THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 30, 1996 TAG: 9603300211
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
The Rev. Dr. John Wynn Myers died Thursday, March 28, 1996, at the United Methodist Home of Roanoke.
Dr. Myers was a member of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church for over 60 years, following his distinguished father, the late Rev. Dr. Horwood Prettyman Myers Sr., himself a dynamic and creative leader within the conference and across the general church. Dr. Myers, a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and a student at the University of Virginia, began his ministry serving with the staff at Druid Hills United Methodist Church while a graduate student in theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. In Virginia he has served subsequent pastoral charges: Bedford Circuit, Cheriton Eastern Shore, Fairmont-Norview Norfolk, Farmville, the Staunton District, Greene Memorial Roanoke, Washington Street, Alexandria, Centenary Richmond, Park Place Norfolk, Centenary Portsmouth, and Granbery, Covington, before retiring in 1979. He was one of the youngest superintendents ever to serve in a bishop's cabinet, and while on the Staunton District, he successfully launched new programs in church extension that resulted in many new congregations, while at the same time modernizing the structures of 35 rural parishes. He was for many years a popular preacher, much in demand for evangelistic services in hundreds of churches, attracting large congregations to inner-city pulpits, writing or publishing sermon tracts, and appearing on TV and radio on regular schedules. As a leader in the Virginia Conference, he has served repeated assignments with the Board of Evangelism, the board of Missions and Church Extension, the Board of Ministry, and with the Commission of World Service and Finance. He was also president of the Virginia Conference Brotherhood. He has represented his conference as delegate to many jurisdictional conferences. In 1955, he was the recipient of the Doctor of Divinity degree at Randolph-Macon College.
Widely traveled, both as student and lecturer, Dr. Myers was sent in 1951 by his church in Farmville for extensive studies of all Bible lands, a landmark experience. In 1958, he represented his denomination in an evangelistic mission, working in many conferences, both in Pakistan and the sub-continent of India. Other extensive travels have carried him into the mission fields of Europe and the Far East (Japan, Korea, etc.). In community life, he has been active in Civic clubs, patriotic societies, in both legislative branches in Richmond and Washington, and also at City Hall. He has been chaplain at prison camps, hospitals, and music clubs. He has served with the boards of many social agencies. As a Bible student he has been a teacher throughout the community.
Dr. Myers is survived by his dear wife of 59 years, Charlotte Scott Myers, originally from Rome, Ga. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah Lee Myers and Eric G. Peters Sr. of Lynchburg, Maude Wynn Myers and John B. Mitchell Sr. of Hot Spring; and six grandchildren, Laura Lee Mitchell McGarry and her husband, Thomas, of Philadelphia; their two children, E. Gordon Peters Jr. and his wife, Margaret, of Richmond, Robert Manson Peters and his wife, Lisa, of Germany, J. Blair Mitchell Jr. of Hot Springs, Charlotte Wynn Peters of Richmond, Sarah Letitia Peters, a James Madison University student; and also three brothers of distinction, The Rev. Horwood Prettyman Myers Jr. of Waynesville, N.C., Dr. William Thomas Myers, M.D. of Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Robert Manson Myers of Washington, D.C.; and many cousins and relatives far and near.
A funeral will be conducted at Greene Memorial United Methodist, Roanoke, where he was a pastor emeritus, on Sunday at 3 p.m. with the pastor or other leading clergy participating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Greene Memorial Church or to Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va. Friends may call at Oakey's downtown Roanoke chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB