by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
URBANNA —
Last week I wrote about some of the special people that lived in Middlesex County that have passed on that I referred to as the “Old Guard.” I was thankful for their presence in my life.
This week I want to mention a few of our one-time residents that have contributed their time and talents to our county but have moved on to other communities. I feel fortunate to have known them too.
The Rev. George Morris, a giant of a man both in stature and intellect, was here with his family as a teacher at Middlesex High School and as a minister of First Baptist Church, Harmony Village. I interviewed him many years ago and what a story he shared with me.
Like many other native African Americans in our county, he descended from slaves that had worked at Hewick Plantation. The Rev. Morris opened his heart and confessed to me that for years he had carried an inner rage about his ancestors terrible suffering under slavery. But he went on to say he knew continuing to carry such anger would not only destroy his life but ruin his chances for success.
“One day I took my three boys over to the cornfields of Hewick Plantation,” he said, “where we got on our knees and prayed to God to release me from the past and let me be free.” George told me that God had answered his prayers and when he arose and returned home he felt like a new man totally free from the fury he had once carried inside his heart for so many years.
The Rev. Morris went on to become chaplain and director of the Federation of Christian Athletes at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He makes a good argument for all who suffer from resentments and bitter feelings steeped in the past to cast them off and get on with life. What a great message and a great man.
Two ex-ministers from Urbanna Baptist Church come to mind. The first, the Rev. John Upton, gave brilliant sermons for not one but two terms of service where he ministered to all Urbanna citizens. Some of his outstanding ideas that have always stayed with me are the image of God being … “Two outstretched hands always there to catch us when we fall” and the idea that to reach God … “One had to squeeze through a tiny, narrow crack” and to make it through one had to … “Leave all baggage and trappings of society behind.” He went on to other work within the church inspiring many others along the way.
The other Baptist that made great presence in our county was the Rev. Jonathan Davis. After the Charleston, S.C., church shootings he held a prayer vigil that started with a march across Urbanna Bridge. I walked in that march and recall the feeling of brotherhood, forgiveness and good will toward men. He moved on to a Baptist church in Tappahannock and has since returned to Texas to work in building a new seminary.
Evelyn Turner is a lady who has done so much good work for the people of Deltaville. If you ever visit the Deltaville Maritime Museum you will even see a beautiful fountain that she and her husband dedicated to our community. She is one lady who exudes love for her fellow man wherever she goes and although she is now in assisted care in Gloucester, I hope she returns home soon.
The Rev. Paul Andersen and his wife, Lilith, did a great deal for Christ Church during their 10 year tenure in our county. The church grew under their leadership and, on a personal note, I will never forget how he inspired the fellowship to reach out and help the homeless dogs at the shelter at Cooks Corner. The Andersons are now retired and living in North Carolina.
The native Holmes Brothers are probably the most famous of our contemporary native citizens. They made their mark in music and have toured the world giving concerts. The group has lost some of its original members but occasionally returns home to give a concert and it’s always good to see them again.
Author Brad Parks lived in the county for eight years before moving to Mathews. He wrote his first mystery on his computer while sitting at our local Hardee’s. It became a best seller and he has been writing books and winning awards ever since.
Bob and Kris Scherrer of Hartfield moved earlier this year to North Carolina and what a great loss to our county. If something was happening in our area, a fundraiser for the church or some other big event to promote some worthy cause, you could be sure that Kris and Bob were on the scene.
Isn’t it nice to stop and reflect on some of these grand ex-Middlesex citizens that we knew all too briefly?
Happy Thanksgiving!
© 2020
