Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 9, 1994 TAG: 9407190017
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOSEF FEDERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It was. When Coffindaffer died of heart failure at the age of 68 last October, his cross campaign went with him, said his secretary, Sharon Clendenin.
``He would have liked to have it continue. But he also knew he was out of money,'' Clendenin said.
The colorful businessman-turned-evangelist spent his life's savings and devoted his final nine years to the crosses, which overlook roadsides in 29 states and in two foreign countries.
No one has offered to take over his mission.
``We get a few letters and received one donation for $100. That's about it,'' said Clendenin, who handles the affairs of Coffindaffer's now-defunct nonprofit company, Cast Thy Bread Inc. of Craigsville, about 50 miles east of Charleston.
Coffindaffer came up with the idea during a trip to Israel, when he said God commanded him to erect the crosses.
The 20-foot crosses, made from California Douglas fir, symbolize Christ on the cross, flanked by the two thieves who were crucified with him.
Coffindaffer asked landowners to donate land for the crosses, which were built to be clearly seen from busy roads. Coffindaffer took care of the rest.
The first set was planted in 1984 on Interstate 79 near Flatwoods, about 65 miles north of Charleston.
At its peak, the project had seven full-time work crews.
They blanketed West Virginia's interstates and back roads with more than 300 sets of crosses, and placed large numbers throughout the South, said Clendenin. In all, about 1,900 clusters appear in 29 Eastern and Southern states, Zambia and the Philippines.
``We've put crosses in some of the most fantastic places you've ever heard of,'' Coffindaffer said just three days before his death.
When he died, however, he left few instructions and even fewer dollars for his followers.
``He never did say what he wanted. Although I'm sure if there were money, he'd keep it going. He was very proud of what he did,'' said his brother, Cecil Coffindaffer of Cottle.
The few requests for crosses since Coffindaffer's death have been turned down, said Clendenin. Just maintaining them could be a problem.
Clendenin said she has little to offer cross owners beyond advice on which paints are needed for upkeep.
``We never had a written contract with the landowners. If they want to maintain them, that's great. If not, they can take them down,'' she said.
The project was funded almost entirely by Coffindaffer's personal wealth, proceeds of the sale of a coal-washing mill he owned in Nicholas County.
He spent about $2 million on the crosses, which cost an average of $850 per cluster.
``He was someone who was always striving. He wanted to go much farther,'' said his widow, June Coffindaffer of Charleston. ``I hate to see it fade away because so much money and energy went into it.''
At the end, Coffindaffer hoped to find new wealth by convincing the Israeli government to drill for ``uncontaminated golden crude oil'' he said was put under the country by ``a large bee.''
The Israeli government did not cooperate.
Clendenin said it's sad, but not surprising the way things turned out.
``Donations were never a major part of the operation, but it would be nice if someone wants to continue it. He would have been very happy,'' she said.
by CNB