Rev.
Rev. Peter G. Cosby Iii.
d. September 17, 2016
Rev. Peter Guerrant Cosby III., of Lynchburg, Va., age 103, died Saturday, September 17, 2016.
P.G. was born and raised in Lynchburg. His parents were Peter G. Cosby Jr. and Kathleen Gordon Cosby. He was the eldest of five children. Always a high achiever, he graduated as valedictorian of the 1930 class at E. C. Glass High School and as valedictorian of the 1934 class at Hampton-Sydney College. By 1943, following studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, P.G. had received a Bachelor of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va.
P.G. initially served at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, N.C., and Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Henrico, Va., followed by ministries at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church (Birmingham, Ala.), Laurel Presbyterian Church (Glen Allen, Va.), and Northminster Presbyterian Church (Roanoke, Va.). Because of his strong belief in social ministry, P.G. returned to Lynchburg, Va., in 1966 to become Executive Director of the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship. His tenure there saw the development of the Shalom Apartments and other housing for low-to-moderate income families, low-income elderly, and disabled individuals. Later, as Executive Director Emeritus, he remained engaged in housing expansion by serving on boards of partner ministries that care for the disadvantaged and others in need of safe and affordable housing. During this time, P.G. also served as interim pastor at Massies Mill and Harmony Churches in Nelson County. He was instrumental in helping to rebuild these churches after the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille in 1969. In 1973, P.G. was Moderator for the Synod of Virginia, Presbyterian Church.
P.G. received the 1975 Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christian and Jews (now the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities) and was honored with the Liberty Bell Award from the Lynchburg Bar Association. Among his other numerous awards, he was always most proud of being an Eagle Scout and frequently cited incidents from this training.
His sister, Ida Gordon Poole, and two of his daughters and their husbands (Esther and Samir Khoury, and Emily Cosby and Dave Dunlap) survive P.G. He has three grandchildren: Peter Khoury, Myriam Khoury, and Eli Dunlap. Aziza Khoury, Loula Khoury, Isaac Dunlap, and Aaron Dunlap are his great- grandchildren. His youngest daughter, Ellen W. Cosby, and his three brothers (Gordon Cosby, Jack Cosby, and Beverly Cosby) predeceased him.
A memorial service will be held for Rev. Cosby on Saturday, September 24, at 1:30 pm in the Commons of Westminster-Canterbury Lynchburg, 501 V.E.S. Road. This will be a time to remember and share stories about P.G.’s goodness, nurturing service, humor, humility, and curiosity.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship (www.lcfhousing.org), Camp Kum-By-Yah (www.campkumbayah.org), and/or the Church of the Covenant (www.chcov.org).
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
P.G. was born and raised in Lynchburg. His parents were Peter G. Cosby Jr. and Kathleen Gordon Cosby. He was the eldest of five children. Always a high achiever, he graduated as valedictorian of the 1930 class at E. C. Glass High School and as valedictorian of the 1934 class at Hampton-Sydney College. By 1943, following studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, P.G. had received a Bachelor of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va.
P.G. initially served at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, N.C., and Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Henrico, Va., followed by ministries at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church (Birmingham, Ala.), Laurel Presbyterian Church (Glen Allen, Va.), and Northminster Presbyterian Church (Roanoke, Va.). Because of his strong belief in social ministry, P.G. returned to Lynchburg, Va., in 1966 to become Executive Director of the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship. His tenure there saw the development of the Shalom Apartments and other housing for low-to-moderate income families, low-income elderly, and disabled individuals. Later, as Executive Director Emeritus, he remained engaged in housing expansion by serving on boards of partner ministries that care for the disadvantaged and others in need of safe and affordable housing. During this time, P.G. also served as interim pastor at Massies Mill and Harmony Churches in Nelson County. He was instrumental in helping to rebuild these churches after the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille in 1969. In 1973, P.G. was Moderator for the Synod of Virginia, Presbyterian Church.
P.G. received the 1975 Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christian and Jews (now the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities) and was honored with the Liberty Bell Award from the Lynchburg Bar Association. Among his other numerous awards, he was always most proud of being an Eagle Scout and frequently cited incidents from this training.
His sister, Ida Gordon Poole, and two of his daughters and their husbands (Esther and Samir Khoury, and Emily Cosby and Dave Dunlap) survive P.G. He has three grandchildren: Peter Khoury, Myriam Khoury, and Eli Dunlap. Aziza Khoury, Loula Khoury, Isaac Dunlap, and Aaron Dunlap are his great- grandchildren. His youngest daughter, Ellen W. Cosby, and his three brothers (Gordon Cosby, Jack Cosby, and Beverly Cosby) predeceased him.
A memorial service will be held for Rev. Cosby on Saturday, September 24, at 1:30 pm in the Commons of Westminster-Canterbury Lynchburg, 501 V.E.S. Road. This will be a time to remember and share stories about P.G.’s goodness, nurturing service, humor, humility, and curiosity.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship (www.lcfhousing.org), Camp Kum-By-Yah (www.campkumbayah.org), and/or the Church of the Covenant (www.chcov.org).
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. Peter G. Cosby Iii., please visit our flower store.
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