News and Views

The Rev. George A. Stansbury, 82, a retired Elder, died Sept 4, 2016. Homegoing services were held Sept. 13 at First Christian Community Church in Annapolis, officiated by the Rev. Karen V. Johnson, senior pastor. The Revs. Stephen Tillett I and Douglas Sands Sr. participated.

George Alvin Stansbury was born Nov. 30, 1933, in Annapolis, the son of the late Isaiah Wesley Stansbury and Gertrude Johnson. He graduated from Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis, served for two years as a U.S. army Paratrooper, then two-and-a-half years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He grew up in Asbury Broadneck UMC where he sang in the youth and young adult choirs, served as an usher and Sunday School teacher, was a member of United Methodist Men and served in many other capacities.

He and Evelyn Bernice Johnson were married in 1956. They had eight children, six of whom survive.

From 1958-1962 Stansbury did religious studies at Drew University. He attended the Supply Pastor’s School in Greensboro, N.C., and received his license to preach as a local preacher in 1968 in the Washington Conference. He was ordained a deacon in 1972 and after graduating from Morgan State University, received his M. Div. from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C., in 1991. Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel ordained him an Elder in 1993. He received an honorary doctorate of sacred theology at Family Bible College Seminary in Baltimore in 1995.

Stansbury pastored churches across the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Area beginning with the Chase Circuit, Baltimore, in 1968. From 1979-1983, his appointment was to St. James UMC in Baltimore; from 1983 to 1991 to Lothian UMC, then 1991-1995, St. Matthew’s UMC at Shady Side. From there he served Randall Memorial until 1995, Christ Edmondson in 1997 and in 1998 Christ-Edmondson/Wildwood Parkway until he retired in 2001.

He was a civic leader and received numerous awards and citations, such as the State of Maryland City Council and Anne Arundel County Council citations for participating in the 1963 March on Washington. He is in the Preachers Hall of Fame and served in the NAACP. Among his hobbies were golf, working on his cars and fixing things around the house. He was one of the last original founders of the United Black Clergy.

Stansbury was preceded in death by his daughters, Karen A. Stansbury-Brown and Tandra M. Stansbury;

Survivors include his wife for more than 60 years, Evelyn B. Stansbury; and children, Gerald Stansbury, Alvin Stansbury, Sharon Austin and their spouses, Kathy Stansbury, Sheree Stansbury and Celena Gray. His extended family includes two sons, C. Anthony Muse and Raymond Richardson and two daughters, Denise Cook and Barbara Richardson. Other survivors include 10 grandchildren, three adopted grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He also leaves a godson and a host of nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be sent to Evelyn Stansbury, 161 Browns Woods Road., Annapolis, MD 21409.