SUFFOLK – Karen Denise Croston went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008. She served as Minister of Music of East End Baptist Church for the past 19 years. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Temple University and a Master of Church Music from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
At the age of 14, Mrs. Croston began her music ministry as director for the Youth Choir of North Providence Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa. She has also served as Music Director at the Christian Mission Fellowship Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., Minister of Music at First Baptist Church Jeffersontown, Ky., and East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Va. She served as organizer and director for the Jubal Arts Center; Director of Music for the Baptist Sunday School and B.T.U. Congress of Virginia (12 years); African American Consultant for Church Music and Worship for the Baptist General Association of Virginia; a writer and a Mary Kay beauty consultant. She has served on mission teams to Antigua, Jamaica, Italy, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and South Africa.
Karen Croston is survived by her husband, Dr. Mark A. Croston Sr.; two children, Candace Kamille and Mark Andrew Jr.; her father, the Rev. William A. Johnson Sr.; three sisters, Dorothy Lewis of Tampa, Fla., Marie Pleasant (Robert), of Philadelphia, Pa. and Cynthia Johnson, of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, William A. Johnson Jr., of Denver, Colo.; Lyndon Troy Johnson (Natalie), of Wilmington, Del., and a host of other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the East End Baptist Church, Saturday at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the East End Baptist Church Building Fund. Professional services have been entrusted to Harris Funeral Home.