Rev. Carroll A. Doggett Tribute
From Rev. Doggett's Family
The Rev. Carroll A. Doggett died Nov. 1, on All Saint’s Day, after 101 years of a well-lived life. He left with luggage filled with good works; ministering to the congregants of the United Methodist churches he served, officiating at marriage ceremonies, and comforting the grieving at funeral services. At 40 years old, he joined the March on Washington and was an advocate for liberal causes right up to his proud vote for Kamala Harris. He sponsored refugees and maintained ties with the families who found a new home in America. He raised three children and gave guidance to three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He didn’t do any of this alone. His wife of 75 years, Nan, was by his side; now he’s by hers.
Doggett loved American history and the church, and he never confused them. He was dismayed that the religion he loved could be twisted beyond recognition. He was also an extraordinary example of the obligation to learn until the end. Last Thanksgiving, in addition to his annual blessing, he shared that he’d gotten the story of Thanksgiving wrong all these years and gave us the correct historical update.
Over the years, he served five congregations in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, directed Camp Manidokan, led the Conference Board of Missions, served as a district superintendent, and was a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference. In retirement, he did numerous interim assignments for pastors on maternity leave.
Recently, on a sunny day, his son and daughter-in-law took him to sit outside and, after a few minutes, he said, “The sun feels so good on my face.” Sometimes life is as simple as that. Although we might be sad, we are not sad. It just feels like a transfer of energy, from the material to the heavenly. It’s been a profound lesson that the loss of the body is insignificant next to the enormity of one’s accomplishments and presence.