Reverend Myers, Jr.

Asheville - The Reverend Horwood P. Myers, Jr., of Givens Estates Methodist Retirement Home, died on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Mr. Myers was born on April 20, 1916, in Onancock, Virginia, the second son of the Reverend Horwood P. Myers and Matilda Wynn Myers. Mr. Myers was preceded in death in 1999 by his wife, of 61 years, Franchelle Smith Myers. Also preceding him in death were his brothers, the Reverend Dr. John Wynn Myers, of Roanoke, VA, and Dr. William Thomas Myers, of Ft. Worth, TX. He is survived by his wife, June Wren Myers, of Asheville, NC; one brother, Professor Robert Manson Myers, of Charlotte, NC; sons, Horwood P. Myers, III and wife, Garland, of Boone, NC, Thomas S. Myers and wife, Barbara, of Clinton, NY, James B. Myers and wife, Cynthia, of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren, Susan Myers Simpson, of Fort Collins, CO, Margaret Myers Campbell, of Longmont, CO, Matthew C. Myers, of Boulder, CO, James B. Myers, Jr., of Charlotte, NC, Amanda Myers Sprouse, of Columbia, SC; and nine great grandchildren. Mr. Myers earned a Bachelor's Degree from Randolph-Macon College in 1935 and received his Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University Divinity School in 1937. Noted for his dynamic and inspiring preaching and beloved for his tender care of his congregational flock, he served with distinction as a minister in the Virginia and Western North Carolina conferences of the United Methodist Church, including pastorates in numerous locations. A relentless champion of the downtrodden, Mr. Myers fought fiercely for racial equality during our country's civil rights era of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Pastoral appointments of local interest include Hickory Grove - Charlotte, First Church - Waynesville, Central Methodist - Mooresville, and Centenary - Winston-Salem. In addition to the churches he served, Mr. Myers was also active in conference-related activities and contributed in leadership capacities on numerous boards and committees. In August of 1992 Mr. Myers was honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus by First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, a rare designation of highest distinction bestowed upon former pastors by their congregations. At the time of his death, Mr. Myers was the longest serving living member of the Western North Carolina Conference, having served in that conference for 69 years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with the Reverends Sandy Giles and George Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends in the vestibule of the church from 9:45 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786. Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville is in charge of arrangements.

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