Rev. Charles Stephens

Charles grew up Lutheran in a Northern WI town not unlike the Garrison Keillor’s “Lake Wobegone.” He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister in 1973. After serving several Lutheran Churches he realized Lutheranism had one Reformation and that was all they wanted, so he transferred into the Unitarian Universalist Ministry 1981. He was motivated by the theological perspective of the UUA. He served UU congregations in Eastport, Ellsworth and Castine ME, Concord NH and Washington Crossing NJ. from 1981–2012. Since retiring he served as an interim and has preached at a number of UU congregations. In recognition of his service both the Ellsworth and the Washington Crossing UU congregations designated him as Minister Emeritus.

A major focus in ministry for Charles came in 2000 when he participated in training as a Spiritual Director at the Shalem Institute (Washington DC). When he concluded this training he was invited to be an adjunct faculty member for Spiritual Direction there for the next eight years, while continuing to serve full time as a parish minister in NJ. Charles continues to provide individual Spiritual Direction (in person or Zoom) for colleagues and laypeople upon request.

During sabbaticals, Charles studied Eastern European Unitarianism in Oxford, England, studied with Matthew Fox at the University of Culture and Creation Spirituality, and traveled to Israel and Palestine with a peace-oriented Compassionate Listening group of Rabbis, Imams, and Christian Ministers from the Delaware River area of PA & NJ.

He and Alison, his wife, retired to Blue Hill ME where they enjoy living close to nature. They are involved in a variety of activities, ranging from being Airbnb hosts, local politics (Charles is Hancock County Chair), social action and of course being available to be involved in the lives of their three adult children and one grandchild.

Rev. Dr. Richard Speck – Bio

The Reverend Doctor Richard Speck is the retired District Executive (DE) for the Joseph Priestley District (JPD) of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. He was named Minister Emeritus in 2019. Previously, he served nine years as minister to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach FL, before coming to the JPD in 2000 as Acting DE. In his last two years in Florida he also served as the music director for the church. He graduated from Meadville/Lombard Theological School with a Doctorate in Ministry in 1990. He was hired as the regular DE in 2001. He served 14 years as DE before retiring from full-time ministry in 2014.

Richard has been active with UURMAPA since his retirement in 2014. He has attended almost all in-person and virtual conferences since then. He joined the Conference Planning Team and has been the registrar for conferences for several years. He has also helped lead the Conference choirs in several conferences. He has helped UURPAMA adopt its current membership software and improve our communications with each other.

Richard continues to be active in social justice programs like the Black Lives Matters. He conducts weddings, memorial services, and funerals and continues preaching in area congregations. He has served as Treasurer of the UU Ministers Association twice, finishing his second three-year term in 2020. He also served as treasurer of the UU Retired Ministers and Partners Association for four years and as Treasurer for the Priestley Kingsbury UUMA chapter from 2017–23.

Richard became a Unitarian Universalist as a layperson in Springfield IL, in 1974. He was an active lay member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham AL, before going into the ministry. In that congregation he held a variety of leadership positions (vice president, secretary, canvasser, choir member, lay delegate) and was active in the social life of the church.

Richard’s career before the ministry was as a respiratory therapist for eighteen years. The last ten years before seminary were spent in Birmingham as the director of a respiratory care department in a large hospital where he supervised over 30 people in multiple divisions of the department. He earned a MA in health care administration in 1976 as part of this career. He left health care to pursue new avenues of serving humanity through the ministry.

He is married to Janet Tillman and resides in Wilmington DE. He enjoys making music, flying his own airplane, and creating stained glass art.

Donald Luke Chery, Jr.

Donald Luke Chery, Jr., died June 28, 2025, in his home at 5202 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, surrounded by family and friends.

Don was born Sept. 16, 1937, in Denver CO to Donald L. Chery, Sr. and Beth Marcellus Chamberlain Chery. He grew up in Trinidad CO, and later in Tucson AZ. His BA degree was from the University of Arizona in Tucson and his PhD was from Utah State University in Logan.

He married his first wife, Marsha Parkinson, Nov. 20, 1963. They were divorced in 1976. He married his second wife, Rev. Virginia Luke, Sept. 17, 1995. Together they built their dream house on Bradley Boulevard.

Don was a hydrologist by training and a strong social justice advocate his entire life. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in water resources in Tucson and in Athens GA. Later he worked for Dames and Moore in Washington DC, and concluded his engineering career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with 36 years of government service.

While in Tucson, Don was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Board, where a fellow member was a Unitarian Universalist minister. Later, in Athens, Don joined the UU Congregation and three years later was the chair of their board.

When he moved to Bethesda MD in 1980, he became a member of River Road UU Congregation (RRUUC). There he was on the board; was one of the planners for their Sunday forum called CC&C; was a youth advisor who took 40 youth in 1999 to The Hague Peace Conference, and youth delegations on immersion experiences to El Salvador for 17 years. He was a leader in the social justice programs at RRUUC, especially with the Latin America Taskforce. He was on the board of the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland and a member of the UU Social Justice Immigration Steering Committee. He was also a member of the UUA President’s Council.

Don has been active in the Maryland and U.S. Democratic parties. During elections, his yard has been full of signs supporting Democratic candidates. He often lobbied representatives and their staff at the Capitol. He also was a strong alumnae supporter of Utah State University, supporting its scholarship program.

He will be greatly missed by family and friends. One of his colleagues from the CoCoDA (Companion Community Development Alternatives) has said, “His life made deep and lasting impacts for good in this world.”

He left a loving wife Rev. Virginia Luke; son Anthony Chery; brother Allen Chery; sister Pamela Chery; grandchildren Nicholas Pryplesh, Alexander Chery, Alexandra Pryplesh and Morgan Chery, as well as many friends.

Nancy Schwartz Young

Nancy Schwartz Young died on June 23, 2025 at the age of 84 (1941-2025). She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Mike Young; their children Caprice, Joshua, and Daniel; and five grandchildren. A memorial service was held on July 18, 2025 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Studio City CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Getlit.org (Youth Poetry) ACLU.org (Civil Rights) EmilysList.org (Getting Women Elected) Allianceforchildrensrights.org (Foster Care Children).

UURMaPA will contribute to the UUA’s Ministerial Relief Fund, which provides financial aid to ministers and partners.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. The obituary will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries, and will be available on the UURMaPA website. If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s partner obituary editor, Eleanor Richardson, grandmoot@aol.com

The Rev. Dr. Richard F. Boeke

The Rev. Dr. Richard F. Boeke died on May 25, 2025, at the age of 94 (1931-2025).

Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years Johanna Boeke, his daughters Elinore Boeke and Diana Boeke (Amir), and his grandchildren Zachary, Juliana, and Alex.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in the Memorial Chapel of Goodwin House Alexandria, 4800 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria VA 22311. To attend via Zoom: https://goodwinliving.zoom.us/j/84537419976?pwd=iu2qV8ATARkRa2YBVqfEEcZLgJ1Vyr.1
Meeting ID: 845 3741 9976 Passcode: 938878

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the International Association for Religious Freedom. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence can be sent to Diana Boake via email at didye@duck.com or mailed to Johanna Boeke at Goodwin House, 4800 Fillmore Ave., Apt. 714, Alexandria VA 22311.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Jay Atkinson – jayatk40@gmail.com.

Gladys Ferger Howard,

Gladys Ferger Howard died on May 23, 2025, at the age of 78 (1946-2025). She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Mitchell Gwilym Howard, her son Theodore Howard, and sisters Kathy and Carol. A memorial service will be held on September 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM, at the UU Congregation of Whidbey Island WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island, 20103 State Route 525, Freeland WA, 98249 or to Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock AR, 72203. UURMaPA will contribute in her memory to the UU Church of Whidbey Island.

Notes of condolence can be sent to mgh63bhss@gmail.com or to: Rev. Mitch Howard, 1837 Schooner Lane, Oak Harbor WA 98277

The Rev. Dr. Joyce Harkleroad Smith

The Rev. Dr. Joyce Harkleroad Smith died on May 23, 2025, at the age of 96 (1928-2025).

Joyce was born on September 13, 1928, to William and Pearl Harkleroad. She was raised in Salina and Whitewater KS, in a family of modest means, and endured the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. In 1950, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Shortly thereafter, she married Dr. Vernon L. Smith, an experimental economist. While raising their three children, Joyce pursued a call to the ministry. She earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1967 and later a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1984, both from Meadville Lombard Theological School.

The Rev. Dr. Smith was ordained to the UU ministry on November 5, 1967. She served her first ministry at the First Parish in Sherborn MA, from 1967–1972. In 1974, she accepted a call from the River Road UU Congregation in Bethesda MD, where she would serve until 1980. From 1980 to 1985, she was the director of Congregational and Ministerial Services at the UUA. She supported clergy and lay leaders during a pivotal time in the denomination’s development. In 1985, she returned to the parish and served the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York NY until 1987.

Following that, she was drawn to interim ministry and provided her services to the following congregations: the First Parish in Waltham MA (1987–1988); the UU Congregation of Atlanta GA (1988–1989); the UU Congregation in Stamford CT (1989–1990); the First Parish UU of Arlington MA (1990–1991); and the First Unitarian Church, Portland OR (1991–1992). She retired from her active ministry in 1992 but continued her services. From 1997–2006, she was an affiliated minister at the Valley UU Congregation in Chandler AZ. She also served part-time at various fellowships in Flagstaff and Glendale AZ, as well as offered a short-term ministry in Adelaide, Australia. Through her parish and interim roles, she nurtured congregations through growth, transition, and transformation. She helped expand the visibility and leadership of women in ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Smith was a powerful preacher. She delivered the Berry Street Essay at Palm Springs General Assembly in 1988 and later gave a sermon at the Service of the Living Tradition.

For the past nineteen years, she lived at a senior living community in Kansas City, where she remained active and engaged. She participated in many on-campus activities, starred in several plays, and worked at the volunteer tax help site.Joyce is survived by her children Deborah Emielita, Eric Smith, and Torrie Smith; her grandson Taliesen Graff; and her ex-husband Vernon Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Association, 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210 or Meadville Lombard Theological School, 180 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 700, Chicago IL 60601. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence can be sent to Eric Smith at smith990@gmail.com or by snail mail at 2950 Dean Pkwy., Apt. 1406, Minneapolis MN 55416.

The Rev. Dr. F. Everett Morris

The Rev. Dr. F. Everett “Ev” Morris died on June 21, 2025, at the age of 87 (1937-2025).

Ev is survived by his wife of twenty-five years Joan, his sons Dave and TR, his grandchild K, and Joan’s daughters Jeneen Bayer and Kira Auger.

A memorial service was held on September 12, 2025, at the Beacon Unitarian Church in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beacon Unitarian Church, Box 414, 407-552 Clarke Rd, Coquitlam BC V3J 0A3, or to the David Suzuki Foundation. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be written here.

The Rev. John Rex III

The Rev. John Rex III died on May 14, 2025, at the age of 84 (1940-2025).

John was born on May 14, 1940, in Syracuse NY. He graduated from Fox Lane School in Bedford NY, in 1958, and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College in Maine in 1962. After college, he joined the Peace Corps and served in Ethiopia from 1962–1964. This formative experience sparked a lifelong commitment to intercultural understanding and global engagement.

Upon returning to the United States, John earned his Master of Education from the State University at Buffalo NY, in 1968, and began his career teaching high school English in Akron NY.

In 1977, John discovered Unitarian Universalism. Drawn to its core values of reason, compassion, and justice, he became active in the faith community and served as Director of Religious Education at the UU Church of Amherst, Williamsville NY, from 1980–1985. Over time, he felt a deeper sense of calling to the UU ministry and graduated with his Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1995. The Rev. Rex was ordained to the UU ministry that same year.

From 1995–1998, he served as an extension minister at the UU Fellowship in Fredericksburg VA. In 1999, he accepted a call from the Buckman Bridge UU Society in Orange Park FL, where he served until 2001. He then served the First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches in North Palm Beach FL, from 2001–2003. During his ministry there, he strengthened the Religious Education program, launched small group ministry programs, and helped create more coordinated and cohesive worship services. The Rev. Rex’s ministry was particularly impactful in the areas of social justice, religious education, worship, and fostering congregation growth.

The Rev. Rex’s passion for cross-cultural engagement deeply shaped his ministry and his life. He lived, worked, and traveled in various parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Namibia, and India. He was devoted to supporting international Unitarian communities and advancing interfaith efforts across the globe. His thoughtful reflections on Cultural Intelligence were grounded in lived experience and guided by a belief that deeper understanding across lines of difference could transform lives and strengthen communities.

In addition to his ministry and global commitments, John enjoyed the quieter joys in life—watercolor painting, playing bridge, and listening to classical music.

John is survived by his daughter Anne (Tom), and grandchildren Gwen and Drew; his former wife Barbara; nieces Stephanie, Catherine, Mary, and Jennifer; his godson Abhimanyu; and many close friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his son Christopher, and his sisters Clara, Stephanie, and Margaret.

A memorial was held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the UU Church of Amherst, 6320 Main Street, Williamsville NY 14221.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Notes of condolence can be written here.

The Rev. Weston A. Stevens

The Rev. Weston “Wes” A. Stevens died on May 11, 2025, at the age of 93 (1932–2025).

Wes is survived by his wife Barbara Stevens; his daughters, Julie Arguelles (Mark) and Heather Wight (Clint); his son David Stevens (Rachel); and four grandchildren, Danica, Drew, Lily, and Taegen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s own choosing. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.”

Notes of condolence can be written here.