News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Nancy Bayless honor, PFLAG homeless forum, Spirtual Formation speaker

Nancy Walker Bayless, in green, poses with husband David Bayless, left, and family members.

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 25, 2020

Stetson University honors Nancy Bayless, School Board members who are former teachers praise local schools, gay and lesbian advocates examine homeless and dynamic teacher headlines Spiritual Formation Week at First United Methodist Church.

Stetson University honors Nancy Bayless

DELAND, Florida — Stetson University honored Nancy Walker Bayless of Hendersonville with its prestigious George and Mary Hood Award, given in honor of Dr. George Hood, former dean of students, professor and director of Student Counseling Services, and his wife, the late Mary Turner Hood, longtime assistant to president and Chancellor J. Ollie Edmunds.
A Florida native and 1962 graduate of Stetson, Bayless currently lives in Hendersonville with her husband David, a Hendersonville native.
After graduating from New Smyrna Beach High School, she enrolled at the Deland, Florida, school, starting a family legacy. Her brother, Russell Walker, is a 1963 Stetson graduate, and her sister, Janet Walker Mooney, graduated in 1976.
While at Stetson, Nancy was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and served as the SGA vice president. After graduation, she taught high school math and later became a programmer and systems analyst, working with researchers at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. After their retirement, she and David established a consulting firm, Bayless Associates, which has worked with school systems to analyze assessment and survey data to be used in developing strategic plans. She remains active at Stetson, serving on the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors.

School Board members speak at teacher group

School Board members Dot Case and Mary Louise Corn were guest speakers at the Jan. 14 meeting of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, an organization of women teachers.
Case, a Delta Kappa Gamma International member, and Corn attributed the success of Henderson County Public Schools to dedicated teachers, a supportive community and excellent leadership from the administration.
The report from the November auction revealed the largest ever amount raised — $2,845. The proceeds help fund the recruitment grant, mini-grants, literacy resources, beginning teacher support.

PFLAG holds form on homelessness

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) will meet at 6 p.m. xxx, Feb. 3, at Providence Baptist Church, 1201 Oakland St., and present a panel discussion on the LGBTQ community and homelessness at 7. PFLAG is a group of individuals who want to build a foundation of loving families, united with LGBTQ people and allies, who support one another as well as educate one another and the community to speak up as advocates.

Spiritual Formation Weekend is Feb. 22-23

The Rev. Dr. Mike Slaughter, pastor emeritus at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio, will present a daylong program, “All In: For God, For Them, Forever,” during First United Methodist Church’s annual Spiritual Formation Weekend Feb. 22 and 23.
The Rev. Mike Slaughter will teach and preach on Feb. 22 and 23 during Spiritual Formation Week at First United Methodist Church.Slaughter reminds people that Jesus’ call is clear: to live out the Kingdom of God in our lives and in our communities.
When Slaughter arrived at Ginghamsburg Church in 1979, worship attendance hovered at 90 people with just 118 members and a church budget of $27,000. Through his dynamic teaching, his heart for the lost and innovative approach to ministry, the church grew to more than 5,000 attendees a week, and its multi-million dollar budget supports a faith community committed to serving the poor, the lost and disenfranchised.
Registration is open for the Saturday, Feb. 22, program featuring Rev. Slaughter, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $15 fee covers lunch; proceeds provide meals for the food insecure in Henderson County. To register visit http://www.fumchvlnc.org/worship/spiritual-formation-weekend or by call the church at 828-693-4275. Payment can be made online with PayPal and by cash or check in advance or at the door.
Slaughter is also the guest preacher at worship services on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. (traditional) and 9:15 a.m. (contemporary). All services are open to the public.
FUMC is located at 204 Sixth Avenue West in Hendersonville. Convenient, handicap-accessible parking is available in the main parking lot on Buncombe Street.

Project Dignity sets postcard party Jan. 31

Project Dignity and Progressive Alliance of Henderson County are partnering on Friday, Jan. 31, at PAHC’s regular Friday postcard party at Sanctuary Brewery Co. 147 First Avenue East.
Project Dignity of WNC Inc., a nonprofit organization, provides feminine hygiene products to women and girls in Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania, and Rutherford counties who might be homeless, low-income or victims of domestic abuse. Snap or food stamps do not allow the purchase of feminine hygiene products. Project Dignity of WNC provides feminine products to 15 agencies and 30 schools in Henderson and Buncombe counties. Donations of supplies or financial support is welcome.
Those interested in learning about or supporting Project Dignity or writing postcards may drop in at Sanctuary Brewery Co. between 4:30 and 6 p.m. on Jan. 31.