ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607110029
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
The Rev. Dr. Melvin Maxey and his wife, Esther Fox Maxey, had contemplated turning part of their home in Salem into a retreat center for Christian religion workers. Esther Maxey died recently, but Melvin Maxey will act on their decision in September.
A retired Ferrum College professor of religion and French, Maxey has been associate rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem for several years. He also is a volunteer chaplain at Lewis-Gale Medical Center. He has studied in seminaries of the Southern Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations, as well as Episcopal.
The Maxey residence at 830 Moran Ave., he said, will accommodate overnight guests "who want to get a little time away from the phones for silence and some reflection or discussion on their spirituality."
The pastor-teacher said he enjoys cooking both traditional and vegetarian meals and will do this at low cost, or guests may purchase catered meals. The whole enterprise will be nonprofit, he said.
Plans at The Hermitage also include using the house for bimonthly Bible studies for lay people, alternating with sermon-planning discussions for pastors. Maxey can be reached at 387-1047 to schedule such programs for the fall.
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB