Bishop John Leonard Jessup, Jr. Obituary in South Hill at Feggins Funeral Home

Obituary For Bishop John Leonard Jessup, Jr.

VIEWING: Friday, March 25, 2022 Time: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM

SERVICE: Saturday, March 26, 2022 Time: 11:00 AM Free Union Church, 8631 Goodes Ferry Road, Bracey, VA 23919 Apostle Milton Harper, Officiating

INTERMENT: Crestview Memorial Park, 18599 Highway One, North, LaCrosse, VA 2950

Bishop John L. Jessup, Jr. affectionately called “Pop” by his spiritual sons and daughters, the son of the late John Virgil Jessup and Channie Lucinda Williams was born on September 13, 1936 in Boomer, West Virginia transitioned to Glory on March 12, 2022 after a brief Illness and hospitalization. John was preceded in death by his father and mother, his bonus mother- Gladys Choate Jessup, brother- Virgil Jessup, sister- Lenola Jessup-Rose, and aunt- Della Carter.

John, Lenola and Ted stayed with their maternal grandmother Sallie Woods-Williams for an extended period of time, where they attended school until their father and bonus mother moved them to Bluefield, West Virginia.

John attended Genoa Junior High and Park Central High School in Bluefield, West Virginia. While in High School John’s health prevented him from actively participating in sports, however he was one of the managers of the basketball team during his junior and senior year. There is a funny story told by John’s father some years ago that the team had an out-of-town game and John was running late to get the bus to be taken to the game, John told his father, they’re not going to leave me “I’m the manager”; needless to say when John and his father arrived where the bus was departing, the bus was gone and he was left behind. John also attended one year of college at Bluefield State College.

In the early 70s John moved north and settled down in Yonkers, NY. He was married to the late Margaret Johnson-Jessup, their union produced two daughters.

Because of his love for people and souls, how ironic that John would become Brother Jessup a Born-again Spirit-filled Believer on February 14, 1977 on the very day the world celebrates love. John was actively involved with the Church of Christ for many years and developed lasting relationships with the leadership and the congregations of many of the churches in that organization.

Brother Jessup drove a cab in Yonkers, NY for several years, where he met and married Sister Mildred A. Johnson on September 12, 1992 and to this union was born a host of spiritual sons and daughters who believe (as they were taught by Brother Jessup) in the miraculous, divine supernatural power of God. During this union they founded God’s Healing Cathedral, the Now Day Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. in Yonkers, NY. Brother Jessup was ordained Bishop John L. Jessup, Jr. on May 3, 2008 in the presence of many family members and friends. Bishop and Prophetess Jessup permanently moved from Yonkers, NY to their home in South Hill, VA in December 2016, where God’s Healing Cathedral, the Now Day Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. South Hill, Virginia was born. Bishop Jessup was Overseer of the New York and Virginia churches until the day of his passing. Bishop Jessup had a great passion for reading, preaching and teaching the Word of God, followed by prayer for the miraculous, divine supernatural power of God to be demonstrated. In his leisure time he enjoyed watching sporting events and CNN.

Bishop Jessup leaves to mourn his passing his devoted and loving wife- Prophetess Mildred A. Jessup, daughters- Kim Johnson, Melissa-Jessup McNair and husband Walter McNair, Daniel and Debra Fields, Bobbie and Shirley Johnson, Vanessa Johnson and Diane Simpson, ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two brothers- Alfred Jessup, O’Fallon, IL; Theodore “Ted” and Beatrice Jessup, Durham, NC; one sister- Minister Shari Jessup-Spencer and Tyrone Spencer, Bluefield, VA; two sisters-in-law, Edna Fields-Bailey, Sarasota, FL; Judith Hicks, Green Acres, FL; aunt- Elder Lois Stewart; devoted friends- Bishop Tomie and Evangelist Ernestine Brown, Pastor Erastus and First Lady Cindy Godfrey, Elder Lucille Whitley, Elder Verleta Nicholson, Dr. Lisa Reynolds, Mr. Billy Washington, Ms. Nancy Grayson, Mr. William “Honeybunch” Harvey, Apostle Milton and Elder Miriam Harper, Pastor Dale (who called Pop his hero) and First Lady Risha Hardy, a host of Spiritual Sons and Daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins and other friends.

ASKING ALL ATTENDEES TO PLEASE WEAR A MASK

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My sincere and deepest condolences to a true man of God. I remember when he attended our church, The Tabernacle of Prayer, in White Plains, NY where he was such a blessing to the ministry and to the youth; full of joy and full of the Spirit. We will truly miss this true man of God.

This is never easy and we always feel like we will have time to see each other again . Holding on to memories of you dancing at church , praying for my eyesight, teaching me how to be a true servant . Lessons I will never forget . I know to be away from Earth I know you are present with the Lord my heart is calm and I am at peace. Thank you for being a true Leader, Father , Pastor , and friend. To Mother sending hugs from afar and holding on to the pearl you given me many years ago. I love you all thank you for being an inspiration and a role model in my life forever . Love Always Makeda

To My pop: I love you
So many words can be said because of the years I have experienced your love for me personally, I must say interpretation is a common dominator and must be used cautiously. Thank you for taking on the phrase to say to us, to me that we are your life, and I did not understand then but now I do. I often look back in time and can honestly say you were really pop, and what I mean by that is that you as a father were present when many of us did not have that experience with our natural fathers.
You truly were 24/7 as you would say, I don't want to put you on a high horse but you were a type of Christ to us in our introductory stages of development until we learned how to wield the sword ourselves in depending on a God we couldn't see. Thank you for taking the time with me, as you did, I do not look at your errors but I only look now at your good intention for me as a daughter. People couldn't quite understand why you even cared about me but you knew and didn't care what anyone else said.
You were the father I needed but not wanted, and I was the daughter that rejected your love, but yet you pursued me because you love hard and couldn't take rejection and being afraid that you failed me as a father and failed God as a man of faith that was taught to get results come hell or high water. You have many qualities, talents, and wisdom all in your own way because life has given you your share of experience, so you have a few notches in your belt  You have done a wonderful job as a father, a friend, and a man of God making sure we all had what we needed and you taught us how to offer the same olive branch to others. So today is a wonderful day to let you know that your labor was not in vain, as the scriptures say "the angels rejoice when one soul comes into the kingdom:

My condolences to the entire family,I love you poppa daddy and I'm gonna miss you 😢

I called you my Pop, Bishop, and friend. I thank Jesus for placing you in my path and me in yours. You've taught me that the Word of God is a reality and an actuality; you gave me the foundation of the Gospel, teaching me who I am in Christ Jesus. The last time I was in yours and Mamma's home, you blessed me as a father blesses a daughter. In your love, you encouraged, you chastised, you built me up with the Word and gave me confidence to stand on The Word, like you did. Thank you my Pop, I'm forever grateful and you will be forever in my heart. I love you. You were one of a kind. Momma, thank you for standing with Him. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, thank you for unity. Family and friends, he was a great man of God to us, the Little Flock. Love to All, Esther Hendrickson

Extending the deepest of condolences to Mother, Pop's natural & spiritual family and friends as well. To say you were a remarkable person would be an extreme understatement. You touched and shaped so many lives; I thank you from the bottom of my heart for every lesson you taught me. Your guidance, warnings and love will be remembered forever. With love always, Keshanda Van Lew