Marker Celebrates Church’s Historic Role
Salem Institutional Baptist Church in South Dallas unveiled a new 
Texas Historical Marker in a special worship service on November 10. The Rev. Todd Atkins (M.T.S. ‘07) has served as the church’s 21st pastor since 2010. The marker recognizes the church’s significant role in African American culture and in the history of the South Dallas area, Texas, and the United States. At the dedication, associate pastor Rev. Barbara Taylor (M.Div. ‘22) noted that the marker began by way of her M.Div. internship, the Baptist House of Studies’ Mentor Pastor Program, and the support of many others at Perkins during my time as a student.
GCAH Honors Perkins Community Members
Three members of the Perkins community featured prominently at the September board meeting of The General Commission on 
Archives and History (GCAH) of The United Methodist Church. The board re-elected Bishop Cynthia Fiero Harvey (M.Div. ‘99) as board president and Perkins faculty member Ted Campbell as GCAH vice president. In addition, the Rev. Dr. Edgar Avitia Legarda was presented the 2024 Distinguished Service Award posthumously. Avitia, who died June 27, 2023, was known as the foremost authority on the history of Methodism in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest and taught in Perkins Course of Study program for many years. The Sept. 9 gathering concurred with the 10th Historical Convocation at Bozeman United Methodist Church in Bozeman, Mont.
St. Paul Anniversary Hosts Perkins Grad
St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fayette, Mo., celebrated its 168th church anniversary on October 27, with guest preacher and former pastor the Rev. Hadley Edwards (M. Div. ‘86.) Edwards was 
the church’s pastor from 1979 to 1981 while an undergraduate at what was then Central Methodist College. St. Paul’s integrated congregation made statewide news during that tie; Edwards’ Central classmates (black and white) began joining him every Sunday at St Paul. “The congregation, black and white, old and young, worshiped together not because a church board voted it, but because a young man felt called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the love of Jesus to all who wanted to hear it,” according to a news report in the Fayette Advertiser. After graduating from Central Methodist in 1981, Edwards attended Perkins and completed his M.Div. in May 1986.
Campbell Named Chief of Staff
Joyce Campbell (M.Div. ‘15) has been selected to serve as chief of staff for Vivian Flowers, mayor-elect of Pine Bluff, Ark. “Joyce 
works with people from all walks of life to seek solutions, overcome obstacles to improve the quality of life for all,” Flowers said in a news release. Campbell has held positions as a nonprofit executive director, policy adviser and liaison for Gov. Mike Huckabee, vice president and senior manager for Capital One bank community as a reinvestment officer, assistant vice president of Hibernia Bank as a regional community outreach director, consultant for Dewey Square Group, live radio talk show host, college instructor, youth program director, union representative, production worker and senior pastor in the AME church.
Jericho Village Breaks Ground in Wylie
Agape Resource & Assistance Center, led by Janet Collinsworth (M.Div. ‘09), recently broke ground on a new multi-family village in Wylie, Texas. The project will offer affordable housing for women 
and children who have graduated from Agape’s program. Jericho Village will provide the first housing in Collin County with wraparound services and with sliding scale rent, meeting the needs of families challenged by the dramatic increase in rent since 2020. Collinsworth founded Agape Resource & Assistance Center in 2013, a nonprofit helping homeless women and their children toward self-sufficiency.
Perkins Grad Named Research Fellow
Feeding America recently announced Dr. Yvette Blair-Lavallais (M.T.S. ‘13) as the Equity Research Fellow for the 2024-2025 
academic year. Dr. Blair-Lavallais is an adjunct professor and cohort mentor in the Land, Food and Faith Doctor of Ministry program at Memphis Theological Seminary and she is an Ordained Elder in the Methodist tradition. She will work with Feeding America’s Research and Innovation Department (and other teams at Feeding America) to serve as a member of our Technical Advisory Group, consult on various projects throughout the organization, and conduct an original research project.
Perkins Alum’s Church Hit by Hurricane Helene Flooding
The two congregations led by the Rev. Emma Ward were hit hard by the flooding in Tennessee in late September in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Ward (M.Div. ‘24) is a provisional elder serving a
two-point charge that includes Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Chuckey, Tenn., and Seviers United Methodist in Jonesborough, Tenn. Many homes were destroyed in both communities; few residents, if any, had flood insurance. Ward asks for continued prayer from members of the Perkins community. In an Oct. 3 Facebook post, she noted, “People keep telling me, ‘I bet you weren’t taught how to handle this in seminary! Especially for your first appointment!’ But in a way, I was. As Christian leaders and Christians in general, we are to show up for our people and serve as Jesus would serve. Seminary taught me to lead with radical love, generosity, and presence.”
Abbott Serves Minaret Foundation
Jennifer Martin Abbott (M.A.M. ‘23) shares that she is serving as Partnership Manager with Minaret Foundation in Houston, 
bringing the various faith traditions of Houston together for civic engagement. Recently, the Foundation hosted the second of a three-part series called Angels and Messengers. Clergy from the three Abrahamic faiths have deep discussions on what the traditions share, where they differ, and how they can work together as members of the broader community.
Graham Certified as Language Therapist
Bethany Graham (M.A.M. ‘09) was recently certified by Texas Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) as a Certified Academic Language Therapist. Writes Graham: “Over the course of the past two years, I have sat and soaked up over 200 hours of wisdom from our phenomenal instructor, provided over 700 hours of dyslexia instruction, submitted 11 videos with reflections for critique and coaching, read countless academic articles and listened to hours of podcasts as well as submitting four book reports over major texts about dyslexia and how we learn to read, done case studies, and have gotten to learn alongside some of the most dedicated and phenomenal educators I know! Graham is a deacon in the United Methodist Church and special education teacher in the Comal Independent School District in Bulverde, Texas.
OBITUARIES
Obituary: Anne White Beall
Anne White Beall (M.Div. ‘92) died November 4 at the age of 79. Her first ministerial assignment was at Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston, where she served for 10 years. She was next called as pastor of Wimberley Presbyterian. In retirement, she was active in the Cursillo movement. Beall is survived by her husband James Fielder (Jim), her daughters, Kristin Beall and Catherine Rundle, both now in ministry, and six grandchildren. Her Celebration of Life service was held at Chapel in the Hills in Wimberley, Texas on November 23.
Obituary: Charles Peters
Charles Peters (Th.M. ‘59) died October 2 at the age of 88. He served as Youth Director and Minister for several North Texas United Methodist churches. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Kay; their four children, 10 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Peters was an active volunteer; he drove the McKinney Avenue Trolley in Dallas, greeted travelers at DFW Airport and the USO; and built models at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. A memorial service was held in the Christ Chapel at CC Young on October 6. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the CC Young Benevolence Fund or the United Services Organization.
Obituary: Nancy Willet
Nancy Carol Pelton Willet (M.Div. ‘05) died on September 22 at age 69, after a six-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. She is survived by her husband, Robert, their three children, and five grandchildren. Willet was ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA in 2005. She served at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Faith Presbyterian Church in El Paso, and First Presbyterian Church in Uvalde Texas, before retiring in Austin in 2012. A Celebration of Life was held on Tuesday, October 1 at the First Presbyterian Church in Mesquite, Texas. In lieu of flowers, Nancy requested donations to Metavivor or Gladney Center for Adoption.