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The Rev. Glenn Franklin Stevens, Sr.

The Rev. Glenn Franklin Stevens, Sr., 69, a retired member of the conference, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Feb. 26, while en route to his retirement home in North Carolina, with his wife, the Rev. Mary Gebe Stevens. A memorial service is planned for March 19 at Union Chapel UMC, 10123 Valley Road, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

Stevens began his ministry in 1962 in the Western North Carolina Conference, and transferred to Baltimore Conference in 1968. He was appointed to Jefferson, W. Va. until 1975 when he moved to the Fork-Waugh Charge. From 1979-1982, he served Sudbrook UMC in Pikesville, then First UMC in Cumberland until 1986 when he moved to the Darkesville-Payne Charge. In 1989, he went to Mt. Pleasant Charge, then in 1990 was appointed, 'on loan' to the Rushsylvania UMC in West Ohio Conference, while his wife attended seminary. From 1994 to 1996, he served Washington Square UMC in Hagerstown, then moved to the Oldtown Charge. He retired in 1998.

'His gentle and supportive nature will long be remembered and appreciated by all who have enjoyed his company,' said the Cumberland-Hagerstown District Superintendent, the Rev. John Rudisill. 'His service to God will bring marvelous blessings that will last for eternity.'

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, four sons: Richard Andrew of Winchester, Va., David Wayne of Hedgesville, W. Va., Mark Howard of Lebanon, Ohio, and Glenn Franklin Stevens II of Inwood, W. Va., five granddaughters and three grandsons. One son died in infancy.

Condolences may be sent to Mary Stevens, 209 Cherokee Trail, Edenton, NC 27932-9134.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Board of Child Care, 3300 Gaither Road, Baltimore, MD 21244.

Mary Smith Cunningham

Mary Smith Cunningham, 89, the wife of the late Rev. Clifton Cunningham, died Feb. 26 from respiratory failure at the Wilson Healthcare Center at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg.

Mary Smith and the Rev. Clifton Cunningham were married in 1939. She led an arts and crafts class at the church, taught Sunday school and was active with the women's organization.

Clifton Cunningham began his ministry in the West Virginia Conference in 1942, transferring to the Baltimore Conference in 1949. His appointments were to Morgan Charge, Fork and Hunt's Memorial in Riderwood. From 1970 to 1979 he served Mowatt Memorial UMC. They bought a home near the church and remained there after his retirement in 1979, while he served as visiting pastor at Lanham First and Capitol Hill UMCs.

Park discovered five books in the Mowatt UMC library attributed to Mary Cunningham. One bore her name, the others her husband's but were in her handwriting.

She had two sons, Michael and Dennis. Dennis died in an auto accident in 1974.

She and her husband moved to Asbury Village In 1993. He died in 1996. Survivors include her son, two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. One grandson predeceased his grandmother.

Condolences may be sent to Michael Cunningham, 12-L Parkway Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 11240 Waples Mill Road, Suite 402, Fairfax, VA 22030; or to the benevolence fund of Asbury Foundation, Asbury Methodist Village, 201 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

The Rev. Raymond James Purnell

The Rev. Raymond James Purnell, 86, retired, died at the Berlin, (Md.) Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

Purnell had been a United Methodist minister for over 52 years. He received his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, the predecessor to Wesley Seminary. He was a member of the Birmingham Masonic Lodge #188.

Purnell began his ministry in 1944 at Deer Creek. In 1947 he was appointed to Sudbrook, then in 1954 to Lewis Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 1957 he moved to Govans and in 1962 to Ager Road. He served Millian Memorial from 1970 to 1978 when he became the Baltimore North District superintendent. He retired in 1984.

After retirement he worked as assistant minister at Covenant UMC in Gaithersburg for nine years, when his health began to fail and he and his wife moved to Ocean Pines.

His first wife, Margaret Purnell, died in 1971. They had been married 27 years and had one daughter. He and Helen Harman Purnell married in 1974.

Survivors include his wife, a daughter, Sharon Purnell McGuinness of Atlanta, Ga., a step-son, Gary G. Harman of Gaithersburg and two grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Helen Purnell, 14 Newport Drive, Berlin, MD 21811.

Memorial contributions may be made to Millian Memorial UMC, Parkland and Grenoble Drive, Rockville, MD 20853.