Dear Friends in Christ,
Dr. Davis Chappell
Sunday evening after the picnic, Sherre and I drove to Hendersonville to see my aunt Betty, who was in the final hours of her life. She was with us on our first Sunday here at Brentwood UMC. We wanted to be with her on her last Sunday on earth. She was born and raised in Bluefield, Virginia, the middle child of 3 girls.
My mother was firstborn. All 3 were high school valedictorians. And all 3 married Methodist preachers. Her first husband, Wayne Masters, died of leukemia at age 35. As a young widow, she accepted the position of college-church relations director at Martin College. During her time there, she completed her college degree, and later entered Vanderbilt University, where she received a doctoral degree in psychology. Eventually Betty would marry Ben Alexander, a beloved minister in our conference. She would be elected as Lay Leader for the Tennessee conference of the United Methodist Church. As a member of Hendersonville UMC, she was head of the confirmation program. I'm told that over the years, she taught over 600 children what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. She never had any children of her own. But the truth is - she had hundreds of children; confirmands and college students, nieces and nephews. Sunday night we went to say thank-you. As I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving in her ear, Sherre laid a prayer shawl across her bed; a gift from our prayer shawl ministry. She died the next night. I believe she received a hero's welcome and a divine commendation. I am grateful to have been a part of her life, and for her life that continues eternally in Christ. Her legacy reminds me of the maternal nature of the Church. It's been said, "One cannot have
God as Father without also having the Church as Mother." That makes sense to me. For Betty Masters Alexander, who mothered me and many, I say thanks be to God! Finally, it was good to welcome new members James Davis, Collins Patnaik and Britany Binkowski. Welcome to our church community. See you Sunday,
Davis