| Alfalit founder dies
The Rev. Eulalia Cook Gonz·lez, founder of Alfalit International,
died July 14 in her home in Costa Rica. Gonz·lez was a third generation Methodist pastor
from South Carolina and was the first woman ordained pastor in the Methodist Church in the
United States. She also served as a missionary to Cuba and worked with refugee ministries
in Miami.
In 1961, Gonz·lez and Justo Gonz·lez, a Cuban writer, founded
Alfalit in Costa Rica. Alfalit now has more than 6,000 volunteers in 21 countries in Latin
America, Europe and Africa. Alfalit International has its headquarters in Miami. The
program began helping women and families by placing wall libraries in homes. Gonz·lez
translated classic literature into Spanish, and she and others taught good nutrition,
hygiene and promoted programs encouraging parents to read to children and focusing on
spiritual and intellectual development.
Many Florida Conference churches support Alfalit through Advance
giving to the General Board of Global Ministries. The conference has also supplied
missionaries to work on Alfalit’s staff in Costa Rica.
Rose Shearouse Thomason
Rose Shearhouse Thomason, wife of the Rev. Robert Thomason and
advocate for women in the United Methodist Church, died April 8. She was 64.
Thomason was co-founder of the national United Methodist
Women’s Caucus, a group whose advocacy efforts resulted in the establishment of the
General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW). She served on COSROW at the
general church level and in the Florida and Virginia conferences. She was also a member of
the Conference of 24, which created the current structure for the United Methodist Women.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Habitat House fund at Palm Coast
United Methodist Church.
Juan Sosa
The Rev. Juan Sosa, interim pastor of the St. Petersburg District
Hispanic Mission, died May 23.
Manuel Viera
The Rev. Manuel Viera, a retired elder in the Florida Conference,
died May 28. Viera served the United Methodist Church for 29 years prior to his retirement
in 1987. He was ordained in Cuba in 1958 and transferred to the Florida Conference in
1966. He served churches in Tampa Heights, Miami, Hardee County and West Palm Beach. Viera
also served with the General Board of Global Ministries.
Louis Henry Leigh
The Rev. Louis Henry Leigh, a retired elder in the Florida
Conference, died June 17. He was 78. Leigh served the United Methodist Church for 30 years
before his retirement in 1988. He served churches in Florida City, Chiefland,
Jacksonville, and Branford and the Columbia Circuit.
Paul W. Hawks
The Rev. Paul W. Hawks, a retired supply pastor serving Tampa’s
Dover United Methodist Church, died June 26. He was interred at Webster National Memorial
Cemetery in a full military service.
Charles D. Hutchins
The Rev. Charles D. Hutchins, a retired elder in the Florida
Conference, died June 29. Hutchins served the United Methodist Church for 28 years prior
to his retirement in 1981. He served churches in Jacksonville, Callahan, Orange Park,
Tampa, Safety Harbor, Bronson, Westwood Dover, Wabasso, Davenport and Seville. He was also
chaplain for Suncoast Goodwill.
James W. Blitch
The Rev. James W. Blitch, a retired elder in the Florida Conference,
died July 14. Blitch served the United Methodist Church for 44 years prior to his
retirement in 1978. He served churches in Zolfo Springs, Key West, Jacksonville, Bartow,
Brooksville and Orlando. He also served the Western North Carolina Conference for 17
years.
Bruce F. Gannaway
The Rev. Bruce F. Gannaway, a retired elder in the Florida
Conference, died July 15. Gannaway served the United Methodist Church for 42 years prior
to his retirement in 1972. He served churches in Key West, West Palm Beach, Orlando,
Haines City, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Ocala and Ormond Beach. Gannaway also served as
superintendent of the Sarasota, Miami, Orlando and Melbourne districts.
Gordon L. Bowman
The Rev. Gordon L. Bowman, a retired elder in the Florida
Conference, died July 18 as a result of a heart attack. Bowman served the United Methodist
Church for 12 before retiring in 1990. He served churches in Trenton, Orlando,
Jacksonville, Garden City and Flagler Beach.
O. Bruce Pickering
The Rev. O. Bruce Pickering, a retired elder in the Florida
Conference, died July 25. He was 83. He served the United Methodist Church for 36 years
prior to his retirement in 1986. Pickering served churches in Melrose, Hawthorne, Florida
City, Macclenny, Jacksonville, Eustis, Ft. Myers, Fernandina Beach, Orlando and Largo. |
