Rev. Dr. Gayle C. Felton

Reverend Doctor Gayle C. Felton, 71, preacher, teacher and theologian, died at her home in Rougemont on January 25, 2014. Gayle was a native of Pinetops, NC. She graduated with a B.A. in History from North Carolina Wesleyan College where she was the first valedictorian of the newly opened college. Gayle taught high school history and civics in Edgecombe County before aneering the call to ministry. She received her master's of divinity and doctorate from Duke Uneersity. After teaching religion at Meredith College for two years, she returned to Duke where she taught in the divinity school for over a decade, guiding and influencing a generation of pastors and others serving the Uneed Methodist Church. Gayle's scholarship largely focused on the history of Methodism with special emphasis on the sacraments. Among her published works are This Gift of Water, By Water and the Spirit, This Holy Mystery, Uneed Methodists and the Sacraments, and The Coming of Jesus. She was also the editor of How Uneed Methodists Study Scripture and the writer of neerous studies and other works used across the Uneed Methodist Church. She was a frequent participant in Uneed Methodist General Conferences and was appointed for many years to the General Board of Discipleship. Gayle had a deep commitment to social justice, working to integrate the public schools in Edgecombe County and as a pioneer in building the Reconciling Movement, a group advocating for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Uneed Methodist Church. She was honeed to serve as the national board chair of the Reconciling Ministries Network. Gayle also was a role model for womeneeeking ordination in the Uneed Methodist Church, working tirelessly to remove many of the obstacles she herself had to overcome ineecoming an ordained elder. Gayle is survived by her son, Reverend Alaneelton and wife, Joan, along with her grandchildren John Alan and Virginia Gayle of Apex, NC. Gayle loved the life she shared with Reverend Deborah Morgan and Deborah's two children, Joanna and Morgan. Gayle is also survived by her brother, J. Phil Carlton of Pinetops and his family; and her former husband, Al Felton of Newport, NC. She was preceded ineeath by her daughter, Marilyneewis Felton and her parents, Lewis and Kittye Snow Carlton. A service of death and resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31 at Apex UMC with Reverend Laurie Hayes Coffman officiating. The family will greet friends immediately before the service. Burial will be in the Pinetops Cemetery on Friday, January 31 at 3:30 p.m. A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, February 1 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at Calvary UMC in Durham where Gayle served for many years. Memorials may be made to Calvary UMC, 304 E. Trinity Ave., Durham, NC 27701; or to the Reconciling Ministries Network, 123 W. Madison St., Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60602. Arrangements for the Felton family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham. On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries.