Reverend Heyward P. Knight

He was born September 10, 1931 to Roy Pinckney Knight and Verna Rudd Knight in Charleston, SC where he spent his first 19 years, graduating from Charleston High School and working at C&S National Bank until his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in 1950.

After his honorable discharge in 1954, he attended The Citadel, in Charleston, SC, graduating in less than 3 years in 1957 with a BA in Political Science.

He was licensed to the ministry in 1956 and ordained in February of 1958 at Hampstead Square (now Northbridge) Baptist Church, Charleston, SC. In addition to The Citadel he was also a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC (MDiv), Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY (MS Guidance & Counseling) and The U.S. Army Career Chaplain's Advanced Course at Fort Hamilton, NY. He also received Certification in Clinical Pastoral Education after a year of advanced study at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Prior to being called to active duty in the US Army, he served in the Army Reserve while pastoring at Cordesville Baptist Church, Moncks Corner, SC; Memorial Baptist Church, Ravenel, SC and Buffalo Baptist Church, Blacksburg, SC.

He served from October of 1964 through October of 1977 on active duty and retired from the Army Reserve in 1991.

He pastored Pine Grove Baptist Church, Thomson, GA from 1977 - 1980 when he accepted a position as a Hospital Chaplain at the VA Medical Center in Waukegan, IL. He pastored Calvary Baptist in, Antioch, IL from 1984 - 1987 before moving back to Augusta in 1988 when he transferred to the Charlie Norwood VAMC. He pastored a second term at Pine Grove from 1989 - 1990. In addition, he filled interim pastorates in Bethlehem, PA; Trenton, NJ and Wheaton, MD while serving on active duty with the Army.

Chap. Knight moved to Augusta in 1975 to serve as Hospital Chaplain at Fort Gordon Post Hospital which was replaced a year later with the new Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center where he served as the first Protestant Chaplain in the facility. He served a total of 22 years, 4 months prior to his retiring from the USAR. He retired again in 1998 after 17 years, 5 months with the VA.

He continued to be active in ministry through various outreaches filling in short term pulpit supply for pastors throughout the CSRA and also taught Sunday School classes at Baker Woods Baptist in Martinez, where he was a founding member, and Crossbridge Baptist in Augusta, where he was a member until his earthly departure. He also maintained an active counseling ministry until last year.

He was a Fellow of The College of Chaplains and The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and a member of The Protestant Hospital Chaplains Association, The Retired Officers Association and Gordon Lakes Golf Club.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Edna Rast Knight, in 2013, and his parents. He is survived by his children Daryl (and wife Terry) Knight of Augusta, Gene (and wife Elaine) Knight of Lawrenceville, GA and Dayanne (and husband Ed) Knight Baucom of

Soddy Daisy, TN. He also leaves grandsons Chris (and wife Gretchen) Knight, Jonathan (and wife Ashton) Knight, Nick Knight, Matt Knight, David Knight and Gregory Baucom; step-grandson James (and wife Nickie) Davis and great grandchildren Gabriel Davis and Gemma Ruth Knight along with a brother, Robert Herman (and wife Frances) Knight of Charleston, SC and a sister, Joyce (and husband Walter) Everts of Painted Post, NY; sister-in-law Sherrill (and husband Frank) Rast Way of Greenville, SC and brother-in-law Harvey (and wife GeorgeAnn) Rast of Eutawville, SC; 9 nephews and nieces; great nephews and nieces and cousins too numerous to mention as well as a host of friends and church family across the country and in countries around the world.

A memorial celebration of his life and homegoing will be held at Living Waters Church, 1319 Community Park Road, Augusta, GA at noon on Saturday, February 10, 2018 with Pastor Oscar Whiteside, Chap. Ellis Moore, Rev. Daryl Knight and Minister Jonathan Knight officiating. The family will receive friends for an hour prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund at Living Waters Church, 1319 Community Park Road, Augusta, GA 30909; the Building Fund at Crossbridge Baptist Church, 3130 Skinner Mill Road, Augusta, GA 30909 or The American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1159, Chicago, IL 60601.