The Rev. Mary M. Kapper

The Rev. Mary M. Kapper died on November 25, 2011. She was 86 years old. Rev. Kapper was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 11, 1925 to Willard B. and Genevieve (Brady) Kapper. She graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 1947, and attained her Masters of Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in 1978. She received her Masters of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1988.

Rev. Kapper was ordained by the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists on May 14, 1989. She was called to serve the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato and the Nora Unitarian Universalist Church in Hanska from 1990-1991. She was a community minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley from 1991-2001. She also served as a hospice chaplain for Pathways Hospice and Home Health in Oakland, CA. In 2002, Rev. Kapper became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron and served as the church’s Social Justice Chair from 2006-2007.

Rev. Kapper was involved in many social causes, working tirelessly to promote the civil rights of women and minorities. She helped to establish Akron Women Against Rape in 1974.

Rev. Kapper is survived by her son, John Barry and his wife, Rosemary; her son, Tom Barry; her son, James Barry; her daughter, Mary Ann Seiberling; her son, Matthew Barry and his fiancé, Chris; her son, Daniel Barry; her daughter, Jeannine Marks and her husband, Steve; her daughter, Maureen Rocha and her husband, Rodrigo; ten grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren.

Rev. Kapper was preceded in death by a son, Mark Barry; and a daughter, Claire Simpson.

Family and friends paid their respects to the memory of Rev. Kapper on November 30, 2011 at Fairlawn West United Church of Christ in Akron, OH. Donations in Rev. Kapper’s memory may be made to Summa Hospice and Pallative Care Center, Founda- tion Office, P.O. Box 2090, Akron, OH 44398-6453.

Charles Kahn-Schneider

Charles Kahn-Schneider, 86, husband of the Rev. Joan K. Schneider died in early August, 2006. Charlie was a chemist who worked for Mead Paper Co. before changing careers to become a college science teacher. He followed Joan in her ministries, finding jobs where she went: Farmington, MI; UUA Director of Ministerial Education in Boston; Mentor, OH, Albany NY, and interims in NH, CT, TN, and SC. He leaves his wife and six children, Sandy Uhrig of CA; Carol Peindl of NC; Dave Friedman of CA; Jim Friedman of OH; Robin Guethlein of KY; and Jerri Menaul of FL.

Vera Kafka

Vera Kafka, 86, widow of the Rev. Hvezdon Kafka, died February 28, 2010. Born in Prague, she survived the Nazi occupation and emigrated to the US in 1945. The Kafkas embodied the American Dream, coming to this country with just their suitcases. With hard work and a frugal lifestyle they were able to put their sons through college. She managed the school lunch program in Stow, MA, and managed a women’s clothing store, ran the ladies section in a department store, and was once the nanny to the family of Dr. Edward Teller (father of the A-bomb). She deftly managed the responsibilities of being a mother, a minister’s wife, and a wage earner. She was an active member of the First Parish Church of Stow & Acton. After retiring she enjoyed traveling, golf, bridge, knitting, sewing and needlepoint. She is survived by her sons, Jason and Thomas Kafka, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

The Rev. Hvezdon “Don” Kafka

Hvezdon Kafka

The Rev. Hvezdon “Don” Kafka, 86, died at his home in Marlborough, MA March 16, 2008. As a child, he attended the Rev. Norbert Capek’s church in Prague where Rev. Capek celebrated the first flower communion, a ritual now practiced widely throughout our denomination. Don was a scholar and a gifted pastor whose extraordinary life experience helped him to assist others through difficult times. The Rev. Tom Rosiello, who serves the Stow and Acton church, described him as a real inspiration, saying, “In spite of the many physical challenges Rev. Kafka faced over the last several years, he remained positive in spirit and strong in his faith and always offered words of support and encouragement to me for my ministry at the church. It was an honor for me to learn from him and get to know him.”

The Rev. Alfred D. Judd

The Rev. Alfred D. Judd, 81, died February 6, 2007 of a heart attack. He spent three years in the Army in Europe during World War II before graduating from St. Lawrence University and Theological School. He served churches in Fall River, MA; Clarklake and Horton, MI; Claremont, NH; East Greenwich, RI, and Lubbock, College Station and Houston, TX, where he was named Emeritus in 1985. Al and Patricia moved to Santa Fe, NM in 1987. Al is remembered as a man of moderation, good will, good cheer, and simple goodness. He loved steam trains and for many years worked as a volunteer on the Cumbres and Toltec Restoration Project in the Southwest. He built model trains, a creative designer and builder. One of Al’s great pleasures was being a mentor at the Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Santa Fe. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; three children: Karen, Rebecca and Taylor; three stepsons: David, Jeffrey and Gregory White and their families; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A Memorial Service was held March 2.

The Rev. Dr. William Ronald Jones

William Ronald Jones

The Rev. Dr. William Ronald Jones died on July 13, 2012 at the age of 78. Rev. Jones was born in Louisville, KY on July 17, 1933 to Henry and Lannie (Brogsdale) Jones. Rev. Jones attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Howard University in 1955. He then went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Harvard University in 1958, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Brown University in 1969.

Rev. Jones was ordained by the Unitarian Society of Wellesley Hills, MA on June 15, 1958. From 1958-1960, he was the Assistant Minister and Director of Religious Education at the Church of the Mediator (now the First Unitarian Universalist Church) in Providence, RI. From 1977-2012, he served as a community minister at Florida State University. Notably, he was a member of the UUA Board of Trustees from 1993-2000, and worked with the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) to develop resources for professional religious educators.

Rev. Jones authored articles regarding oppression and the church’s role in social change. His work has been the subject of a vast number of newspaper and journal articles as well as dissertations. In 1978, he co-edited Black Theology II, and in 1973, Beacon Press published Rev. Jones’ controversial piece, Is God A White Racist? A Preamble to Black Theology.

In his seminal work, Is God A White Racist?, Rev. Jones introduced the thesis for his life’s work:

“It has often been said that asking the right question is as important as supplying the correct answer. Whether correct or incorrect, this generalization describes the purpose in the following pages. To paraphrase Kant’s admonition, my objective is to force the black theologians and their readers to pause a moment and, neglecting all that they have said and done, to reconsider their conclusions in the light of another question: Is God a white racist? My concern throughout is to illuminate the issues this pregnant question introduces into the arena of black theology and religion. The black theologian, I contend, cannot avoid this issue of divine racism, because it is implicit in his theological method, purpose, and content.”

An internationally recognized and celebrated activist, scholar, philosopher, theologian, and educator, Rev. Jones dedicated his long career to the analysis and methods of oppression, and to working with others in their anti-oppression initiatives. A fundamental part of his work was the exploration of religious humanism and liberation theology.

William Ronald Jones

Rev. Jones’ academic and professional endeavors were broad and vast. He helped found and became the Director of the Department of African-American Studies as Florida State University. He was also an associate professor at Yale Divinity School, a visiting lecturer at Howard University, and a visiting professor at Brown University, Princeton University, and Union Theological Seminary, among others. Some of his professional affiliations included the American Academy of Religion, the American Humanist Association, the American Philosophical Association, the Religious Education Association, the Society for the Study of Black Religion, the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics, and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA).

Rev. Jones received a vast number of awards over the years including the Urban League Family of the Year Award (1963), the Richard Allen Award (1972), Yale’s A. Whitney Griswold Award (1974), the Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Scholar Award (1986), the Bragg Humanist of the Year Award (1989), the American Humanist Association Humanist of the Year (1992), the UUA’s Holmes Weatherly Award (1995), and the African American Culture and Philosophy Award (1996), to name just a few.

Rev. Jones is survived by his former wife of 35 years, Lauretta H. Jones; sons Jeffrey Jones, Esq. and Darrell Jones; brother, Cecil Jones; sister, Gilmer Jones Callender; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Jones was held on August 19, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Nancy Smith Fichter Theatre in Montgomery Hall at Florida State University, 130 Collegiate Loop, Tallahassee, FL 32306.

Notes of condolence may be sent to The Jones Family, 2410 Limerick Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32309.

The Rev. Dr. Jones is, perhaps, most lovingly remembered for a principle by which he lived: “You show your love through actions, not words alone.”

The Rev. Walter Royal Jones, Jr.

Walter Royal Jones

The Rev. Walter Royal Jones, Jr., 90, died April 30, 2010. He earned degrees from Brooklyn College and Union Theological Seminary. As a conscientious objector, he served a year in prison rather than go to war. His ministry included churches in MA, NY, VA and CO. Among his many accomplishments he chaired the UUA Commission on Religion and Race and participated in the civil rights March on Washington and in Birmingham and Selma, AL, and McComb, MS. Roy chaired the UUA’s Committee on Purposes & Principles. He was given the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of UUism. His volunteer work included ACLU, Planned Parenthood. He loved music, and trains. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Lyons, and his second wife, Eliza Craddock East, and two children, Catherine Ellen and Thomas Philip. He is survived by four children: Walter Royal Jones III, Christine Elizabeth Jones, Carol Ann Jones Conley, and Linda Susan Jones Bothe, their spouses, three stepsons, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Elizabeth S. Jones

The Rev. Elizabeth S. Jones, 79, died April 14, 2006 of hepatoma. She received a Master of Divinity at Starr King and a Doctorate of Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary. She was ordained by the Unitarian Church, Santa Barbara CA, and served the UU Church in Idaho Falls, ID. She was named minister emeritus by the UU Church of Livermore, CA. Surviving are her husband Jeffrey P. Lambkin, and four children: Stephen, Nancy, David and Susan, all of California. A memorial service was held April 25 in the Atrium of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkley, Kensington, CA.

Eliza Jones

Eliza Jones, spouse of The Rev. Walter Royal Jones, died June 3, 2004 of complications following surgery. Roy and several family members were at her bedside in her last moments. A memorial service was held in early in July at the Foothills Church in Fort Collins, CO.

The Rev. Janet Boykin Johnson

Janet Johnson

The Reverend Janet Boykin Johnson, social worker and activist, chaplain, spiritual director, and parish minister, died at age 72 on March 25, 2015.

Janet was born on 4 June 1942 to Thelma and Hubert Dallas. She earned a B.A. from Hunter College in 1966 and an MSW from the University of Chicago in 1972. In a first career, Janet was a social worker in the Chicago Public School System for 18 years. During that time, Janet was also an active member of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, and caretaker to two grandsons, whom she adopted, Jason Johnson and (the late) Justin Johnson.

Janet was very involved in community affairs, and ministered to the public long before receiving fellowship. While living in Chicago, she was on the Board of Directors of the River Oaks Towne Houses Cooperative and was a member of Amnesty International. Also during this time, from 1975 to 1992, she served as host and program coordinator of the international nonprofit, Experiment in International Living. Her duties included hosting exchange students from Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. After moving to California, Janet sat on several pastoral care hospital boards, and co-managed a clothing store operated by the Chaplaincy for the Homeless.

She went on to attend Starr King School for the Ministry, and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2002. Ms. Johnson was ordained in 2002 by the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, Illinois. Subsequently, she served as a chaplain to cancer patients at a hospital in Richmond, CA. She left the hospital in 2004 and started a private spiritual direction practice. From 2004 to 2007 she worked in the practice and as a part time minister to the Mt. Diablo Church of Walnut Creek, CA. In 2008 she took a position as consulting minister to the UU Church of Cortland, NY, serving there until her retirement in 2013.

Janet enjoyed camping, knitting, crocheting, reading poetry, and listening to music

Janet is survived by her two daughters, Kimari Johnson and Kairis (Boykin) Bonella; her grandsons, Jason Johnson, Joseph Clayton, Jr., Johann Curry, Nieko Bonella, Angelo Bonella and Anton Klinnert; a son-in-law, Valentin Klinnert; step-children, Michele Freeny and Teren Johnson; first cousin, Thelma Williams and many distant cousins.

A memorial service was held at on Saturday, 4 April 2015 at the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca NY. For more information about where to send cards, flowers, and/or donations, please e-mail johnsonklinnert@yahoo.com.