Audrey Tinsley

Audrey Lee Hairston Tinsley was born on January 28, 1940 in Henry County, Fieldale, Virginia to the late Albert Jefferson and Peggy Shelton Hairston. She received her primary education in the Henry County public school system and graduated from George Washington Carver High School, Martinsville, Virginia in 1958. She furthered her education at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA. and received a B.A. in Theology from Bethel Bible Institute, Bridgeport, CT. Audrey (Pug) moved to New Haven, Connecticut with her husband Carl Davis Tinsley (deceased) where they raised their six children, and three stepchildren. She loved her family. She was an avid cook and hosted many meals for her family and friends. She was a longtime employee of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, North Haven, CT retiring after 30 years of service in 2000. Audrey came to know Christ at an early age having attended Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Fieldale, Virginia. Her retirement allowed her to devote more time to her love for Christ and her beloved church, Pentecostal Assembly Church of Deliverance where she was ordained as Pastor, by the late Overseer, Lila Wingate-Agee, and later becoming Overseer under the auspices of Apostle, Ronald Wingate. She was also a member of Praise the Lord Fellowship, under the direction of Bishop Kenneth Washington, Jr. When introducing her love of Christ, she did so through teaching and encouragement. She spent a lifetime of reaching out and touching the lives of those in need and even offering her home to appointed pastors and evangelists for lodging during their transition to the New Haven area. Her love for family, friends, her church family and those in need was clearly undeniable. Audrey formed many bonds that will last a lifetime. Preceding her in death are her parents Albert Jefferson and Peggy Shelton Hairston and her siblings James “Jimmy” Hairston, Betty Hairston, and her stepchildren, Carl Tinsley, Jr. and Harold “Ade” Tinsley. She is survived by her children: Karen Lynn (Curtis) Greene, Rincon, Georgia, Eric (Vickie) Tinsley, J.D., Clearwater, Florida, Sandra Tinsley, Mount Vernon, New York, Tabitha Tinsley, North Haven, CT, Gerod Tinsley and Carla Tinsley both of West Haven, CT. and stepdaughter Gail Tinsley, St. Louis, Missouri. Fourteen grandchildren: Nneka, Gerald, II, Myles, Danielle, Ezra, Ashley, Brianna, Gerod, Jr., Adrianna, Kanaje, Jasmine, Quintin, Serena & Kiana. Five great-grandchildren: Korbin, Kaeden, Keiva, Nevaeh, Kenzo and her god-daughter Cynthia. Her siblings: Thomas “Tuck” Hairston, Richmond, VA, Forestine “Tene” Willis (Rob) of Chesterfield, VA, Charlotte “Belle” Hairston of Deptford, New Jersey, and her Aunt Katie Shelton Holt of Basset, VA. Sister in-laws: Paula Hairston, Gretchen Hairston, Nanette Tinsley, and Dorothy Tinsley. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors and her beloved church family.

Audrey Tinsley

January 28, 1940 - December 18, 2019