Madison Avenue Presbyterian

Lillie A. Ross, "the mother of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church," stood at the altar yesterday and sang one of her favorite hymns, "Discipleship and Service."Her 90-year-old voice was indistinguishable from the dozens of others rising from the pews before her."Come, labor on," they sang. "No time for rest, till glows the western sky. Till the long shadows o'er our pathway lie, and a glad sound comes with the setting sun. Well done. Well done. Amen."They came yesterday then to celebrate Miss Lillie -- and everyone calls her that -- and her labor in their church, in their schools, in their neighborhood, in their city.

Lillie A. Ross, a retired city educator who was given the title of "Mother of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church," died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at the Presbyterian Home of Maryland in Towson. The former Northwest Baltimore resident was 102. Born in Baltimore and raised on Gay Street, she attended city public schools and was a graduate of what was then the Fannie Coppin Normal School -- now Coppin State College. She later attended the University of Wisconsin, among other universities.

* Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, a Democratic candidate for president, will speak at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2110 Madison Ave. At 12:30 p.m. he is scheduled to speak during a union rally at the AFSCME headquarters at 175 W. Ostend St.

FLORETIA PALMER, born March 1, 1925 departed this life on March 9, 2003. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, March 14 at 11 a.m. The service will be held in the sanctuary of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2110 Madison Ave., off of W. North Ave. Should additional information be required, call Howell Funeral Home at 410-664-6800. Repast will be held at the church immediately following the service. Interment at Loudon Park Cemetery.

FLORETIA PALMER, born March 1, 1925 departed this life on March 9, 2003. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, March 14 at 11 a.m. The service will be held in the sanctuary of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2110 Madison Ave., off of W. North Ave. Should additional information be required, call Howell Funeral Home at 410-664-6800. Repast will be held at the church immediately following the service. Interment at Loudon Park Cemetery.

Dr. Karen Ann Newton, an anesthesiologist and native Baltimorean, died Nov. 4 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston from complications of a viral infection that affected her brain. She was 37.A memorial service for Dr. Newton will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2110 Madison Ave.She had been working for the past 10 months in a partnership at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston. She also was an attending anesthesiologist at the Houston Veterans Affairs Hospital and an assistant professor at the Baylor University College of Medicine.

The Rev. Reginald J. Daniels, whose quiet, straightforward style of ministering carried him through 40 years at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, died Dec. 7 of heart failure at Union Memorial Hospital.Mr. Daniels, who was 81, joined Madison Avenue Presbyterian in 1944 and provided stability in a church and a West Baltimore community that were undergoing change."He was one of the last positive role models in the community. Reggie stayed and was a role model for many," said the Rev. Curtis A. Jones, who succeeded Mr. Daniels at the church.

Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church recently became the latest religious organization in Baltimore to open an affordable housing development, a $1.8 million, 23-unit project called Walker Daniels Housing for the Elderly.The project is located inside two turn-of-the-century row houses and an addition at 2100 to 2104 W. Madison Ave.The apartments, all rented, are named for two former church ministers with the longest service, the Rev. William W. Walker and the Rev. Reginald J. Daniels. They range in size from 300 to 600 square feet.

Lillie A. Ross, a retired city educator who was given the title of "Mother of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church," died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at the Presbyterian Home of Maryland in Towson. The former Northwest Baltimore resident was 102. Born in Baltimore and raised on Gay Street, she attended city public schools and was a graduate of what was then the Fannie Coppin Normal School -- now Coppin State College. She later attended the University of Wisconsin, among other universities.

Catherine L. Hayley filled many roles during her more than 40 years at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, including deacon, pianist, secretary and loyal member.But perhaps the role she filled best was "pastor's keeper." If the Rev. Curtis A. Jones' voice was coarse, she'd have throat lozenges; if his robe was frayed, she'd let him know."She stayed on me about a number of things but always in a loving way," Mr. Jones said. "And she didn't mince words, she loved to mix it up."Mrs. Hayley, who died Sundayof cancer at Sinai Hospital at 71, felt the pastor often spent too much time greeting parishioners after church, instead of going straight to the post-service snack.

The Rev. Reginald J. Daniels, whose quiet, straightforward style of ministering carried him through 40 years at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, died Dec. 7 of heart failure at Union Memorial Hospital.Mr. Daniels, who was 81, joined Madison Avenue Presbyterian in 1944 and provided stability in a church and a West Baltimore community that were undergoing change."He was one of the last positive role models in the community. Reggie stayed and was a role model for many," said the Rev. Curtis A. Jones, who succeeded Mr. Daniels at the church.

Catherine L. Hayley filled many roles during her more than 40 years at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, including deacon, pianist, secretary and loyal member.But perhaps the role she filled best was "pastor's keeper." If the Rev. Curtis A. Jones' voice was coarse, she'd have throat lozenges; if his robe was frayed, she'd let him know."She stayed on me about a number of things but always in a loving way," Mr. Jones said. "And she didn't mince words, she loved to mix it up."Mrs. Hayley, who died Sundayof cancer at Sinai Hospital at 71, felt the pastor often spent too much time greeting parishioners after church, instead of going straight to the post-service snack.

Earl S. Britt, 74, Baltimore school principalEarl S. Britt, a retired Baltimore elementary school principal with many interests, died Jan. 25 after bypass surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Windsor Hills resident was 74.Mr. Britt was in the city school system 35 years before retiring in 1980 from Cherry Hill Elementary School. Later, he became acting director of the system's high school equivalency testing program and taught General Educational Development classes.From the late 1940s until the 1960s, Mr. Britt also sold real estate.

An 89-year-old apartment house that many observers gave up as a lost cause has regained the dignity and sunshine of its youth.The big windows at the Bellevieu-Manchester, long a stylish address for black schoolteachers and business professionals at Bloom Street and Madison Avenue, are just about ready for new curtains. A neighboring church rescued the flats after a lengthy period of decay.There will be letters filling the new mail boxes again in the Bellevieu-Manchester's new life as apartments for senior citizens.

Lillie A. Ross, "the mother of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church," stood at the altar yesterday and sang one of her favorite hymns, "Discipleship and Service."Her 90-year-old voice was indistinguishable from the dozens of others rising from the pews before her."Come, labor on," they sang. "No time for rest, till glows the western sky. Till the long shadows o'er our pathway lie, and a glad sound comes with the setting sun. Well done. Well done. Amen."They came yesterday then to celebrate Miss Lillie -- and everyone calls her that -- and her labor in their church, in their schools, in their neighborhood, in their city.

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, will speak at 11 a.m. today at Douglas Memorial Community Church, 1327 Madison Ave. This event had previously been scheduled at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. Mr. Clinton will also speak during a 12:30 p.m. rally of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, 175 Ostend St.

An 89-year-old apartment house that many observers gave up as a lost cause has regained the dignity and sunshine of its youth.The big windows at the Bellevieu-Manchester, long a stylish address for black schoolteachers and business professionals at Bloom Street and Madison Avenue, are just about ready for new curtains. A neighboring church rescued the flats after a lengthy period of decay.There will be letters filling the new mail boxes again in the Bellevieu-Manchester's new life as apartments for senior citizens.

Dr. Karen Ann Newton, an anesthesiologist and native Baltimorean, died Nov. 4 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston from complications of a viral infection that affected her brain. She was 37.A memorial service for Dr. Newton will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2110 Madison Ave.She had been working for the past 10 months in a partnership at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston. She also was an attending anesthesiologist at the Houston Veterans Affairs Hospital and an assistant professor at the Baylor University College of Medicine.