Edward Raymann Sofer, 75, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008.
He was born Nov. 25, 1932 in Cincinnati, the son of Frank and Sarah Williams Sofer. On July 6, 1949, he was united in marriage to Lee D. Lyons. From this union, four children were born, Gregory, Sherrie, Regina and Valli. Before his retirement, he was pastor a church in Fairhope.
On Sept. 17, 1951, Edward R. Sofer accepted Christ into his life. From that day forward, he became known as the “The Disciple” and worked as a dedicated and tireless servant of God. Through diligent studying of God’s Word, he was apt to teach by rightly dividing the word of truth. His unabashed passion for Christ and for teaching God’s Word was articulated in the pulpit and through his various roles under the leadership of Elder Jasper Phillips at First Pentecostal Church in Cincinnati. He was ordained as an Elder of the Pentecostal Assembles of the World, Inc. He was later promoted by Bishop Clifton Jones, diocesan of the Mississippi and West Tennessee Council to District Elder Sofer, and subsequently elevated to Suffragan Bishop Sofer.
In addition to his aforementioned roles, he served as president of the PAW’s Sunday School department of the International Christian Education Association where he earned the nickname “Mr. Sunday School.” As ICEA president, he also became a member of Aenon Bible College Board of Directors on which he served until retiring as Chairman.
As a faithful servant, he was also the first managing editor of Apostolic Light Press and president of the Apostolic Light Press Inc., which is the Sunday School publication arm of PAW.
In 1979, he and his wife left Cincinnati to go south to Alabama to take on the role as pastor of Bethlehem Temple, which was later renamed Good Samaritan Sanctuary (Good Sam) in Fairhope, at the urging of Bishop Francis Smith. He and his wife Lee also pioneered a work in Pensacola, Fla., while continuing to serve in Fairhope. Both churches continue to thrive.
He continued in his pastoral role at Good Samaritan Sanctuary until April 2003. He and his wife Lee later moved to Tallahassee, Fla., with their daughter Regina where he spent the rest of his days serving God. While in Tallahassee, he and his wife found their new church home with their daughter at Abundant Life Fellowship World Outreach Center, under the leadership of Pastors Larry and Elaine Millender.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Sarah Williams Sofer and two sisters, Martha Scott and Lillie Wills.
Survivors include his faithful and devoted wife of 58 years, Lee D. Sofer; son, Gregory L. Sofer of Cincinnati; three daughters, Sherrie A. May (Deacon Donald B. May) of Glendale, Ariz., R.E. Sofer of Tallahassee, Fla., and Valli L. Johnson of Cincinnati; two brothers, Frank Sofer and John Sofer of Cincinnati; brother-in-law, James Lyons of Cincinnati; a sister-in-law, Mary Coopwood of Cincinnati; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, adopted and chosen children, Theresa L. Bailey, Melvin (Shirley) Hudson and Nina D. Frazie.
His homegoing celebration will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at ALFWOC, 3381 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Fla.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Abundant Life Fellowship World Outreach Center, P.O. Box 180370, 3881 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32318.
