Supervisor Novella Singleton

Mother Novella Singleton was born on October 25,1938 in Charlotte, North Carolina to James Rufus Burch and Louise McGill Burch. Mother was an only child. In her early childhood years, her father, who was in the Navy, relocated the family to Norfolk, Virginia and was stationed there for several years. Mother told us that, as a child, she was able to go back to North Carolina and stay for long periods of time with her paternal grandmother, Odessa Burch, who she loved dearly. Mother said her grandmother was instrumental in her childhood teaching and training. Mother told us that she cherished those times and reminisced about the good times with her grandma. Mother often told us that her childhood and young adult years had many struggles, adversities. and unpleasant memories. But Mother said she held onto the belief that better and brighter days were ahead; and how true that was, because God had a special calling on Mother’s life. Mother received her formal secular education at Larchmont Elementary School and later graduated from Maury High School in Norfolk, VA. God’s divine plan for Mother’s life would unfold in the upcoming years. As a young military wife, Mother traveled to many states with her husband, the late Jimmie L. Hancock, Sr., who was in the Army. As God would have it, in the state of Kansas, in the city of Manhattan, “the little apple”,+ on 916 Yuma Street at the Yuma Street C.O.G.I.C. in the year of 1963 would be the place where God’s divine plan for Mother’s life would begin to unfold. Mother accepted Christ into her life as her Lord and Savior. She became sanctified and was filled with the Holy Ghost. The late Bishop (then Elder) William H. McDonald was her Pastor and spiritual father, and the late Mother Faye McDonald was her spiritual Mother. Mother Emma Mason, who was then the State Supervisor of Women in Kansas East, would become not only a mentor and teacher, but a dear friend. These spiritual giants and others were instrumental in laying the foundation for Mother’s growth and development in the C.O.G.I.C. Mother and her family would later be relocated to Lawton, Oklahoma under Bishop J.A. Young, and later to Ft. Dix, New Jersey under Bishop Esau Courtney. In 1972, Mother and her family returned to Virginia and were under the leadership of Bishop David C. Love and Bishop Ted Thomas, Sr. Bishop Thomas was also her pastor at the New Community C.O.G.I.C. where Mother attended with her family. Bishop Thomas appointed Mother Singleton as District Missionary of the Central District in Virginia, 1st Jurisdiction. Mother Thelma G. Vaughan was her State Supervisor in Virginia 1st Jurisdiction. Mother assisted Mother Vaughan in the work of the state. She served faithfully in her local church as District Missionary and in New Community as Pastor Aide President, noon day prayer leader, conductor of prayer, and consecration services and in the choir. Mother coordinated and participated in street witnessing, as well as hospital and food pantry ministries. Mother served in the 1st Jurisdiction of Virginia for 21 years. Mother met the love of her life, “her honey”, Deacon Robert Singleton, in Norfolk, Virginia in December of 1975, and they were united in holy matrimony on March 25, 1976. This past March 25, 2025, was their 49th Wedding Anniversary, and they would have celebrated 49 years of marriage. Throughout the 48 years and 19 days of their married life, Deacon Singleton was a faithful, devoted, and loving husband and father. In 1993, Mother was led by God to return to Kansas with her family. She and her family became members of Mason Temple Institutional C.O.G.I.C. shortly after arriving back in Kansas under the pastorage of Bishop William H. McDonald. In 1995, Bishop McDonald appointed Mother Singleton as coordinator of the food pantry ministry at Mason Temple. Mother served excellently in this position for 22 years. Upon the death of Bishop McDonald, Bishop L.F. Thuston would become Mother and the Singleton’s family pastor. Mother’s work and ministry continued. Mother loved feeding people spiritually and naturally. Mother never met a stranger and would boldly witness about God and His saving power. Mother would witness to the little nobody, to anybody on the streets, to the store cashier, the police officer, and even to the judge in the courtroom. Mother was a cook and chef in her own rights. Mother would cook large pans of food to feed the church family and families in the community that she knew needed help, the staff at the local banks, the staff at Harvesters Food Network, and even the registration committee staff members in the National church in Memphis, Tennessee. Mother was an entrepreneur and business lady. She sold clothing, jewelry, and hand-crafted items. Mother attended cosmetology school in Manhattan, Kansas in her younger years and was certified and operated her own beauty shop. Mother also worked in health care and was a certified nursing assistant. Mother Singleton was appointed as District Missionary of the C.H. Mason District in Kansas East on March 25, 2010 under Superintendent James Boyer. Upon Supt. Boyer’s passing on May 10, 2017, Supt. W.O. Sherrod would later become her Superintendent. Mother later was appointed Assistant Supervisor of Kansas East Women’s Department by Bishop L.F. Thuston, Chairman of the General Assembly, on July 24, 2011. In the year 2021, Bishop Thuston appointed Mother Novella Singleton as Supervisor of Kansas East Women’s Department. On November 12, 2021, Mother was officially installed as Supervisor. Mother served faithfully and did an exceptional and commendable job as a District Missionary and as Supervisor. However, Mother suffered serious health issues in the year 2024 and ongoing into March 2025 that impeded her from serving in her position. During her trials, adversities, and illness, she remained steadfast and confident in her love for God. Mother Novella Singleton lived a life of faith, love, and service. She was a giver and a lover of people. With her titles, the many “hats she wore”, and her many accolades, she liked to just be called ‘Mother Singleton” in the church and in the secular world. Mother Novella Singleton departed this life on March 16, 2025, and transitioned to glory to her heavenly home. Space and time will not allow us to record the many acts of kindness, labors of love, and experiences from the tremendous ministry and walk with God of Mother Novella Singleton. Although small in stature, she was a “giant” in God. She was a “warrior for God.” God fulfilled His divine plan in the life of a little girl who believed “a better and brighter day was coming.” Mother Singleton was preceded in death by her grandmother, Odessa Burch; her parents, James and Louise Bruch; her son, Elder Jimmie L. Hancock, Jr.; and her beloved daughter, Abigail Alma Singleton. Mother leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life, her beloved and steadfast husband Deacon Robert Singleton of the home in Leavenworth, Kansas; beloved daughters, Missionary Rebecca Hancock of the home in Leavenworth, Kansas and Jacqueline Hancock of Kileen, Texas; her grandson, Major U.S. Army Timothy Q. Hancock (Devin), who she was very proud of; great grands, Tyler and Trinity all of Lorton, Virginia; granddaughter, Tarah Hightower (Rico); grands, Joyce and Aria all of Severn Maryland; daughter-in-law, Viola Hancock of Denver, Colorado; and niece Karen George Hanna (Troy) of Brooklyn, New York; and nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws in the South Carolina, New York ,and Missouri areas; her Mason Temple Institutional C.O.G.I.C. family; her Kansas East Jurisdictional family; kind, loyal neighbors and friends, Dan and Wendy Hall; and a host of friends, acquaintances, and those whose lives she touched. Supervisor Novella Singleton was a light in the lives of many, lifting them up with her compassion and wisdom. Yes, she leaves us with a legacy of love, devotion, faithfulness and service that will live on in the hearts of the many lives she touched. And we have this consolation that one day we will meet again in Heaven. “And when we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be.” Let each of us strive to fulfill Mother Singleton’s saying, she often quoted: “Pray that I don’t make God ashamed, and if I don’t make God ashamed, I won’t make you ashamed.” Funeral Services will be held on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Miracle Temple COGIC 2106 Quindaro Blvd. KCKS 66104. Interment: Leavenworth National Cemetery on Monday April 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation: 9-11:00 a.m. at the Church. There will be a Visitation Friday Evening April 4, 2025, at Miracle Temple COGIC 2106 Quindaro Blvd. KCKS 66104 from 6-9:00 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels. Condolences may be shared on our website lawrenceajones.com

Supervisor Novella Singleton

October 25, 1938 - March 16, 2025