Rev. John Alvin Gholston

Rev. John Alvin Gholston(Click on link to enlarge photo)Funeral services for John Alvin Gholston, 77, of Longview, TX, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Parkview Baptist Church in Longview, Texas with Rev. H. C. Rockmore officiating and Rev. Glenn Hood as eulogist. Burial will follow at Shady Grove Cemetery in Cason, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Victory Funeral Services. John Alvin was born on Friday, November 17, 1939 in Titus County, Texas to the parentage of Lloyd and Odessa Gholston. He departed this life on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at Good Shepherd Medical Center surrounded by his beloved family.His elementary education was garnered at Central Grove Elementary School and he attended Rhoades High School. Later he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. John left school in the twelfth grade to marry the woman of his dreams, Mrs. Joyce Sterns Gholston, who became his lifelong companion. This God ordained union was blessed with three children, Rickey, Luketta and Jerry. They resided in Fort Worth, Texas until the family relocated to Longview to pastor his first church, St. John Missionary Baptist Church.Early in his work career he was employed by American Airlines. Reverend John A. Gholston was an ordained minister and widely known throughout the East Texas Community. He was a gospel singer and sang with several quartets. He provided pastoral care to St. John Missionary Baptist Church for eight years; Zion Hill Baptist Church for two years, Parkview Baptist Church for eight years and completed his earthly ministry at Elysian Fields Missionary Baptist Church with 24 years of service. His pastoral ministry encompassed 42 years and his preaching spanned 48 years. His ministry included service as president of the Hopewell District Ministers Union, Certified Chaplain in Longview, Texas; Vice Chairman of District #1 in the Texas and Louisiana Missionary Baptist Association for several years and a participant in the Northeast Texas Baptist Association. Rev. Gholston was active and involved in all his works.His parents and his sister, Vivene Harper all preceded him in death. He leaves to cherish his memory to his devoted wife, Joyce Gholston of Longview, TX; daughter, Luketta Roberts and her husband, Norman of Elysian Fields, TX; two sons, Rev. Jerry Gholston and wife, Shakuntala of Garland, TX and Rev. Rickey Gholston and wife Jacqueline of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren, Yashica Jennings and husband, Courtney of Irving, TX; Brittain Jackson-Gholston of Arlington, TX; Briana Gholston of Humble, TX and Brannon Gholston of Mesa, AZ; one great-grandchild, Amiyah Gholston; sisters, Alice C. Ladkin and husband Tom; brothers, Lawrence Gholston and wife, Eddie Ree, Charles Gholston and Jimmy C. Gholston and wife, Catherine; special friend, Rev. Calvin Macklin and a host of other relatives and friends. Public viewing will be Wednesday, December 28, 2016, starting at noon until 6:30 p.m. at Victory Funeral Services.