December 14, 2025, 57, Goldsboro – Sunday, December 14, 2025, Edwin Devon Newsome, Sr., affectionately known as “Apostle Von,” peacefully gained his Heavenly Wings at the age of 57. A lifelong resident of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Apostle Von was born on July 28, 1968, to the late Willie C. Newsome and Bettie R. Newsome. He was educated in the Wayne County Public School System. He was a Goldsboro High School all-around standout athlete, known for his exceptional shooting and as one of the region’s greatest point guards in his time. A graduate of Goldsboro High School’s Class of 1986, he carried promising prospects for a professional basketball career. However, after a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, Apostle Von made a life-defining pivot, laying down his love and passion for professional basketball to pursue the will of the Father and a call to ministry, with a mandate, simple yet powerful, “to build His people.” At the age of 13, he met the love of his life, Catherine L. Holmes, affectionately known as “Cat.” Their love story spanned 44 years, including 35 years of marriage. Catherine was truly the love and joy of his life, and together they built a legacy rooted in love, devotion, faith, and family.
Apostle Von, along with his wife, Dr. Catherine L. Newsome, founded Spirit Filled Family Worship Center and later led a significant and visionary transition to Impact Church Goldsboro, both faithfully pastoring for over 32 years with the mandate to “build people, impact the city, and advance God’s Kingdom.” As a Visionary Leader, He carried a Kingdom vision that reached far beyond local walls and notoriety. He labored to develop, train, and equip 21st Century Levites for the work of ministry and the advancement of the Kingdom. Apostle Von was a strong defender of the faith and the institution of God’s Church. Through his pastoral leadership, apostolic teaching, and spiritual guidance, his impact as a spiritual father, mentor, coach, and pillar of the community is evident in the many lives he’s shaped, the leaders he’s fathered, and the foundations he’s helped establish in this city and beyond. Outside of ministry, Apostle Von was known for his love of sports, especially as a devoted Boston Celtics and San Francisco 49ers fan, along with his infamous Duke Blue Devils (the only devil allowed into Heaven). Whether in the pulpit, on the basketball court, or in conversation, his voice and words encouraged, strengthened, and inspired hope to whomever he encountered. Today, we honor his life and legacy by continuing the work he began. He ran his race with integrity, guarded the faith with wisdom, and honored the call through a life marked by devotion.
He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Dr. Catherine L. Newsome; his children, Edwin Devon Newsome, Jr., Kayla-Joy (James) Jones, and Emmanuel Devon Newsome; and his beloved granddaughters, whom he affectionately called “Granddaddy’s pretty girls,” Morgan-Faith, Alaya-Grace, and Jordin-Hope. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie C. Newsome, and his sister, Tequila Anderson. He is also survived by his mother, Bettie R. Newsome; his siblings, Patricia Newsome, Jackie Ruffin (Gary), and Willie Newsome, Jr.; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, spiritual sons and daughters, and countless friends whose lives were forever changed by his love and leadership. Apostle Edwin Von Newsome’s legacy will continue to live on through the many lives he touched and impacted. At the close of every sermon, during the benediction, he would leave us with this declaration.
Today, I make that same declaration to you as his final words: “I apostolically release you to go out and make disciples and impact in the world for the advancement of the Kingdom. Be encouraged.”
