Obituary of Rev. Paul D. Bauknight

Rev. Paul D. Bauknight, Sr., was the fourth (4th) and youngest child born to the late Clarence William Bauknight, Sr. and Sallie Belle (Griffin) Bauknight.  Born on October 20, 1929 in Bellville, New Jersey and entered eternal rest on Sunday, October 29, 2017. 

Raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Rev. Paul was educated in the public schools and graduated from Elmer L. Meyer High School with his high school diploma. He entered the Air Force shortly after graduation in January 1949. He was a radio mechanic. He did one (1) tour in the Korean War and was honorably discharged at the level of Sergeant in October 1952.  He received several medals for his participation. Returning to Wilkes-Barre he took courses for electrical engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering and Newark College of Engineering (now part of NJIT). He and Lois later studied together and graduated from St Peters University in Jersey City. H  

He was introduced and subsequently married the former Lois Patricia Durham on July 2, 1955. From this union came four children (3 daughters and 1 son). 

Paul worked for Thomas & Betts from the Summer of 1963 until his retirement in 1992 for a total of 29-years. He was called to the ministry early in life, Lois noted that she knew this within their first year of marriage, but did not answer God until 1975. He was licensed to preach under the late Rev. Sylvester Lawrence Kelly, and attended the Ministerial Institute of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was ordained an Itinerant Elder in 1983, in the largest class of the New Jersey Annual Conference. He served as Sunday School Superintendent at St. Mark’s AME Church, Cranford for some 37-years and was appointed Assistant Pastor under Rev. Alyson BrowneJohnson.  In 1992, he was called by Bishop Cousins to pastor Mt. Pisgah AME Church in Washington (Little Washington) NJ.  Moving to Washington in 1995 he served this faithful flock for thirteen (13) years and retired in 2005. 

Rev. Paul’s favorite color was blue, his favorite biblical character was Job and his favorite scripture was 2 Chronicles 7:14, “’If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’” (NKJV)

He leaves fond memories and yet a great-space in the heart of his wife of 62 - years, Lois Patricia (Washington, NJ); daughter Tracey Ava Bauknight-Johnson of N. Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter Cynthia Patricia Coley (Malik) of Elizabeth, New Jersey; son Paul Douglas Bauknight, Jr. (Patricia) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and daughter Rev. Terrilisa Durham Bauknight of Washington, New Jersey; eleven (11) grandchildren and eleven (11) great-grandchildren.  A brother, Clarence W. Bauknight, Jr., (Bernice) of Linden, New Jersey; and a sister, Elizabeth C. Bauknight-Franklin of Columbus, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Bernice L. Durham of Westfield, New Jersey; two brothers-in-law, Alfred B. Durham (Fannie) of Brielle, New Jersey and Ronald Durham (Patricia) of Atlanta, Georgia, plus a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.  He was predeceased by his parents and his brother and best friend, Isaiah Jerome Bauknight.

Viewing Sunday, November 5th 3-5pm and 7-9pm at Mt. Pisgah AME Church 169 N. Lincoln Ave Washington, NJ and Monday, November 6th 10:30-12:00 pm at St. Mark’s AME Church 34 High St. Cranford, NJ.  Entombment follow at the Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, NJ.   Arrangements have been entrusted to the DeVoe Funeral Home, Washington, NJ.  Please see www.devoefuneral.com for online condolences.  

Husband, father, love, pastor, friend, mentor,political activist, believer of community, son, faithful servant and child of God…

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.