Chrystal A. Cofer (nee Thornton), 90, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2021 surrounded by family. She was born May 10, 1931 in Long Branch, NJ. After graduating from the Long Branch Public
School System, she attended Monmouth College on a scholarship resulting from her participation in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. The subject of her award-winning speech was "The People's Constitution, Ours to Defend." She is also a graduate of Monmouth Bible Institute.
Chrystal married her beloved, Herbert H. Cofer, Sr. They raised their four children in Long Branch, NJ. They were married for 59 years, until he passed in 2011.
Chrystal loved the Lord. She was a lifelong member of Second Baptist Church of Long Branch. She was a member of the Senior Choir, the Senior Missionary Circle, and many other Church groups. She had many special interests, especially music and singing. She loved travelling and spending time with her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Chrystal was employed at Fort Monmouth, NJ, for many years as a Procurement Specialist in the Data Control section of CERCOM's procurement directorate. She is a past member of Fort Monmouth Chapter No. 2 Federally Employed Women (FEW) and past member of the Army Defense Preparedness Association; the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW); and the Seacoast Missionary Baptist Association. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
She is predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Mr. Herbert H. Cofer Sr., and her loving mother, Mrs. Gladys Ogburn.
She is survived by her children: Dawn Jackson, East Orange, NJ, Karen Williams (husband Alexander), Barnegat, NJ, Herbert H. Cofer, Jr. (wife Judy), Beaumont, CA, Terese Boyer (husband David), Ellenwood, GA. She is also survived by her devoted sister and brother-in-law Rosalind and Joseph Seawright, Barnegat, NJ and loving sisters-in-law Martha Pattisal, Long Branch, NJ; Thalia Thornton, Oceanport, NJ and Marion Cofer, Middletown, NJ. Also left to mourn are her grandchildren: Rana, Samuel and Elijah; Alesha and Aaron; Herbert III, Rachel, Sherese and Shanda; and Rhiannon. She has 13 great-grandchildren. Also left to mourn are her numerous nieces and nephews.
Chrystal was a cherished loving and caring woman who loved the Lord, her family, friends and perfect strangers. She will never ever be forgotten.
