First Presbyterian Church

On April 21, 2008, Betty Jane "BJ" Laven A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Friday April 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at: mccomasfuneralhome.com

Fifty years later, the assassination of John F. Kennedy remains a galvanizing event, studied by serious scholars and conspiracy fringers with equal intensity. People who were old enough in 1963 still remember everything about the news flash that something horrible had happened in Dallas to the nation's youthful president. Those born much later may also find themselves haunted by this dark history. They may even create an opera about it. "Camelot Requiem," which receives its world premiere this weekend with Baltimore area singers and instrumentalists, is the latest and perhaps most ambitious undertaking to date of the Figaro Project, a DIY organization founded by soprano Caitlin Vincent in 2009.

The Rev. Elizabeth B. Hewett is the new associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis.Hewett is a recent graduate of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa. She has internship experience and religious training in Christian education, youth and single-adult ministry, mission and community outreach, worship and pastoral care. She has worked at churches in Pittsburgh and with the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minn.She will coordinate First Presbyterian Church's Christian education and community mission programs and its ministry to young people.

Ruth Berrien Nesbitt Proctor, A graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, GA. Sunday, November 8 at 2 P.M. The memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA at 11 A.M. on Monday, November 9. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that gifts be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Men's Breakfast or Visiting Nurse/Hospice Atlanta, Office of Advancement, 6610 Bay Circle, Suite C, Norcross, Georgia...

On November 7, 2003, CHARLES L. CAIRNS, JR., of Kingsville, MD died at Union Memorial HospitalA Memorial Service will be held at 2PM Saturday, November 22, 2003 at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air, MD with the Reverend Richard J. Link officiating. Friends will be received at the church from 12:30-2:00 PM on Saturday the 22nd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Legacy of Faith Building Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014 or to the Friends of Jerusalem Mill, P.O. Box 480, Kingsville, MD 21087

On March 4, 2003, ALICE B., of Sykesville, beloved wife of Dr. Victor A. Fazekas, dear aunt of Larry Comstock and Lillian Ahmed, sister-in-law of Violet Fazekas and Dr. Karl Fazekas. A funeral service will be held at 1 P.M, Friday at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County. Interment will be in Parklawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends one half hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Those desiring may make contributions to the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Memorial Fund, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia, MD, 21045.

On February 6, 2007, FELICIA GUNN PENNINGTON of Annapolis, loving wife of the late W. Donald Pennington, and caring aunt to many nieces and nephews. Devoted "Mom" to may "adopted" children and a multitude of friends. Services will be held at 2 P.M., in the First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Contributions in lieu of flowers, may be made to First Presbyterian Church. She will be dearly missed by those who were lucky enough to know and love her. Arrangements by the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, MD.

On March 28, 2007, MARLENE MACK. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City. Beloved wife of Charles P. Mack; loving daughter of the late Kenneth and Margaret McDonough; devoted mother of the late Catherine M. Freburger; dear sister of Ann Paolino, Joan Smith, Helen Most, Marjie Bonnic

On Sunday, November 2, 2003, JEAN KENNEDY, of Howard County, MD; survived by several nieces and nephews and many dear friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 14, at 2 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jean's memory may be made to the Salvation Army.

On February 1, 2008, MILDRED S. THOMAS of Bel Air, MD, beloved wife of James A. Thomas, devoted mother of Gary Thomas and the late Allen D. Thomas, loving sister of Charles W. St. Clair. Also survived by three grandchildren, Matthew T. Thomas, Mitchell L. Thomas, and Megan E. Thomas. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6-9p.

On July 26, 2009, Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Friday, July 31, 2009 at 10 A.M. Interment will be in Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery, Forest Hill, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Thursday, July 30, 2009 from 6 to 9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery Fund, 2100 Rock Spring Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at mccomasfuneralhome.

The Rev. Richard Wise Shreffler, who had pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air for more than 30 years and was also active in Baltimore homeless and AIDS ministries, died May 1 of pneumonia at his home in San Antonio, Texas. He was 88. Mr. Shreffler was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. After earning a bachelor's degree in 1942 from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, he entered Naval Training School at Annapolis. Commissioned as an officer in 1943, he participated in the D-Day invasion and was later assigned to the Pacific theater of operations.

On April 21, 2008, Betty Jane "BJ" Laven A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Friday April 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at: mccomasfuneralhome.com

On February 1, 2008, MILDRED S. THOMAS of Bel Air, MD, beloved wife of James A. Thomas, devoted mother of Gary Thomas and the late Allen D. Thomas, loving sister of Charles W. St. Clair. Also survived by three grandchildren, Matthew T. Thomas, Mitchell L. Thomas, and Megan E. Thomas. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air, MD on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6-9p.

On January 28, 2008, HAROLD "Bud" MASTER of Bel Air, MD; beloved husband of Elizabeth Bond Butler Master; devoted father of Christine P. Master, Thomas B. Master and Mark G. Master; loving brother of Virginia M. Donaldson. Also survived by three grandchildren, Thomas B. Master, Jr., Justin Tyler Master and Jordan A. Meadley. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Gel Air, MD on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 11 A.M. Inurnment will be in Emmanuel Episcopal Columbarium.

Vacation Bible school at Friendship Baptist Friendship Baptist Church, 1391 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, will offer a one-week sports-themed vacation Bible school from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 8-12 at the church. Youngsters will participate in activities related to the theme "Game Day Central," a sports metaphor for a religious and moral life. A kick-off rally, with food, games and entertainment, is planned for 6 p.m. July 8. Drivers from the Junior Dragster League will show their race cars and talk about how life as a dragster is similar to life in Christ.

Ruth Berrien Nesbitt Proctor, A graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, GA. Sunday, November 8 at 2 P.M. The memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA at 11 A.M. on Monday, November 9. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that gifts be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Men's Breakfast or Visiting Nurse/Hospice Atlanta, Office of Advancement, 6610 Bay Circle, Suite C, Norcross, Georgia...

On March 28, 2007, MARLENE MACK. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City. Beloved wife of Charles P. Mack; loving daughter of the late Kenneth and Margaret McDonough; devoted mother of the late Catherine M. Freburger; dear sister of Ann Paolino, Joan Smith, Helen Most, Marjie Bonnic

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Henry Francis Gredlein and Imgard Moennich Gredlein. Dr. Gredlein retired from the administrative position of Director of Special Projects at Piedmont Technical College in 2004, after suffering a disabling stroke. Dr. Gredlein was employed by Greenwood School District 50 from 1975 until 1994 as principal of Emerald Junior High and Director of Secondary Education. Dr. Gredlein received his undergraduate degree in history and social studies from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurienburg, NC, Masters of Education, Education Specialist degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Secondary School Administration from the University of South Carolina.