United Methodist Church

The days after William Donald Schaefer's death were filled with pomp and circumstance — a long farewell that culminated with hundreds packing a downtown Baltimore church to memorialize one of Maryland's larger-than-life figures. Sunday, an Ellicott City church offered a smaller, yet perhaps more fitting memorial to the late governor, comptroller and Baltimore mayor. The Gary Memorial United Methodist Church recognized Schaefer, a one-time member, with a roughly hour-long service and a small gold plaque.

These groups meet regularly. Afternoon Tea at Historic Oakland — Last Thursday, 4:30-6 p.m. Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. Tea, sandwiches, desserts and more will be served. $20 per person. Reservations are required at least 48 hours in advance. 410-730-4744, 800-730-4802 or http://www.historic-oakland.com . A Novel Idea — Fourth Thursday, 7 p.m. Discussion of recently published novels. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Long Gate Shopping Center, Montgomery Road, Ellicott City.

There's much more than just Bibles at the Cokesbury Christian Bookstore in Maple Lawn. While customers can certainly pick up Christian study aids, cards, jewelry with inspirational sayings and plenty of commentaries and devotionals, the bookstore also carries an eclectic assortment of volumes on global and social issues. On its shelves one can find a copy of “The Indispensable Guide to End-of-Life Care” by Sharyl Peterson, get some help from “Revolutionary Parenting” by George Barna or energize playtime with “101 Great Games for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers” by Jolene L. Roehlkepartain.

Catherine M. "Kay" Regier, a homemaker and longtime Hereford resident, died Friday of renal failure at Sinai Hospital. She was 85. Catherine Meedel, the daughter of a lumberyard owner and a homemaker, was born and raised in Blue Hill, Neb., where she graduated from high school. During World War II, she studied at Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., while also working at the Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot. After earning a bachelor's degree in business in 1947, she moved to Minneapolis when she took a job at Dayton's department store.

Jeanette F. Bevard, a former Baltimore hardware store owner and active churchwoman, died Feb. 5 of heart failure at Gilchrist Hospice Care. The longtime Northwest Baltimore resident, who moved to Towson a decade ago, was 96. The daughter of a factory foreman and a homemaker, Jeanette F. Goodman was born in Baltimore and raised on West Lanvale Street and Franklintown Road. She was a 1932 graduate of Western High School and went to work at the Hochschild Kohn department store at Howard and Lexington streets.

Joseph Charles "Shorty" Thompson, a retired printer who had been an active member of Centennial-Caroline Street United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, died Feb. 9 of complications from gastric surgery at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 79. The son of a truck driver and a homemaker, Mr. Thompson was born and raised in East Baltimore. When he was 14, he was hit by a streetcar, which caused a loss of hearing in one ear and partial amputation of a foot. "He made many trips to the hospital and went through a lot. However, he'd run and play with his sisters and brothers and never let it become an impediment to him," said a daughter, Joanne Thompson Kess of Woodlawn.

F. Duncan Cornell, a retired lawyer who had served on the Board of Child Care of the United Methodist Church for nearly 50 years and was also a longtime Maryland General Hospital board member, died Friday of pneumonia at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Lutherville resident had celebrated his 94th birthday last month. Frank Duncan Cornell, the son of a psychiatrist and a homemaker, was born in New York City and raised in Menands, N.Y., a suburb of Albany. Mr. Cornell, who was known as Duncan, was a 1934 graduate of the Milne School in Albany.