Elder John Leonard Keith was born September 6, 1935 to the late Charles Keith and Virginia Gallishaw Keith in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the second of five children. Elder Keith was 93 years old when he passed away January 25th, 2026.

Mr. Keith attended Simonton Elementary and Burke High School in Charleston, South Carolina. As an unsettled teenager, he left high school and joined the Army November 17, 1950. His Basic and A.I.T. was the 710th Tank Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky which was one of two black tank battalions in the 11th Airborne Division. He quickly noticed that the integrated Army units still remained integrated. His next assignment was the Korean war. While there he contracted a life-threatening fever (hemorrhagic) and was medically evacuated to another all black unit; the 598th Field Artillery in Fort Polk, Louisiana. After a full recovery, He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division in Germany before being honorably discharged in October 1953. Now a settled young adult and out of the Army, Mr. Keith returned to Charleston, South Carolina to return to high school. He was in the graduation class with his youngest sibling, the late Barbara Keith.

Now with a new mindset, Mr. Keith journeyed north to New Jersey looking for employment, but resolved to rejoin the Army in 1956. Being stationed again in Fort Polk, Louisiana, he attended the Armored Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course upon promotion to platoon sergeant and being a tank commander. Racism and adversity was still an emerging factor that he had to constantly combat. Mr. Keith continuously excelled in tasks that were above his ranking. This was evident with his next assignment to Crailsheim, Germany to be tank commander in the 37th Tank Battalion 4th Armored Division.

His next overseas assignment was to Vietnam. Mr. Keith recalled stories that couldn’t be forgotten. This included the melioidosis health condition that sent him to a hospital in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania, he met the love of his life and married the late Dorothy M. Moore-Keith. Mr. Keith moved his family (Mother Keith, Robin, and Denice) to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was a Drill Sergeant. He made a great impact in the lives of the soldiers he trained. He was not only a Drill Sergeant, but also a mentor to those who wanted to excel in life.

It was this Fort Knox assignment from 1971 to 1975 that forever changed his life. He was baptized and received the Holy Ghost while under the leadership of Pastor E. M. Boggs and Bishop John L. Barber. He went through spiritual ranks (Deacon, Minister, Elder) as he did in the United States Army (Private-Drill Sergeant). Elder Keith became the Superintendent of Sunday School teaching the word of God with the anointing, passion, and zeal. In August 1972, God also increased the family with an answered prayer of a son. John L. Keith II was added to the girls (Robin and Denice).

In August 1975, Mr. Keith moved his family to the Army base at Illesheim, Germany. He Pastored and established the Illesheim Deliverance Church. The church/choir grew and travelled extensively throughout Germany to fellowship with other believers. Many Deacons, Missionaries, Ministers, Evangelists, Elders, Pastors, and Bishops were birthed out of this church. Worthy to mention: Bishop David and Pastor Ivy Reed of Wichita, Kansas; the late Elder Melvin and late Evangelist Jeanette Carr of Savannah, Georgia; Pastor Kenneth and Evangelist Eva Morrall of Beaufort, South Carolina; Elder Earnet Scott and Evangelist Ivory Scott of San Antonio, Texas received spiritual guidance from Eld Keith. The church continued after he returned to Fort Knox as his last duty station.

Mr. Keith retired from the Army in 1980 as Sergeant First Class. His retirement from working didn’t last long. He received his Associates in Business. He went back to Fort Knox to work as an instructor and retired from that job in 1998. After two retirements, he devoted his time to ministry. This Veteran enjoyed reading and teaching God’s word. He also enjoyed watching the Westerns, especially John Wayne and also, In The Heat of The Night while eating his Captain D’s and drinking sprite. He was a faithful active member of Deliverance Tabernacle under the leadership of Bishop Thomas L. Hill and Evangelist Mary Hill of Brooks, Kentucky. Elder Keith would faithfully attend Grace Temple Louisville, Kentucky when his church wasn’t convening. His independent tenacity greatly influenced those in proximity to him. He represented sanctification and Holiness as a good soldier.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Keith was preceded in death by three siblings, Charles A. Keith II, Leona B. Keith, and Barbara L. Keith; two daughters, Beverly and Robin Jones; Niece, Winifred Rainsford; Nephews, Charles A. Keith III,

He leaves behind one sibling; Frederick Thoufeer Aldeen

He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Denice WinsteadBlumenberg and son, John L. Keith II; nieces, Brenda Keith-Maxwell, Benetta Green, Gabrielle; nephews, Anthony Green, Mark Keith; grandchildren, Josiah C. Jones, Eulaisha (Sugar) Denice Jones,Ruth Chrisaundra Jones, Joseph Jared Jones, DeAmber Keith (David), Ezekiel Keith, Jairus Keith, Ariel Keith; great-grandchildren, Faybria Brown and Princeton Weathers; God-daughter, Pauline E. Ford; God-son, Juan Anderson. Longtime Friends, Bishop G.W. Bailey and Eld Jolley; Caregivers, Victoria Ray, Jessica Badon, Angela Horton, Angela of Tender Touch.

Cherished memories for the host of cousins, friends, visitors, and beloved fellowship church families in Milwaukee, WI, Philadelphia, PA, Dillion, AL, Huntsville, AL, and Wichita, KS, Russellville, KY.

Special thanks to Grace Temple Church of Louisville, KY!!!

Visitation will be from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM, Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Chism Family Funeral Home and from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Grace Temple Church, 970 Palatka Rd, Louisville, KY.

Funeral services for Mr. Keith will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Grace Temple Church, 970 Palatka Rd, Louisville, KY.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:30 PM, Monday, February 9, 2026 at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY.