Elizabeth Simmons Coffey (1957-2019) and brother Jonas O'Dell Coffey (1981-1995). He will be missed dearly. The kids miss his upto’s, flower-a-rounds, piggybacks, r u grounded’s, button noses, his bible stories, made-up stories & songs, butterfly kisses, hugs and kisses.

He believed 'in this life we will have tribulation' and 'to live is Christ, and to die is gain'. All his suffering, struggles and battles of his ailing body have been won in Christ the moment he entered his eternal rest and met his Saviour!

In lieu of flowers the family asks that any contributions be made to Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 5099 Postlewaite Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43235’ for the furthering of the gospel, which he was passionate about.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25) 

The Funeral Service will be held Friday, May 13, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 5099 Postlewaite Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43235 with a burial following at Union Cemetery, 3349 Olentangy River Road.  

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