Reverend Mehaffey

Waynesville-Reverend Dr. Albert Conlee "Al" Mehaffey, age 70, retired Methodist minister, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. Born on July 11, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Reverend Charlie D. and Josephine Lee Mehaffey. He is survived by Nancie Clark Mehaffey, his loving wife of 15 years; his son, Minister Albert Conlee "Vince" Mehaffey, Jr. and his wife, Pam, of Arden; a brother Dr. Gene M. Mehaffey and his wife, Barbara, of Hilton Head, SC; two stepchildren, Clark Robert Williams, retired Marine 1st Sgt, and his wife, Jenny, of Waynesville and Kim W. Lopour of Asheville; three step-grandchildren, Zachary and Dylan Williams and Celeste Wourms; and many special cousins, other family members, and friends. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College, a Masters of Divinity from Emory University, a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from West Georgia State University, a doctorate in Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary, a degree in Clinical Pastoral Education from Duke University, and did graduate work at Columbia University in NYC, Wake Forest University, and Georgia State University. Served as Chaplain at Duke University in the early 1960's. In recent years, Al was president of Mehaffey Insurance Agency, served as interim pastor of Beaverdam UMC in Canton, was on the Board of Directors of Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, and was a member of Altrusa International. Officiating at weddings was a special love. Known affectionately as "Daddy Al," he coached Pisgah and Tuscola vocational students preparing for candidacies in regional, state, and national contests, was named chaplain for the NC Vocational Industrial Clubs of American, judged VICA competitions on all levels, and was a substitute teacher and bus driver for Haywood County Schools. Prior to his retirement, he pastored churches in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia including Kelley's Chapel United Methodist Church in Decatur, GA where church enrollment increased from 360 members to 2, 008 in four years. During his lifetime, he was named Man of the Year in three locales, was involved in many organizations or agencies including ministerial associations, Council on Aging, American Heart Association, YMCA, Toastmaster's Club, various civic clubs, Peachtree Center Psychotherapy, and founded and directed a Nursing Home Chaplain's Program. He was an insurance representative of Metropolitan Life Insurance. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2005 in chapel of the First Baptist Church of Waynesville with the Reverend Dr. Robert Prince, Reverend Dr. Howard White, Jr., Minister Albert Conlee Mehaffey, Jr., and Clark Robert Williams, retired Marine 1st Sgt officiating. Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of Al's life and reception at 4:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains Parish Hall. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Gene Mehaffey, Mike Clark, David Ashe, Don McGlone, Dennis Makool, Jamie Reed, Charles Starnes, Terry Swain, Ernie Waldrop, Jack Grup, Mike Matthews, Steve Torda, and the staff of Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center. Memorials should be given to the First Baptist Church of Waynesville "Celebrate and Challenge," P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786, Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721, or Beaverdam United Methodist Church, 80 Rice Cove Road, Canton, NC 28716. Wells Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements.