Page 126 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 126
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
newsletter is now known as “Cherryvale Chatter.” When a request was made for name suggestions, that
submitted by Jeff Colvin was chosen. The present editors are Mrs. Gene C. (Mary Helen) Gee and Mrs.
Weiss. One of the most outstanding events during the Rev. Mr. Turnipseed’s ministry was a Revival
Service held in the spring of 1979 with his father, Dr. Andrew S. Turnipseed of Ramer, Alabama,
serving as Evangelist. After two years of service as Pastor of Cherryvale, the Rev. Mr. Turnipseed
decided to return to the native Conference of his father and grandfather, who had served so faithfully for
many years as ministers in the Eastern Alabama-North Florida Conference of the United Methodist
Church.
The Rev. Gene C. Gee with his wife, Mary Helen, son Bryan, and daughters Amy and Molly
moved into the parsonage in June, 1979, and remain there. Under the Rev. Mr. Gee’s ministry, the
Young Adult Sunday School Class, “The Seekers” has increased considerably in number, and many
members of this class have accepted vital church responsibilities, such as providing and preparing the
elements for Holy Communion once per month as well as on other special occasions since the
resignation of Mrs. J. O. (Nina) Tyree, who served in this capacity for many years. These young adults
are also serving as Youth Directors and Counselors and Sunday school teachers. 225 persons were in
attendance at the Easter, 1981, Service, which was the largest number of people to have attended a
morning Worship Service since the church was organized.
After having served gratis as church organist for approximately 22 years, Mrs. Elgin (Kathy
Robson) Clarkson resigned this past spring (1981). Miss Ruth Warinner who had served as a paid choir
director for one year, following the resignation of Miss Letitia Randolph, is presently serving as both
organist and choir director. Under her leadership, a children’s choir has been organized, and material for
choir robes was provided by an anonymous donor. The robes were made by various ladies of the church.
The United Methodist Women have continued to be very supportive of the total program of the
church. They make generous contributions to the Women’s Division of the Board of Global Ministries,
support programs sponsored by Church Women United, and minister to other local community needs.
Within the past several years, they have provided paraments, permanent press Communion cloths, and a
baptismal font for use in the Sanctuary. They were also instrumental in purchasing and paying the
greater part of the cost of a new commercial size gas range stove for the church kitchen. The United
Methodist Men have been very supportive of the Conference VUMAR Program and have provided pew
Bibles for the Sanctuary. A new ceiling was installed in the Older Adult Sunday School Classroom at
the expense of the United Methodist Men.
During the summer of 1979, Dr. and Mrs. (Eleanor) Conrad Sanger and Jeff Dollarhide went to
Belize for two weeks as part of the Staunton District Mission Team, who helped to build a wall on the
grounds of a school there. During the summer of 1981, the Sangers along with Lori Whisman of
Cherryvale were part of our District Mission Team who went to Haiti to minister to the needs of the
people there. It is felt that one of the most effective outreach programs in which Cherryvale has become
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 112
newsletter is now known as “Cherryvale Chatter.” When a request was made for name suggestions, that
submitted by Jeff Colvin was chosen. The present editors are Mrs. Gene C. (Mary Helen) Gee and Mrs.
Weiss. One of the most outstanding events during the Rev. Mr. Turnipseed’s ministry was a Revival
Service held in the spring of 1979 with his father, Dr. Andrew S. Turnipseed of Ramer, Alabama,
serving as Evangelist. After two years of service as Pastor of Cherryvale, the Rev. Mr. Turnipseed
decided to return to the native Conference of his father and grandfather, who had served so faithfully for
many years as ministers in the Eastern Alabama-North Florida Conference of the United Methodist
Church.
The Rev. Gene C. Gee with his wife, Mary Helen, son Bryan, and daughters Amy and Molly
moved into the parsonage in June, 1979, and remain there. Under the Rev. Mr. Gee’s ministry, the
Young Adult Sunday School Class, “The Seekers” has increased considerably in number, and many
members of this class have accepted vital church responsibilities, such as providing and preparing the
elements for Holy Communion once per month as well as on other special occasions since the
resignation of Mrs. J. O. (Nina) Tyree, who served in this capacity for many years. These young adults
are also serving as Youth Directors and Counselors and Sunday school teachers. 225 persons were in
attendance at the Easter, 1981, Service, which was the largest number of people to have attended a
morning Worship Service since the church was organized.
After having served gratis as church organist for approximately 22 years, Mrs. Elgin (Kathy
Robson) Clarkson resigned this past spring (1981). Miss Ruth Warinner who had served as a paid choir
director for one year, following the resignation of Miss Letitia Randolph, is presently serving as both
organist and choir director. Under her leadership, a children’s choir has been organized, and material for
choir robes was provided by an anonymous donor. The robes were made by various ladies of the church.
The United Methodist Women have continued to be very supportive of the total program of the
church. They make generous contributions to the Women’s Division of the Board of Global Ministries,
support programs sponsored by Church Women United, and minister to other local community needs.
Within the past several years, they have provided paraments, permanent press Communion cloths, and a
baptismal font for use in the Sanctuary. They were also instrumental in purchasing and paying the
greater part of the cost of a new commercial size gas range stove for the church kitchen. The United
Methodist Men have been very supportive of the Conference VUMAR Program and have provided pew
Bibles for the Sanctuary. A new ceiling was installed in the Older Adult Sunday School Classroom at
the expense of the United Methodist Men.
During the summer of 1979, Dr. and Mrs. (Eleanor) Conrad Sanger and Jeff Dollarhide went to
Belize for two weeks as part of the Staunton District Mission Team, who helped to build a wall on the
grounds of a school there. During the summer of 1981, the Sangers along with Lori Whisman of
Cherryvale were part of our District Mission Team who went to Haiti to minister to the needs of the
people there. It is felt that one of the most effective outreach programs in which Cherryvale has become
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 112
