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Obituary

The Rev. Henry A. Silva, 84, retired, died March 4 in Washington, D.C. A funeral service was held March 12, in Charlottesville, Va.

Silva earned a Doctorate in Ministry from Howard University in 1985. He was appointed to St. Mark's UMC in Baltimore from 1985-1988, and Centennial-Caroline Street UMC from

1988-1991, after which he took early retirement.

Prior to the ordained ministry, Silva was a top level federal official of the National Labor Relations Board, and other federal agencies.

He was inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., to go into the ministry.

Silva was nationally known for his involvement in major demonstrations starting with the bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955, and for his long years of service to the national Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

He was a civil rights advocate. He spoke widely and taught nonviolence at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville.

Silva received numerous awards for his achievements in labor relations and civil rights, including in 1988, "Baltimore's Best award."

He was predeceased by his wife, Celeste Silva, and daughter, Kimberly Silva.

Survivors include daughter, Cherryl Goode Hooks, of Washington, D.C.; a grandson and two great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Cherryl Hooks, 516 Jefferson St., NW, Washington, DC 20011.