Cornelius Chauncey Best Sr., the son of Pastor James L. and Mother Eddie B.
Best, entered the world on April 25, 1957 in Newburgh, New York. Chauncey was
reared in a Christian home and from a child was involved in the ministry at The
Best Temple Church of God in Christ. As a child, he sang with the church choir
and also a quartet group known as the Best Aires. As a teenager, Chauncey began
to play the piano and organ and became an accomplished church musician. He also
played for various musical groups and churches in the Hudson Valley area and
served as one of the musicians for the Newburgh Free Academy Gospel Choir. In
the early 80’s, Chauncey formed his own musical group known as The Gospel
Expressions. Educated in the Newburgh City School District, he graduated from
Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) in June, 1975 with his high school diploma. He
matriculated at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA in the Fall of 1975
and in the Fall of 1977, he transferred from Berklee School of Music to the
State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz from which he graduated in 1979
with a B.A. in Business Administration. After graduating from college, Chauncey
began his career at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. Climbing the corporate
ladder, he worked at various IBM locations throughout his career. In 2009, he
retired from IBM holding the title of Technology Alliance Executive. In April of
2010, after retirement, he founded Best Telecommunications where he served as
Senior Sales Consultant and Chief Operating Officer. In June 2012, he went back
to full-time employment at Time Warner Cable as a supervisor in the Client Care
area. In August, 1988, Chauncey was married to Charlene M. Stiff of Brooklyn,
NY. As a result of this union, they are the proud parents of five young adult
children and one daughter, Erica, who predeceased him. Chauncey accepted Jesus
Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young adult. He was licensed as a minister at
The Best Temple Church of God in Christ in 1996 by the late Rev Dr. James L.
Best. He and his family later relocated to Apex, North Carolina. There he served
at Abundant Life Christian Center Church of God in Christ under the leadership
of Supt. (now Bishop) Stenneth Powell and was ordained an Elder in the Church of
God in Christ by the late Bishop C.E. Anderson, Prelate of North Carolina Second
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in 1999. Chauncey transitioned into eternity on
Thursday morning, April 28, 2016 after a brief illness. He left us to join his
baby daughter, Erica Britney Best, his father, Dr. James L. Best, his brother,
Louis C. Best, his sisters, Mary E. Brockett and Hilda G. Campbell. He leaves to
cherish his memory a loving wife, Charlene M. Best, four sons; Jeffery
(Angelina) of Charlotte, NC, Travis of Raeford, NC, Cornelius Chauncey Jr.
(Janine) of Atlanta, GA, and Ryan of Charlotte. NC; one daughter, Ebony of Rock
Hill, SC; his mother, Mother Eddie B. Best of Newburgh, NY; four brothers, James
Pearson (Lena) of Warsaw, VA, Cleveland E. Best (Carole) of Walden, NY, Samuel
M. Best, and Milton S. Best of Newburgh, NY; five sisters, Doris Hollins of
Springfield, MA, Rosella Woody (Joseph) of Henderson, NC, Celestine B. Torain
(Tony) of Owings Mills, MD, Vera M. Best and Cassandra D. Borden (John) of
Newburgh, NY, 8 grandchildren; Travis Jr., Quentin, twins Malcolm & Justin,
Bailey, Caleb, Cameron, and Laila; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and
dear friends who love him.
Chauncey will always live in our heart!
A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 7, 2016, 12 PM, at St. Luke
Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the
service. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens. Funeral
arrangements entrusted to Boston's Mortuary.
Cornelius Chauncey Best Sr., the son of Pastor James L. and Mother Eddie B.
Best, entered the world on April 25, 1957 in Newburgh, New York. Chauncey was
reared in a Christian home and from a child was involved in the ministry at The
Best Temple Church of God in Christ. As a child, he sang with the church choir
and also a quartet group known as the Best Aires. As a teenager, Chauncey began
to play the piano and organ and became an accomplished church musician. He also
played for various musical groups and churches in the Hudson Valley area and
served as one of the musicians for the Newburgh Free Academy Gospel Choir. In
the early 80’s, Chauncey formed his own musical group known as The Gospel
Expressions. Educated in the Newburgh City School District, he graduated from
Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) in June, 1975 with his high school diploma. He
matriculated at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA in the Fall of 1975
and in the Fall of 1977, he transferred from Berklee School of Music to the
State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz from which he graduated in 1979
with a B.A. in Business Administration. After graduating from college, Chauncey
began his career at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. Climbing the corporate
ladder, he worked at various IBM locations throughout his career. In 2009, he
retired from IBM holding the title of Technology Alliance Executive. In April of
2010, after retirement, he founded Best Telecommunications where he served as
Senior Sales Consultant and Chief Operating Officer. In June 2012, he went back
to full-time employment at Time Warner Cable as a supervisor in the Client Care
area. In August, 1988, Chauncey was married to Charlene M. Stiff of Brooklyn,
NY. As a result of this union, they are the proud parents of five young adult
children and one daughter, Erica, who predeceased him. Chauncey accepted Jesus
Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young adult. He was licensed as a minister at
The Best Temple Church of God in Christ in 1996 by the late Rev Dr. James L.
Best. He and his family later relocated to Apex, North Carolina. There he served
at Abundant Life Christian Center Church of God in Christ under the leadership
of Supt. (now Bishop) Stenneth Powell and was ordained an Elder in the Church of
God in Christ by the late Bishop C.E. Anderson, Prelate of North Carolina Second
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in 1999. Chauncey transitioned into eternity on
Thursday morning, April 28, 2016 after a brief illness. He left us to join his
baby daughter, Erica Britney Best, his father, Dr. James L. Best, his brother,
Louis C. Best, his sisters, Mary E. Brockett and Hilda G. Campbell. He leaves to
cherish his memory a loving wife, Charlene M. Best, four sons; Jeffery
(Angelina) of Charlotte, NC, Travis of Raeford, NC, Cornelius Chauncey Jr.
(Janine) of Atlanta, GA, and Ryan of Charlotte. NC; one daughter, Ebony of Rock
Hill, SC; his mother, Mother Eddie B. Best of Newburgh, NY; four brothers, James
Pearson (Lena) of Warsaw, VA, Cleveland E. Best (Carole) of Walden, NY, Samuel
M. Best, and Milton S. Best of Newburgh, NY; five sisters, Doris Hollins of
Springfield, MA, Rosella Woody (Joseph) of Henderson, NC, Celestine B. Torain
(Tony) of Owings Mills, MD, Vera M. Best and Cassandra D. Borden (John) of
Newburgh, NY, 8 grandchildren; Travis Jr., Quentin, twins Malcolm & Justin,
Bailey, Caleb, Cameron, and Laila; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and
dear friends who love him. 