Rev. J. Cohen Arms, 82, of Guyton, Georgia, went to his heavenly home on October 22nd, 2011 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. A native of Greenville County, South Carolina, Rev. Arms was born December 21st, 1928, to the late James Tollie and Nora Lee Pittman Arms. On September 21st, 1946, he married the love of his life, Geraldine Jeter.
Rev. Arms answered the Lord's call to be a minister of the Gospel in 1952. He attended North Greenville Junior College, Furman University, and Erskine Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Oolenoy Baptist Church, Cedar Rock Baptist Church, and Calumet Baptist Church in the upstate of South Carolina during that decade. In 1960, Rev. Arms and his family relocated to Johnson City, Tennessee, where he was pastor at Pinecrest Baptist Church for ten years. While in Johnson City, he began work on his Master's Degree in English at East Tennessee State University.
In 1970, the family relocated to Savannah, Georgia, where Rev. Arms served as pastor of Cresthill Baptist Church for 21 years. In 1991, he began an 18-year career as a Staff Chaplain at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah and in 1992, he and Mrs. Arms were commissioned as chaplains by the Georgia Baptist Convention. While a Chaplain, Rev. Arms served as Interim Pastor for several churches in the Association: Chevis Oaks Baptist Church, Faulkville Baptist Church (where the Arms' are members), Jasper Springs Baptist Church, and Woodlawn Baptist Church. He also provided pulpit supply preaching for numerous Baptist, Christian, and Presbyterian churches in Savannah and the surrounding area.
In addition to his parents, Rev. Arms was preceded in death by five brothers: An Infant Brother (1945), Harold (1945), Ronald Leslie (1948), Floyd (2003), and Olen (2008).
Rev. Arms is survived by his wife of 65 years, Geraldine Jeter Arms; one son: Gary (Linda) Arms of South Guyton, Georgia; three daughters: Gail (David) Cribbs of Fayetteville, Georgia; Cathy (Elmar) von Kurzbach of Jacksonville, Florida; and Ruth Linton of Rincon, Georgia; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother: Marshall (Joan) Arms of Greenville, South Carolina; three sisters-in-law: Eloise J. Hawkins and Betty J. Langley, both of Taylors, South Carolina; and Carolyn Arms of Spartanburg, South Carolina; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.Visitation:
Tuesday, October 25th, 5 PM to 8 PM, Fairhaven Funeral Home, Garden City Chapel
Funeral:
Wednesday, October 26th, Faulkville Baptist Church, 11:00 AM.
Internment:
Hillcrest Abbey West Cemetery
Pallbearers:
Grandchildren Eddie Roberts, Kerry Arms, Jason von Kurzbach, Jennifer Waters, Brian Cribbs, and Christopher Linton
Honorary Pallbearers:
Pastors and Chaplains from Savannah and the surrounding area
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
November 1, 2011
Cindi Holton
Cathy and family,
We are very sorry for your loss. May God bless you all during this time. You all are in our prayers.
Cindi & Kevin Holton
October 29, 2011
John Garris
Sorry to hear of Rev. Arms passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
October 27, 2011
David Haynes
Gary
I'm very sorry to hear of your father's passing. He was a great minister for many years. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this time of grief.
October 27, 2011
Susan Crumley O'Connor
Gary,
I'm very sorry to hear of your dad's passing. How wonderful, though, that you've had both parents for such a long time. I will be thinking of you and your family as you move through this time of grieving.
October 27, 2011
Dear Gary and family,
I was very sorry to hear of your Father's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Chrissie Baldridge
October 27, 2011
Mike/Pat Livingston
Gary,
Pat and I were very sorry to hear about your Dad's passing, but I guess the LORD needed another preacher/pastor in heaven. You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers. May GOD bless you during this trying time in your lives.
October 26, 2011
Helene Anna McCoy
Ruth, and family I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad.Our
Thoughts and Prayers are with you all.God Bless you all and May God
hold each and everyone of you in the days and months to come.
Mr.and Mrs.Kevin L.McCoy
October 26, 2011
George Wrensen
Gail, Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. I know how close you were to your family and I'm sure his loss will be deeply felt. I pray for you to have a peace which passes all understanding during this time.
October 26, 2011
Rev. Reland Morgan
I have known J. Cohen since 1990, when he brought a group from Cresthill Baptist to tour Brewton-Parker College. He was a kind and gracious man of God. He left an influence upon my life. Now he stands in the presence of the one whom he loved. My condolences and prayers to the family. He will be greatly missed.
October 26, 2011
Michael Truitt
Dear Mrs. Geri and Family,
Certainly my heart goes out to you as I heard the news of Bro. Cohen's homegoing. I know that your emotions are mixed. I pray for God to lift you and love you as you experience a great personal loss. I know he will be greatly missed. At the same time, we all rejoice for him. Because of the life he lived, there is no doubt of his destination. He waits for each of us on that heavenly shore.
I thank God for the blessing he gave me to be able to work with Bro. Cohen as a young minister. He was a man with a sweet and humble spirit. I will continue to value his sage wisdom. I will also remember fondly his sense of humor. He was truly a man who loved his God, his family, people in general, and without a doubt my family and me.
We are indeed sorry that it is not possible for us to be with you physically at this time, but be assured that each of you are in our prayers. We love you.
Michael and Lisa Truitt, Lauren and Jason
October 25, 2011
Bill McIlrath, Jr.
My family and I have known and loved Rev. and Mrs. Arms for nearly 40 years. We moved to Savannah when my Dad became the Assistant Director of Bethesda Home for Boys in 1972. In 1973, I became a kinderarten student at Cresthill Baptist Church. The memory of my first interaction with Brother Arms left me with the same impression as my last interaction with him. His notable stature, gentle disposition, kind heart, and ever present sense of humor created a vessel through which God poured out His love to countless souls. I will miss Him....until I see Him again in heaven.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Bill McIlrath, Jr. and family (Proverbs 3:5-6)
October 25, 2011
Donna McCutchen
Brother Arms was a very good pastor and friend. I will always remember him. My deepest sympathy to the Arms family. May the Lord bless and keep you. I believe that Jack and I were the first couple that he married when he came to Cresthill and he was at the hospital when I had both of our boys.
October 25, 2011
Becky Hendricks
Pastor Arms,
October 25, 2011
Billy & Edna Arms
Ruth & Family,
We extend our deepest sympathy to all of you. Cohen was such a special part of the Arms Reunion down thru the years. He will be greatly missed. Sorry that we will not be able to be there, but your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers.
October 25, 2011
Butch and Linda Usher
Gary, Linda and the Arms family
We are so sorry to hear of your precious father's passing. He was such a godly man who loved his Lord and his family. It was an honor and a blessing to hear him preach God's word. We pray for a special touch from Jesus for you today and in the next few weeks to come. May God bless each and every one of you during this time.
Yours in Christ
October 25, 2011
Catherine & Marilyn Neal
Cathy and family,
We are so sorry to hear of your father's passing. He was a wonderful man! Our thoughts and prayer are with you and your family.
October 25, 2011
Donna Latham
Ruth I am so sorry to hear about your Dad but we both know where he is now....with our Lord and Savior. May Gods loving arms provide you comfort in the days, months and years to come.
October 25, 2011
Virginia Gunnells
Bro. Arms was a very special man of God and a friend to many, many people. Personally, I will miss his jokes. When I was in the hospital at Memorial, he would come visit me. I would have to ask him not to make me laugh so hard because I would start hurting from laughing. He and Jerri both were so special to us at Chevis Oaks during the times they were with us. You could not be around them without loving them. Heaven is a much richer place with him there.
October 25, 2011
My heartfelt sympathy Ms.Geri and all the family. No words can express what a wonderful witness for our Lord. He inspired so many people to live for God and love unconditionally, a wonderful friend to my family.
Take comfort knowing he is with our Lord and Savior.
PSALM 91-11
Bilie Collins.
October 25, 2011
Louise Williams
Cohen was a joyful spirit on earth. I know the bells of Heaven are Ringing Loudly now that he has arrived home to be with his Savior. I will always remember his kindness and generosity. He will be missed evryday.
October 24, 2011
Dora Traynor
Brother Arms will be sorely missed. My parents send theirs love and prayers to his family and Ms. Geri. Brother Arms Baptized me 33 years ago at Cresthill Baptist Church!
Dora Rios Traynor &
The Rios Family
October 24, 2011
Jason Vonkurzbach
My Papa was the best person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I will always love and miss you, Pop.
October 24, 2011
Jason Vonkurzbach
My Grandfather was the best person I have ever known. He was truly a beloved person in every community he was apart of.It's very inspiring to see all the lives he touched through out his journey in life. I am Proud to be his Grandson. I Love You Papa..
October 24, 2011
Andy&Saundra Beasley
Bro. Cohen was a special friend to Andy and I, When we visited someone at the hospital, we would always look for him.Once we had a loved one in ICU at Memeorial,as we were waiting with our family, we saw Bro. Cohen stepping softly as he approched a family in need.He spoke softly to the family and they welcomed his kind words.He opened his heart to God,and God touched him ,and he touched others in the Lord.He showed compassion and Gods love to everyone he met. Mrs Geri and Family ,remember, Bro.Cohen is only a heartbeat away.May Gods spirt and love comfort you at this time.
All our love Andy&Saundra Beasley
October 24, 2011
(Barbara) & Kenny Souls (Sapp)
Pastor Arms was a big part of our family as we grew up at Cresthill Baptist Church. He married Kenny and I in 1973 and will always have a special place in our hearts. We will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
October 24, 2011
Kunyu & Hsiaolan Chang
Over 30 years ago, my children Walter & Larry had wonderful kindergarten years at Cresthill Baptist Church, Brother Arms was the pastor of Cresthill at the time.
My whole family always remember his love and caring,we will miss him greatly.
October 24, 2011
Jonathan Chang
Brother Arms married us in June 1980, while we were MBA students in Savannah; we will always remember your kindness and love.
You are the best Pastor to us, always...
Susie & Jonathan Chang
October 24, 2011
RL & Wanda Felton
Dear Gary and family,
Sorry to hear about your Dad. I pray that God will be with each one of you at this time. I know he was a blessing to all.
October 24, 2011
David & Amy Igou
Our deepest condolences to the Arms Family. Mr. Arms was a great man with a very special family. He loved his family deeply and it showed when you walked into your home. God Bless each and every one of you.
October 24, 2011
I am so sorry that Bro. Cohen passed, but he is now walking those streets of gold he told us about. My sympathies to the family, he will be missed......Julie Smith Hargreaves
October 24, 2011
Wanda Strickland
Brother Cohen was a wonderful man. He was a man of God and he served him well. We met him as a chaplain and he became a customer of my late husband and also my son. He will be greatly missed by many.
May God bless and keep all of you in the days ahead.
Wanda Horton Strickland
October 24, 2011
Ben Williams
My family and I were blessed to have Brother Arms as our pastor many years ago. He and his family encouraged us to be active believers. When he left our presence we had smiles on our faces.
October 24, 2011
We are so sorry to hear of your Father's passing, Gary, Kathy, and Gail. He was a wonderful man and a great inspiration to my brother, Rusty. It is so hard to lose our earthly Fathers, but we are so happy for his new life in Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of grief. Sincerely,
Carol Ann (Shadoan) and Woody Taylor
October 24, 2011
Nancy Rogers
My thoughts and prayers are with you Gail and your family. Although I did not have the honor of knowing your Father personally; having known you, I am sure he was an outstanding person, Father, Husband, Uncle, Grandfather and Minister who will be greatly missed. Nancy Rogers/HES
October 24, 2011
SUSAN DOBSON
Gary, Linda and the rest of the family, you are in my prayers that God will lighten your hearts during this time because you know where he is now. If there is anything I can do for you or the rest of the family please just call. Lots of Love Susan and Mark Dobson
October 24, 2011
Jason and Karen Smith
Our prayers are with you, Mrs. Geri and family. I enjoyed my working relationship with Brother Cohen in the Chaplain's Office at Memorial and his teaching at the BSU for extension Bible Classes. His humor and good spirit will sorely be missed. Thanks to you and he for being our champions when we were getting married almost 5 years ago. With much love, Jason and Karen (Aaron) Smith.
October 24, 2011
Kenneth Arms
Our family will miss a much beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle. I will always remember his wonderful sense of humor.
October 24, 2011
Larson & Bea Watts
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all. I know he will be missed greatly. He was a good example of a happy, caring, God loving person. We knew him through our work and also as a chaplin at the hospital. May your memories bring you peace.
October 23, 2011
Brother Arms married me and my husband at Cresthill in 1982. He was the only pastor I remember. I will always remember him in my heart. He was a good and caring man. We will keep your family in our prayers.
Brenda (Greenway) and Mark White
October 23, 2011
Dale Arms
I will miss you uncle Cohen.
October 23, 2011
We are so sorry to hear about Uncle Cohen. Our hearts are a little sadder to loose one more of the family. You all are in our prayers. May God hold you a little closer during this time. We know our uncle is in a great place with our Lord and Savior. Maybe, just maybe, he's telling a fishing tale to Papa Olen and Uncle Floyd right now. That's our hope that they are all reunited this day.
Love
Dale, Libby and Sam Arms
Showing 1 - 41 of 41 results
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