Stars of Wonder
What if the three Magi who visited the baby Jesus were children? Rebecca Dwight Bruff (M.Div. ’95, D.Min. ’11) explores the idea in Stars of Wonder: A Children’s Christmas Adventure, which will be published by Koehler Books on November 15. Jill Dubin is the illustrator. Bruff is also the author of the award-winning debut novel, Trouble the Water, published June 2019, and the non-fiction book, Loving the World with God, published 2014.
Remembering Alumni/ae
The Rev. Dr. Jack Albright
The Rev. Dr. Jack Albright died on September 15 in Tyler, Texas. Albright was born October 21, 1934, in Marshall, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Ministry in 1958 from the Perkins School of Theology at SMU, followed by his Doctor of Ministry in 1982. During his six decades of service to the United Methodist Church, he pastored congregations in Longview, Carthage, Bellaire, Houston, Jacksonville, Rosenberg and Alief. As a result of his appointment of nearly 12 years in Alief, the community named a middle school in his honor in 1983. He also served as Superintendent of the Houston East District before he formally retired in 2003. Albright is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dana Lindsay Albright, two children and four grandchildren. Services were held October 3 at the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Texas. Read his obituary here.
The Rev. Dr. Malford Hierholzer
The Rev. Dr. Malford (Mal) Cotham Hierholzer, age 86, passed away on April 8. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn Turner Hierholzer, two sons and three grandchildren.
Mal graduated from Southwestern University and Perkins and received an Honorary Doctorate from Southwestern University. He was the Austin (Capital) District Superintendent for six years overseeing 64 churches. In over 60 years as a United Methodist minister, he served 20 churches in the Southwest Texas (Rio Texas) Conference and served on many boards and committees. Read his obituary here.
The Rev. Gene Thomas Price
The Rev. Gene Thomas Price, 80, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2020. Gene received her Master of Divinity degree from SMU Perkins School of Theology in Dallas and was an ordained Presbyterian pastor. She served as Associate Pastor of The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church in The Woodlands, Texas for 11 years before retirement. Upon moving to Franklin, N.C., she joined Morrison Presbyterian Church and served as a chaplain for Angel Medical Center. While raising her children, she actively served in leadership positions in her church, and various community and civic organizations. When her “nest” emptied, she undertook the challenge of further educating herself for pastoral ministry. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert Price Sr.; four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Read her obituary here.