The
The Rev. Dr. Carl H. Douglass, Jr.
d. August 22, 2015
Rev. Dr. Carl H. Douglass, Jr., 86, of Smith Mountain Lake, died Saturday, August 22, 2015. He was the loving husband of Brenda Mosier Douglass.
A United Methodist minister for sixty years, Dr. Douglass served 16 congregations in the Virginia Conference. After earning his divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology, Dr. Douglass began his ministry in 1953. He was an early advocate for civil rights and for racial inclusiveness in the church. He preached and lived tolerance, compassion and forgiveness. His broad view of theology held that “knowledge and faith are both larger than any of our religious systems.” Dr. Douglass was a popular preacher, his sermons a skillful fusion of self-deprecating humor and poignant stories. He found simple, direct ways to express profound concepts. “Preaching,” Dr. Douglass wrote, “is an attempt to link the everyday with the everlasting.”
For twenty years, Dr. Douglass was a Sunday morning fixture on NBC television in Richmond, teaching “Lessons for Living,” a biblical studies program sponsored by the Virginia Council of Churches.
Dr. Douglass was beloved in communities across Virginia as a pastor and counselor. He lived, as he died, surrounded by the love and admiration of his church members and his family.
Born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on March 14, 1929, he was the son of Carl Henry Douglass, Sr. and Ivory Meals Douglass. While he thought being called “Dr.” was putting on airs, he delighted in the title of “Daddy,” and ten children from three families are proud to call him that, Brent Douglass and Carter of Staunton, Va., John G. Douglass and Cindy of Richmond, Va., Carol D. Jacoby and Jamie of Richmond, Va., Steven G. Douglass and Tammy of Leesburg, Va., David Stafford and Sharon of Raleigh, N.C., Andrew Stafford and Nicki of Raleigh, N.C., Michael L. Atkinson and Jacque of Florence, S.C., Cynthia A. Hales of Timmonsville, S.C., Sonya A. Secor and Dean of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Lynn A. Semones and Steve of Christiansburg, Va. He has twenty-three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His circle of loved ones encompasses a huge extended family and countless friends.
The family will receive friends at Tharp Funeral Home in Bedford on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at Main Street United Methodist Church on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Riley R. Smith, Jr., the Rev. Larry E. Davies, and the Rev. Richard H. Ecklund officiating, and with a musical tribute by organist Johnson Scott.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Carl’s memory should consider Patmos United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 106, Huddleston, VA 24104.
Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford, is assisting the family. To send condolences and to read a further tribute, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
A United Methodist minister for sixty years, Dr. Douglass served 16 congregations in the Virginia Conference. After earning his divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology, Dr. Douglass began his ministry in 1953. He was an early advocate for civil rights and for racial inclusiveness in the church. He preached and lived tolerance, compassion and forgiveness. His broad view of theology held that “knowledge and faith are both larger than any of our religious systems.” Dr. Douglass was a popular preacher, his sermons a skillful fusion of self-deprecating humor and poignant stories. He found simple, direct ways to express profound concepts. “Preaching,” Dr. Douglass wrote, “is an attempt to link the everyday with the everlasting.”
For twenty years, Dr. Douglass was a Sunday morning fixture on NBC television in Richmond, teaching “Lessons for Living,” a biblical studies program sponsored by the Virginia Council of Churches.
Dr. Douglass was beloved in communities across Virginia as a pastor and counselor. He lived, as he died, surrounded by the love and admiration of his church members and his family.
Born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on March 14, 1929, he was the son of Carl Henry Douglass, Sr. and Ivory Meals Douglass. While he thought being called “Dr.” was putting on airs, he delighted in the title of “Daddy,” and ten children from three families are proud to call him that, Brent Douglass and Carter of Staunton, Va., John G. Douglass and Cindy of Richmond, Va., Carol D. Jacoby and Jamie of Richmond, Va., Steven G. Douglass and Tammy of Leesburg, Va., David Stafford and Sharon of Raleigh, N.C., Andrew Stafford and Nicki of Raleigh, N.C., Michael L. Atkinson and Jacque of Florence, S.C., Cynthia A. Hales of Timmonsville, S.C., Sonya A. Secor and Dean of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Lynn A. Semones and Steve of Christiansburg, Va. He has twenty-three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His circle of loved ones encompasses a huge extended family and countless friends.
The family will receive friends at Tharp Funeral Home in Bedford on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at Main Street United Methodist Church on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Riley R. Smith, Jr., the Rev. Larry E. Davies, and the Rev. Richard H. Ecklund officiating, and with a musical tribute by organist Johnson Scott.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Carl’s memory should consider Patmos United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 106, Huddleston, VA 24104.
Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford, is assisting the family. To send condolences and to read a further tribute, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of The Rev. Dr. Carl H. Douglass, Jr., please visit our flower store.
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