Arlethia Geneva Hairston

The Chimes of Time, Rang out the news on August 6, 1926 in the town of Bud, West Virginia that Arlethia Geneva Milton was born. The 6th child born to the late Charlie and Julia Davis Milton. “Sugar” as she was affectionately called by family , received her early education in the public schools of Wyoming County, West Virginia. Being raised in a Christian home, she learned at an early age to trust and depend on God.

Later in life moving to Johnben, West Virginia, she met and married Obediah Hairston and began to raise a family. While residing in Johnben, two of her five children were born, Brenda Joe and Robert James “Pikey”. Moving with her husband and young family to Whitby, West Virginia adding three more children, Lynn Edwin, Cecile Obediah “Peanut” and Stephen “Babe.

While living in Whitby, Sister Hairston was baptized in the name of Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. From that day on, she was running for the Lord and singing His Praises everywhere she could.

Wanting a better life, the family moved to Beckley, West Virginia. Due to the closing of the coal mine, and wanting a better life, the family relocated to Columbus, Ohio. One of the first things she did upon arriving in Columbus was find a church and she united with the Original Glorious Church, under the pastorate of the late Bishop Hamiter. Later, she moved her membership to Higher Ground Always Abiding Assemblies under the Pastorate of Bishop Sherman Watkins. It was at Higher Ground that she received her license as an Evangelist and later was named one of the mothers of the Church. Sister Hairston labored faithfully at Higher Ground doing whatever her hands could find to do.

 Being from the old school and missing the old way of doing devotions with testimonies, she began fellowshipping with Faith Tabernacle under the Pastorate of the late Bishop Samuel Stafford. As she often stated, “praise teams are okay, but I like to go to church where I can Testify and sing my song”. And singing was what she did…. While going through her illness, she would often start to sing. Shortly before her Homegoing, she began to sing “Down Through The Years, God’s Been Good To Me”. While laying on a bed of affliction and going through her storm, she still praised God. When she started the second verse, she threw her hands in the air as she sang “All of my Life, God’s Been Good to Me”. She knew that the same God who kept her down through the years, was still keeping her.

On Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 10:15 PM the chimes of time rang out again that the life that began 98 years, 3 months and 23 days ago had reached its final destination. Arlethia fell short of her goal to reach the age of 103 so she could out do her sister Eppie, who died at the age of 102. But God had plans for her to join her parents; Charlie and Julia; husband, Obediah; sons, Robert and Lynn; siblings, Josephine, Eathel, Mildred, Wallace, James and Eugene, who all preceded her in death.

The legacy continues through her children; Brenda Joe, Cecil Obediah and Stephen; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.