Alumni Obituaries – September 2014
Frances Katherine Kinlaw Moore, (MRE, 1948), 95, The love of Jesus Christ shone through her smile to all who knew her. Frances Katherine Kinlaw Moore, born into this world September 16, 1919, born again in 1934, departed for her heavenly home on July 27, 2014. Born in Lumberton, NC, “Fran” attended Asbury College, graduating in 1939. She furthered her studies at Asbury Seminary, where she met and married her husband, Rev. Zeke Moore. They were blessed with two daughters, Norma Lorine and Sylvia Suzanne. Many years later they acquired two sons-in-law, Richard Mason and Dr. Ramon Degenkolb. Mrs. Moore was a faithful Methodist minister’s wife in Michigan for 22 years. In her retirement years, she loved to write and receive cards and letters from former parishioners. Her heart was to spread the gospel all around the world by supporting missionaries. She served as President of the South Louisville Prayer Band of World Gospel Mission for more than 20 years. Her late husband, Zeke, preceded her in death, as did her sisters Hazel Kinlaw Hanke, Lorine Kinlaw Black, and a brother ,Wade Hampton Kinlaw, Jr. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, as well as her two daughters and their husbands, and many nieces and nephews.
Doris E. Perry, (MDiv, 1984), 65, of Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Shades Valley High School, University of Montevallo and received a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. She worked in computer programming, banking, the United Methodist Church and travel industry. She attended Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and was a member of the Serendipity Sunday School Class and Hilltoppers. Beth enjoyed being with people, caring for them and sharing her faith in word and deed. She loved to go on cruises and enjoyed overseas traveling, which included England, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Yugoslavia and her most recent trip to the Holy Land. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch, public speaking and writing poetry. Some of her poems have been published in “Creative Expressions” by United Methodist Women, North Alabama Conference. Beth was also listed in the Nineteeth Edition of Who’s Who of American Women 1995/1996. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Thomas Brantley Perry and Billie Jo Perry. She is survived by her sister, Judy Shipp (A R), nephew Allec Robert Shipp IV, and nieces Leigh Ellen Shipp and Julie Christine Shipp, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Grafton N. Pressley, (MDiv, 1960), 81, of Symrna, GA died July 10, 2014. Grafton attended school in Norcross, GA where he grew up and graduated Chamblee High School. He graduated Greenville College, Greenville, IL in 1957 and Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY in 1960. He served in the North Georgia United Methodist Conference with love and compassion for 40 years before his full retirement in 2004. Grafton was presented the Denman Evangelism Award in 1983 by the Foundation for Evangelism in recognition of exemplary obedience to The Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ and in appreciation of significant leadership in helping the UMC be faithful to its historic evangelism commitment. Grafton has written and published two books of poetry, “Quietly Free” and “Feelings in a Whisper.” He attended Powder Springs First UMC along with his wife. Mr. Pressley was preceded in death by his parents Wade and Jim Belle Pressley and sister Ruth Hyers. He is survived by his wife Carol Pressley of 54 years; sons and daughters-in-law Greg and and Stacey Pressley, of Dacula, GA; Phillip and Meghan Pressley, of Smyrna, GA; brother and sister-in-law Harold and Katherine Pressley; grandchildren Bethany Pressley, Cana Pressley, Jacob Pressley, Anna Pressley, and Christopher Jackson. Several cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.
A.K. Saul, (MRE, 1962), 83, The Rev. Dr. Afzood K. “A.K.” Saul, of Morton, IL, formerly of Omaha, Neb., passed away at 11:05 a.m. Monday, May 5, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 10, 1930, in the small town of Punjab, India, to the Rev. and Mrs. Khem Singh Saul. His father was a circuit rider in the Methodist Church. A.K. studied in a Hindu primary school. After fourth grade, he was sent to a Christian boarding school that is now in Pakistan. After the division of Pakistan and India, he was transferred to another Christian boarding school in India, where he finished his high school education in 1947. After finishing his B.A. in 1951, he worked as an adult literacy teach for one year, under the supervision of a superintendent who recommended him for the seminary in Jabalpur, M.P., in 1953. There he met Vibha Banerjee and they were married Dec. 5, 1956, at the seminary chapel. He served in India, in the Agra Conference, as pastor, adult literacy director, stewardship director, promoter and superintendent for 19 years. In 1961, he went to Asbury Seminary in Kentucky and completed his master’s in Religious Education and went back to India to be with his family. In 1973, he received a scholarship to go to the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO. He completed his Master’s of Divinity. He later received a Doctorate of Divinity from the American Bible Institute. In 1974, the Nebraska conference hired him to do pastoral ministry, serving at the Loop Cooperative Parish, residing in Scotia, NE. His family joined him there in 1975. Other United Methodist Churches where he served were Filtner, Phillips, Sutton, Clay Center, Saronville, Falls City, Olive Crest and Randolph, all in Nebraska. A.K. retired in 1997 for the first time. During this time, he and Vibha settled in Omaha and served at the Blair United Methodist Church as Visitation Pastor for 11 years. He retired in December 2008. In 2013, he and Vibha moved to Morton to live with his daughter. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Vibha Saul of Morton; daughters, Rebecca (Dan) Czubak of Morton and Rachel (George) Monnier of Omaha, NE; son, Ruben (Jamie Feek) Saul of Morton; and 10 grandchildren; with a great-grandchild on the way. He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Noel Saul; his parents; and his siblings.