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VOL. 15, NO. 21

OBITUARIES

The Rev. Pearlena Woolridge

The Rev. Pearlena Woolridge, 89, retired, died Oct. 28 at home in Columbia from complications following a stroke. The Rev. Maceo Williams conducted a memorial service
Nov. 6, at Martin Luther King Jr. UMC, her charge church.
Woolridge was a pioneer for clergywomen, one of only five in the conference in 1970. In spite of her age — she was almost 65 when she began her ministerial career — she completed her seminary studies at Howard University and was ordained an elder in 1973.
Her first church was Asbury in Sheperdstown, which she served while in seminary in 1970. For the next 20 years she pastored eight churches and served a church in retirement until 1990, when a stroke curtailed her efforts.
Woolridge grew up working for the church, her daughter Pearlena Patters said. Woolridge’s grandmother started an apostolic church near Chattanooga, which her mother subsequently headed for 30 years.

She married Thomas Jerry Woolridge Jr. in 1936 while in college. They had three children. After the children were grown, in the mid-1960s, the couple divorced.
Survivors include Patters; Thomas Jerry Woolridge III of Nashville, Tenn.; Tomasina Nixon of Albuquerque; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to Pearlena Patters, 5288 Corncockle Court, Columbia, MD 21045.