Insights into the comings and goings of Brooks Howell residents. There's seldom a dull moment!
Elizabeth Nowlin's 90th Birthday
United Way Campaign at Brooks-Howell
Sylvia Smyth's Creative Expressions
Residents Involved in UMW District Meetings
NADAM Convocation at Scarritt-Bennett
Bits and Pieces - September/October, 2000
Dellinger Anniversary Celebrated
Margaret Stockwell Continues Work in Argentina
Nurse Clevenger on a Missions Trip
Helene Hill’s 80th Birthday Celebrated
Brooks-Howell Home Auxiliary Celebrates Silver Anniversary
Katherine Ward's 100th Birthday
Revisiting the White Elephant Sale
On September 27, 2000, Garnet Ertel gave a long-awaited organ recital in the chapel at Brooks-Howell Home. The program was accompanied by the running comments of Steve Cooper, Minister
of Music of Groce United Methodist Church and Garnet’s teacher. These were at once informative and touched with gentle humor. This was Garnet’s debut recital and she rose to demands of a very challenging program. The numbers covered the classic period, including Buxtehude, Bach, Couperin and Handel, and the romantic Mendelssohn, up to the contemporary, with arrangements of such hymns as "I Love to Tell the Story" by Dorothy Wells. The program was designed to show off the capacity of our chapel organ, including its MIDI, which makes it possible to reproduce the sound of any desired instrument. For this it was played as a harpsichord accompanied by LeGrand Smith’s alto recorder in "Gavotta" by DeGant. The final selection was a stirring rendition of "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," with piano accompaniment by Steve Cooper. he chapel was packed not only with residents of Brooks-Howell Home, but also staff, friends from the wider community, and Garnet’s brother and sister-in-law from Missouri.
Our Beth Griffin was the featured mission speaker on Saturday morning during the Western North Carolina Annual meeting of United Methodist Women--and of course did a great job. Later in the session she was given the special honor of having the 2000 Annual Report dedicated in her honor. When members of her family were invited to join her on stage, her husband, Hunter, came up from his seat among other missionaries. Then, to the great surprise of both Beth and Hunter, from their hidden spot in the back of the auditorium came all four of their daughters and two of their grandchildren. A great family reunion followed!
On October 14 Richard Smyth was honored by the residents of Keyport, New Jersey, the town where
he grew up. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of that city, which honors outstanding daughters and sons whose life achievements and services are judged exemplary for the youth. There was a motorcade through the community, a mayor's citation, and a Joint Legislative Resolution of the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. Richard addressed an assembly of all the high school classes. Scholarships are being raised in the honoree's name to help needy students stay in school. The emphasis of the event was not only what one citizen had done, but also what could be done in the future. The Smyths said it was exciting, honoring and humbling.
Elizabeth Nowlin's 90th Birthday
On Saturday afternoon, October 14, her niece Carolyn and other family members pulled off a great surprise for Elizabeth Nowlin. The occasion was Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, and it was truly a surprise for her. Roberta Rice took her out to lunch, and she did not even know that her niece and family were coming. All of us residents had been primed ahead of time, as we wrote letters long ago and sent them to Carolyn for a book of memories, presented to Elizabeth on this joyful occasion. The Activities Building was filled with residents and family, and it was a delightful occasion, with fall table decorations, and a delicious light meal.
In September, The Craft Room expanded to include the pottery shop, the lapidary room, and chapel and the hallway, as residents demonstrated and showed off their craft work, their hobbies, and collections. Quilts of great variety included Nellie Mitchell's cross-stitch embroidery on white, Leah Ledbetter's traditional fan design in a riot of intense color; and Lucy Rowe's counted cross stitch Hummel squares mounted in blue. Lenna Belle Robinson showed off her knitted scenic pillow covers.
Marion Gruver demonstrated the technique she uses to make gift cards. Esther Russell was in the pottery shop. The lapidary room demonstrated the beauty of gem stones, the earthly richness of polished rock, and the precise operation of faceting. LeGrand Smith demonstrated his hobby of paleontology, of which he is now considered an expert.Collections included the various faces of photography, untouched matchbox cars, stamps, toys, beanie babies, and noisy frogs. Thanks to Leon Strunk and the Art Club for organizing this event.
October 5, 2000, was Frances Major’s eightieth birthday! On Saturday, October 7, many of her Brooks-Howell "family" celebrated, together with her birth family, her home church family, her Asheville church family (Oakley UMC), and with friends who served with her in India. Helen Lyall, one of her Indian co-workers, traveled from India to spend a month with her. Another was bishop there.
A bounteous dinner was served from food that those who attended had brought. The main dish, however, was the curry dish made with spices brought from India. Frances wore a beautiful sari which had been brought as a gift. Frances served for forty years in India. During that time her work was educational, financial (as mission treasurer), and pastoral. Of course, Frances is still in mission right here in Asheville, through her church and in the community.
United Way Campaign at Brooks-Howell
The residents and staff at Brooks-Howell Home are involved in their community in many ways. In September, a $3000 goal was set for the United Way Campaign. This was surpassed, with a grand total of $3510. Residents and staff gave generously to this good cause. "As you have done it to the least of these..."
Photo: Thelma McGraw & Jeanne Wintringham, Residents' Council President, contributing to United Way.
Sylvia Smyth's Creative Expressions
Sylvia Smyth is busily working on a number of banners which have been commissioned by the Women's Division, and will be used at the National Gathering of Teens and College/University Women in United Methodist Women. This national assembly will be held in December in St. Charles, Illinois. Sylvia also was scheduled to facilitate a workshop at the event on "Creative Expression."
Residents Involved in UMW District Meetings
Brooks-Howell Residents play an active role in the local and district United Methodist Women's organization. Not only attending the special programs, our residents are leaders and participants in the projects and programming that serve to educate United Methodist Women in mission areas. In August, at the Asheville District Annual Meeting, Elaine Gasser, former staff member of Women's Division, installed the 2001 Executive Committee, using an ordinary towel as a symbol of the servant ministry in which they each would be involved, just as Christ exemplified servanthood through the washing of His disciples' feet. Sylvia Smyth created a bigger-than-life version of the Prayer Calendar, which was the focus on stage, during the meeting. The calendar came alive, as four persons from its pages briefly shared their stories. These included Jayne Smith, who portrayed missionary Susie Henry from Bolivia, and Esther Megill, who portrayed missionary Carolyn Wagner from Sierra Leone. There were special educational booths to visit, as well. Two of these booths were created by Esther Megill and Coy Howe.
The annual Asheville District Mission Study was attended by 108 persons from this area. Beth Griffin, former missionary to Zimbabwe, brought the study alive in her introduction to Africa. This was followed by five various aspects of the study. Elaine Gasser presented the Education aspect. Esther Megill presented aspects of War and AIDS.
NADAM Convocation at Scarritt-Bennett
A dozen residents from Books-Howell headed for Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville in September to attend the meeting of the National Association of Deaconesses and Missionaries. From the talent show on the opening evening to the closing worship on Sunday, the entire meeting was filled with a joy and boisterous energy not often felt in local church gatherings. According to Helene Hill, "All of us were heartened and inspired by so many new and capable women who are seeking a place to serve our church, and finding it within the Deaconess movement. We came away refreshed and invigorated by these few days away. The meeting was a great blessing. The Deaconess movement is alive and well, and is growing again!"
Bits and Pieces - September/October, 2000
Betsy Ewing, Helen Mandlebaum and Anne McKenzie were interviewed in July in connection with a General Board of Global Ministries history project.
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Brooks-Howell was represented in three conference Schools of Christian Mission this year: Esther Megill was a study leader for the course, Children of Africa in the Western North Carolina and the North Carolina conference schools; Helene R. Hill led the course, God’s People in an Urban Culture in the South Carolina Conference School. Nine other residents attended two of the schools.
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John Krummel has been honored with the status of Professor Emeritus by Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan. He served as a missionary there from 1956 to 1996.
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A number of residents contributed a total of $1,315 to the Asheville Y.W.C.A. toward their building and renovation project, in honor of Thelma Caldwell, who was the second African-American director of a YWCA in the nation. She led the integration of the two YWCA’s in Asheville, to form the first integrated YWCA in the south. This amount qualified for matching funds, so the cooperative contribution meant that $2,315 was contributed. Our gift will also help to reach the goal needed to meet the $325,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. Many Brooks-Howell residents are interested in the YWCA because of its valuable programs serving women and children in the community.*****************************************************
A number of residents participated in the Second Annual "Art is Ageless"
contest, sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Non-profit Homes for
the Aging. Entries included paintings by Jewel Brown and Arthelia Brooks,
poetry by Esther Russell and Ann Janzen, hand designed cards by Marion
Gruver, and pottery done by Leon Strunk. Resident Sylvia Smyth won First
Place in the Soft Crafts II category with her banners designed on the theme
"Joyful, Joyful."
Dellinger Anniversary
Celebrated
What a joy and privilege it was to be present at a
gathering here at Brooks-Howell to help celebrate the
sixtieth anniversary of the marriage of Leland and Elizabeth
Dellinger. Sixty years of togetherness in daily living and in
service to persons in continental U.S.A., including Alaska!
Elizabeth attended Normal School in Ellinsburg, Washington,
and then taught school for five years before going to Kansas
City Training School. After graduation she went to Alaska as
a staff member at Jesse Lee Home. It was there that she met
Leland. Leland had known as a young child that he wished to
be actively engaged in work for Christ and His kingdom. As a
farmer and dairyman he became very active in the life and
work of Jesse Lee Home, both working and supervising the
youth in their work. In fact, he became so helpful in the
community that he was named "Volunteer of the Year"
several times.
Elizabeth and Leland were married August 14, 1940. They
continued to work at Jesse Lee Home until it closed. Then
they worked in the interior of Alaska in the school system
for three years. In 1945 they moved to the Navajo Methodist
Mission in Farmington, New Mexico, and remained there until
they retired to Robincroft Home in 1973, then to Mt. Miguel
Covenant Village and subsequently to Brooks-Howell in March
1993.
Margaret Stockwell Continues Work in Argentina
Many have asked me "What do you do in
Argentina?", and I have been asked to write about it.
All my life’s work and experiences have evolved into the
work I now do, in the field of what I call "Spirituality
and Wholeness." I am a nurse by profession, and that has
contributed enormously to what I now do, without my realizing
it at the time. All through the years I have had Bible study,
sharing, intercessory groups, as well. I can say that all
that has happened to me throughout my life has contributed to
what I do now.
After we retired in 1989, we decided to return to Latin
America to work for a while. In 1990 Gene, my husband, was
elected President of the Ecumenical Seminary where he grew up
and where his father and mother had been missionaries. While
he was President, though I supported and helped him in any
way I could, I began to see a great need for women to have a
place to talk and "just be." So I began to invite
professors’ wives, then wives of students with small
children, who could not get out of the home because of family
responsibilities. The women asked their spouses to care for
the children one day a week so that they could have a day
out. They came midmorning, staying through lunch until about
4:00. This gave them the opportunity to meet other women
their age, to share their stories of joy, sorrow and pain.
Many of the student wives were from Bolivia, Uruguay and
Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, U.S. and Europe,
from all denominations. I taught them how to listen to each
other so that they felt heard and understood. We used
scripture, and prayer specifically related to their
individual needs, that they might find deeper healing and
wholeness. My desire and hope were to be an enabler for each
person to find the answers that God had for them within. That
is, to use their spiritual muscles.
In 1994, as our time drew near for our departure from
Argentina, I realized that I was not ready to leave, so I
asked Gene if he would be willing to let my work be the
priority and he find something less demanding. He said
"yes." After all, Buenos Aires was home to him. We
returned in 1995 after a few months of rest in the U.S. I
continued then with my work. As many of you know, we
discovered that Gene had cancer five months after we arrived.
We returned to the U.S. for treatment. He died a year and a
half later. After another year and a half I was invited to
return to work out of the Methodist Church, where I am a
member, to do what I now do.
In May 1998 I returned to Buenos Aires to continue my work.
My work is different now. While I still have women’s
groups, I now include men, do a great deal of teaching,
counseling, run retreats. The work continues to be
ecumenical, including Pentecostals, Assembly of God,
Salvation Army, Catholics, as well as those unchurched. Some
of the work is done in the church itself, but much of it is
done in my home. My hope and dream is to teach a team of
people to do the kind of things I do in order 1) to replace
me and 2) to free persons who get stuck along the way to
enter into their places of God’s call in more whole
ways.
I am remodeling my apartment to accommodate persons in need
to come for very short periods of time to receive help in
body, mind and spirit. This year I will spend one week a
month in Uruguay in the place we served, to help with groups,
both women and couples in their journeys. I have been asked
to do retreats around the country for women of Uruguay, again
ecumenically. Because of the economic situation, most cannot
afford to travel. So we will see how all that works out.
This past year I have published an article in Spanish, with
the help of Rodolfo Miguez, a pastor in Salto, Uruguay, where
we served ten years, called, "No Time to Love." It
is now being prepared for publication here in the U.S. It is
particularly for pastors and families in mission. However, it
is used by lay men and women to look at their own families
and how to help them. It is an article written to open up the
subject for discussion within the church. I covet your
prayers as I will return soon. Thank you for making me feel
so welcome and included. This place here is my refuge for
recharging and rest.
Nurse Clevenger on a Missions Trip
Who could not work for years at
Brooks-Howell Home and not absorb the very atmosphere of
mission work? The inspiration is before me of all our
missionaries’ and deaconess’s lifelong work. Some
are still serving, like Francis Major with flood relief and
in India and Afghanistan, Ruth Clark with a work team in
Palestine, and Pat Riddell and Francis Major holding training
courses and Bible School in Armenia. I have been trying to go
on a medical mission for the last three years. I claimed the
verse in Matthew 25:36 that says in the first part, "I
was sick and you looked after me." Three times it was
all set, and then the doctors were unable to go so it was
postponed. When the trip was finally under way, I waited with
bated breath to see which village we would get. Two weeks
before the trip they called to say the greatest need was in
the Federal prisons and Capital City jail. These sites had
never been visited before the need was great.
Our team consisted of two American doctors, one Honduran
doctor, four nurses, two interpreters and one radiology
technician. The first morning we all loaded in one van with
our crates of medications and headed out. At each prison site
we held evangelistic services starting with my visualized
songs and puppet show of Maria and Jaunito that Helen Hill
had translated for me. After this warm up our Hispanic
preacher got to the meat of salvation and gave an invitation
for the audience to ask Jesus to be their Savior. It
didn’t take long to see that in such a hopeless
atmosphere the prisoners were more interested in talking with
the pastor than even seeing the doctors.
We saw 270 women and staff and 30 children at the
women’s prison. We treated about 25 in the 13-18 age
group of girls, and 92 at the boys’ prison, ages 12-18,
plus 30 staff. The boys touched us the most. They looked so
fatherless and motherless and so cold. Many were barefoot
with torn T-shirts and shorts and no shoes. They slept ten in
a room with bare boards and no blankets. This group had some
with bullets still inside and machete wounds that had severed
the tendons, rendering the hand useless. Fifty-eight of these
boys prayed with our pastor to receive Jesus. The last day we
went to the city jail that held 800 men. We were able to see
about 150 with medical problems, which was just the tip of
the need.
It was good work but really just a start, and would be
useless with no follow-up. The Sunday we were there we
attended two different local churches to tell about our work
and give a challenge for the local Christians to take up the
banner. One prayed and agreed to work with the women’s
and girls’ prison and the other came to the airport as
we were leaving to say the men of that church were going to
take the boys under their wings with blankets, clothes, food,
some medical care, and most important, Bible studies and
Christian male mentoring which these boys so disparately
needed.
We saw about 600 people in five days and had 148 pray to have
Jesus as their Savior. We are planning a return trip to the
prisons next year. The rest if the story is that a couple of
weeks after I was back my Bible fell open to Matthew 25:36
that has the dates over it of the years I claimed this verse
for my medical mission trip. I read the whole verse this time
which says, "I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited
me." God is so good and still in charge and had me right
where He wanted me to be. Junglenurse is my E-mail name, and
my dream for whenever He gives me a chance.
--Karen D. Clevenger, RN
Helene Hill’s 80th Birthday Celebrated
Put together colorful balloons, ribbons, flowers, music, yummy refreshments, an honoree and more than one hundred guests and you have a PARTY! This describes the April 5 party celebrating Helene Hill’s special 80th birthday party, hosted by Barbara Crounse, her good friend and former co-worker. More than one hundred people gathered in the Brooks-Howell Activity Building to honor Helene. Persons from many organizations and church groups attested to the work and witness to which Helene contributes. Among these were Jubilee! Community Church, Central United Methodist Church, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Community Center, United Nations Association, and others. It was a happy and joyful occasion. Thank you, Barbara Crounse. We join you in honoring Helene for her useful productive services. May she have many more active years of health and happiness.
Brooks-Howell Home Auxiliary
Celebrates Silver Anniversary
Twenty-five years ago, in 1975, the
Brooks-Howell Auxiliary was formed. The purpose was to
provide voluntary services to the retired United Methodist
Church missionaries and deaconesses living at the Home in
Asheville, NC. The first president was Ella DeCoster, and the
administrator of the Home at that time was Mary Bethea. On
Wednesday, Mary 1, 2000 the Home honored members and guests
with a lunch to celebrate the anniversary. Planning the lunch
were Jeannette Byrd, Director of Social Services, and Martha
Dixon, Jackie Brackett and Louise White, Auxiliary members.
Later everyone shared memories of early days in the Auxiliary
and at the Home. These brought forth much laughter and a few
tears. The members agree that just being around the residents
is rewarding.
Former Presidents attending were: Mae Wells (the second
President), Jackie Brackett, Louise Wright and Martha Dixon.
Ella DeCoster was unable to attend but sent best wishes for
the next twenty-five years. Dr. Mary Floyd is deceased. Other
special guests were Elizabeth Holbrooks, President of Western
North Carolina Conference of United Methodist Women, Lynn
Brunner, President of Asheville District U.M.W., Cecil
Myrick, President of Brooks-Howell Board of Directors, Dr.
Mary Bethea, former Administrator and now a resident, and
Reeves Wells, a former member. Current officers are: Barbara
Davis, President; Doris Wilson, Vice President; Ellen Myrick,
Secretary; and Ormalea Lowrance, Treasurer. --Marilyn Baker
Katherine Ward--She’s
Exceptional!
Katherine Ward’s 100th
birthday party took place in the lobby of Brooks-Howell Home,
Saturday, March 25 from 2-5 p.m. No matter at what time one
went, one found wall-to-wall people. This magnificent party
was planned and led by her grandson, Dr. Kenneth Ward Lyles,
who teaches at Duke Medical School. When he addressed us, he
asked us to sign the guest book, partake of the refreshments,
and have our picture taken with one of the disposable cameras
placed in the lobby. He introduced all of the twenty-eight
relatives, who had come from North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Virginia, New York and England. Katherine had said
"no speech," only a few comments. In these he
mentioned instances when he had met people in different parts
of the world: China, Asheville, and other places in which in
the course of the conversation it was mentioned that
Katherine was his grandmother. They all had fond memories of
Katherine.
Nancy Smith-Hunnicutt, from the Land-of-the-Sky Regional
Council Area Agency on Aging was introduced. She
congratulated Katherine, then read Mayor Sitnick’s
proclamation that March 25 was Katherine Ward Day in
Asheville. She also read the letter of congratulations from
Governor Jim Hunt. Dr. Lyles read the letter from Bill and
Hillary Clinton. Nancy also presented Katherine with a gift
from Ingles and a gift certificate from Belk’s. The
lobby was full of bouquets sent for the occasion. It is
estimated that at least one hundred seventy-five persons were
in attendance during the afternoon, representing many
connections Katherine had made during the years. Among them
were fellow missionaries in China, members of P.E.O,
A.A.U.W., Highland Farms (where she lived previously), St.
Paul’s and Black Mountain United Methodist Churches. Her
relatives accompanied her to St. Paul’s Sunday morning
to finalize the celebration. --Helen L. Hill
February, 2000 - The White Elephant Sale earned the most
money ever--$6,142.23!
Revisiting the White Elephant Sale
In early 1996, my first full year at Brooks-Howell, I experienced the White Elephant Sale from the resident’s view. New on the scene, I was asked to write about my impressions. I worked with books, and was fascinated with the wide assortment of quality items throughout, and the cooperation and hard work of all the residents in this one fund-raising project of the year. In subsequent years I was Assistant Chief, and then Chief Herder. I enjoyed both years, and some remember my wearing a clown wig, and modeling clothing just for fun, and for better sales.
Experiencing the sale this year was a different matter. Last year I missed all because of surgery. This year I was in charge of books. There were perhaps 30 shelves full of books ranging from small pamphlets to large tomes, from road maps to Reader’s Digest volumes, and two old volumes of Spencer and Shakespeare; from recipe books to business books that almost filled a shelf. There were mysteries and romances and craft books, health and fitness volumes, devotional, biblical and theological books, books on organic gardening and items in Indian script. We had an excellent team of workers, and an extra who came in and gave hours to sorting and shelving and making sure that bookmarks and personal notes were removed. Together, we got the job done.
The thing that impressed me most this year was the change in my own energy level. I found myself "sitting down on the job" occasionally. I was very glad when the work was all over, and went home tired, tired, tired! There were others like me. The White Elephant Sale is a wonderful two or three weeks for the community we experience in working together and the satisfaction of funding our various projects. For older residents, it means a lot of hard and tiring work! The work is given gladly for the joy it brings in our life together as a retirement community. We are happy to do what is needed for the blessing of us all. Long live the White Elephants! --Helene R. Hill
