The Rev. Dr. James Madison Barr III

James Madison Barr III

The Rev. Dr. James Madison Barr III, 90, died June 10, 2009 at home. He attended Fork Union Military Academy and University of Virginia, where he earned a law degree. He taught at UVA’s School of Economics and Commerce. He worked as an attorney, accountant, and auditor. Jim served on the Charlottesville, VA city council and as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce there. An active member of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlottesville, he entered Starr King and served churches in MA, NY, and TN. He was instrumental in building the Memphis church —“The Church of the River.” The church named him minister emeritus for his 20 years of service. In his retirement, he was a member of UU Village Church (Hot Springs Village, AK), where he also preached. He served in the Southwest District as Settlement Representative, Good Offices Representative, as member of the SWD Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Summer Institute. His community activities in Memphis included board service for Tenn-Ark-Miss Council of the Girl Scouts, Urban League, and the Heart Association. He was a member of the Memphis Community Relations Commission. He is survived by three daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his third wife, “Maggie.”

Evelyn Gerrish Weeks

Evelyn Gerrish Weeks, 87, widow of Rev. Herbert Weeks, died in Lewiston, ME on February 9, 2009. She was a lifelong member of the First Universalist Church (Unitarian Universalist) of Auburn, ME. Evelyn held a master’s degree in education and taught business subjects for many years at the secondary and post-secondary levels. She retired in 1988. She was also involved in RE at each of her husband’s churches. She was an avid fan of the Red Sox and of competitive figure skating. Her other interests included genealogy, raising irises and knitting. As a minister’s wife, she became an accomplished interior painter as they moved from parsonage to parsonage. Her pies were much sought after at the Auburn church’s various fundraisers, and she volunteered many hours as that church’s office secretary and treasurer. She is survived by a son, Jonathan, and daughter, Arlyn.

The Rev. Wilfrid “Fred” Walter Ward

The Rev. Wilfrid “Fred” Walter Ward, 74, died on his birthday, January 5, 2009, with his sons beside him. He earned a degree in Psychology at Cornell and an M.Div. a St. Lawrence University Theological School. He served churches in Lincoln, MA, Baltimore, MD and Princeton, NJ. He earned a PhD in NYU’s Family Life Education, Marriage, and Human Sexuality graduate program. He was Education Director of the Sexuality Education, Counseling and Health Program of the University Health Services at Princeton University. Fred was also an avid birder and knowledgeable ornithologist. When he was married to Betty Ward, the couple were pioneers in leading UU Couple Enrichment programs. He served the New Jersey Area Council of UU Societies as Minister of Counseling and Education and directed the UU Counseling and Education Service, until 1999 when he became ill from a stroke. A lifelong Universalist, Fred was a staunch supporter of Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. Fred is survived by his sons, Wilfrid, Jr. and David.

Marion Wood Hatt

Marion Wood Hatt, 86, widow of the Rev. Roy J. Hatt, Jr, died in Utica, NY on November 4, 2008. She was an English teacher, who volunteered with Literacy Volunteers. She was also interested in environmental issues and protecting wildlife. From 1950-1960 she and her husband taught at the Proctor Academy in Andover, NH. In 1985 two of her students, who are brothers, established a scholarship fund at the school in her honor. Marion personally reviewed scholarship applications each spring until this past year. She is survived by two sons, Andrew J. Hatt and Christopher R. Hatt, and a grandson. Her husband died in 1999. Her memorial service was held November 15, 2008, at Acacia Village Masonic Care Community of Utica.

Mary Archibald Carrier

Mary Archibald Carrier, 88, wife of the Rev. Gaston M. Carrier, died September 14, 2008. A native of Lexington MA, she graduated from Acadia University in Nova Scotia and earned credentials as a psychiatric social worker at Simmons School of Social Work in Boston. She worked in Montreal, Chicago and Burlington VT, and volunteered with the UUSC. Never a minister’s wife but always the wife of a minister, she supported her husband’s ministry in a variety of ways. She served as DRE in Burlington VT and Danbury CT and oversaw expansion and revitalization of both RE programs. She also found time to participate in the social life of the churches. She loved the outdoors and will be remembered for decorating the sanctuary with wildflowers and other natural objects. Serving as a founding member of the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), was just one of her many contributions to the Burlington Community. She was involved in handicrafts of many types and participated in many juried shows throughout Vermont. After she retired she worked as a guide at the Shelburne Museum.

The Rev. David M. Blanchard

David M. Blanchard

The Rev. David M. Blanchard, 75, died August 18, 2008. He was honored this year by the UUMA on the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He served UU congregations in Swampscott and Palmer, MA. In 1965, he became the minister of the North Parish UU Church of North Andover, MA, where he served until his retirement in 1997, when he was named minister emeritus. He was an advocate for civil rights and social justice in his community. He is survived by his wife, Joan DesJardins Blanchard of Andover, MA, with whom he would have celebrated 51 years of marriage in September. He is also survived by two sons, two grandchildren, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Donald W. Male

The Rev. Donald W. Male, 86, died August 14, 2008, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. After a distinguished career in aerospace and defense, which included meeting Orville Wright and John F. Kennedy, he went on to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma, TN for 25 years and was honored as minister emeritus upon retirement. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in 1977 and served in this position for ten years, the last two years as Secretary of the Board. His hobbies included canoeing and astronomy. Survivors include his wife, Sue Anderson Male of Murfeesboro, TN, three daughters, two step-children, his sister and brother. He also leaves three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

The Rev. Mounir Raphael Sa’adah

The Rev. Mounir Raphael Sa’adah, 99, died July 25, 2008 at Harvest Hill Retirement Community in Lebanon, NH. Born in Damascus, Syria, he worked as a librarian and taught history and ethics at American University’s Near East School of Theology. He married Marjorie Anne Abrahamian in 1937. The family immigrated to the US in 1947. The American Friends Service Committee recruited the Sa’adahs in 1949 to organize the care of the first Arab refugee settlements in Gaza. Rev. Sa’adah taught history for 18 years at Woodstock Country School in VT and initiated a program in Arabic and Near Eastern Studies at the Choate School in Wallingford, CT. Ordained in 1947, he served congregations in Woodstock, VT, and Mt. Kisco, NY. When he retired in 1976, he was named minister emeritus of the All Souls UU Congregation in New London, CT. He is survived by three children, two brothers, three grandchildren, four step grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and nine step great grandchildren. His wife died in 2002.

Susan Fromm Marshall

Susan Fromm Marshall, 86, widow of the Rev. Robert Marshall, died on June 28, 2008. She will be remembered for her remarkable intellect, wit and insight into the world around her. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1944, where she met her husband, Harold Fromm, whom she married in 1946. She later married the late Robert Marshall, longtime minister of Birmingham Unitarian Church. For many years, Sue managed the Bloomfield Hills branch of Recording for the Blind. Her lifelong passion for knowledge continued at the University of Michigan Dearborn where she attended classes as part of the Senior Scholars program. She is survived by two daughters and a son, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The Rev. Penelope (Penny) Anderson Binger

The Rev. Penelope (Penny) Anderson Binger, 82, died following a brief illness on June 1, 2008 at in Hiawatha, IA. Rev. Binger was ordained by the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, California on November 10, 1985. She served the First Unitarian Church of Sioux City, Iowa from 1986 until 1996. Upon her retirement, the congregation honored her as Minister Emerita. In addition to her large and loving family, the main passions in Rev. Binger’s life were the fight for Civil Liberties /ACLU, support for the drive to increase diversity and inclusiveness in our society, and working to improve the status of women. Rev. Binger is survived by her six children: Penny Brisson of Santa Clara CA; Ginna Himschoot (Robert) of Cedar Rapids; James Binger of Oakland CA; Elizabeth Binger (George Dowker) of Niantic CT; Paula Binger of Waterloo IA; and Julia Daugherty (Darren) of Cedar Rapids; her brother Frank Anderson (Dorothy) of Eugene OR; a niece Patricia Allard (Robert) of Marion; a nephew Keith Binger of Irving TX; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.