7 In Memoriam Florida UM Review Online

In Memoriam

First woman lay leader dies
    Dr. Ethel Gray, a longtime member of Christ United Methodist Church in Hastings and leader among Florida United Methodists, died March 9.
    Gray was the first woman lay leader of the Florida Conference and the first woman president of the Florida Council of Churches. She also served as president of the Florida Conference Women's Society of Christian Service.
    Gray was a supporter of United Methodist-related colleges in the Florida Conference, giving scholarships to students to attend both Bethune-Cookman and Florida Southern colleges.
    "I used to think she was very wealthy because she gave so many scholarships," Bishop J. Lloyd Knox said. "She understood simplicity in living so she could share with others."
    The Rev. Kevin James, superintendent of the St. Petersburg District, saw Gray's generosity at Bethune-Cookman. "She invested a lot of resources into students, especially those going into the ministry," he said.
    James first met Gray at workshops she gave in the DeLand District. "She was a very kind, sweet lovely person who epitomizes a Christian in its truest sense," he said. "She was open-minded and sensitive to other ethnic groups…very inclusive and open to serve."

Ben E. Rider
    The Rev. Ben E. Rider, a retired elder, died Nov. 2, 2000. Rider served the United Methodist Church for 32 years with appointments in Ft. Lauderdale, Clewiston, Riviera Beach, Bartow, Daytona Beach, Gulfport, Miami, Melbourne, Jacksonville Beach and Satellite Beach. Rider was also appointed to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home from 1968 to 1971. He retired in 1986.

Glen B. Tucker
    The Rev. Glen B. Tucker died Dec. 14, 2000. The West Virginia native served the United Methodist Church for 14 years as pastor in Pierson, Orange Park, Orlando, Matecumbe, Crawfordville and Apalachicola.

Robert E. Grant
    The Rev. Robert E. Grant, pastor of Lakeland's Crystal Lake United Methodist Church, died Dec. 31, 2000, after a long struggle with cancer. Grant served the United Methodist Church for four years after transferring from the Free Methodist Church. He was an associate member of the annual conference and also served as pastor of Alturas United Methodist Church in Alturas.

Milton H. Wyatt
    The Rev. Milton H. Wyatt, a retired elder, died Jan. 10. Wyatt served the United Methodist Church for 42 years prior to his retirement in 1969. He served as pastor of the Wimauma-Ruskin charge and in Greensboro, Havana, Jacksonville, Haines City, Arcadia, Avondale, Winter Park, Quincy, Miami, Sanford, Leesburg and Fernandina Beach. Wyatt also served as the Executive Secretary with the Board of Education from 1961 to 1967.

Aaron Douglas Hall Sr.
    The Rev. Dr. Aaron Douglas Hall Sr., pastor emeritus at Miami's Ebenezer United Methodist Church, died Jan. 12. Hall served the United Methodist Church for more than 43 years prior to his retirement in 1988. Hall was pastor in Ft. Pierce, Cocoa and Miami. He served as senior pastor of Ebenezer for 33 years. He also served as the superintendent of the Atlantic District of the Florida Conference Central Jurisdiction from 1949 to 1955.
    Hall was a trustee of Bethune-Cookman College, former member of the Miami District Council on Ministries' committee on urban ministry, and a member of the board of directors of Biscayne Methodist Home, now known as Epworth Village Retirement Community.

John A. Briley
    The Rev. John A. Briley, a retired elder, died of multiple myeloma Feb. 15 in Seattle, Wash. Briley served the United Methodist Church for 40 years until his retirement in 1982. He served appointments in Spring Lake, Miami, Jacksonville, Tamiami, Kissimmee, Pahokee, Wauchula, Homestead, Mims, Bunnell, Wabasso, Pierson, Plant City and Dover. Briley also served in Cuba.

Paul W. Hawks
    The Rev. Paul W. Hawks, a retired supply pastor serving Tampa's Dover United Methodist Church, died March 15 from a heart attack.

Charles E. Frisina
    The Rev. Charles E. Frisina, pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in North Fort Myers, died March 15 from complications related to diabetes and open-heart surgery. Frisina served the United Methodist Church for 12 years, six of them in the Florida Conference. After transferring from the Troy Annual Conference, Frisina served churches in Miami and North Ft. Myers.

Fern Field
    The Rev. Fern Field, a retired local pastor and wife of the Rev. William H. Field, died March 22. Field served Jacksonville's Trinity United Methodist Church for more than six years.