Please Remember Africa University in Your Will Issue:
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Vol:
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November - December
2018
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Africa University Development Office | P O Box 340007 | Nashville, TN 37203 Tel. (615) 340-7438 | Fax. (615) 340-7290 | Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org
Educators Gifts are Rooted in Their Stories and Vocation Photo by Melinda Taber Bradley
When Ann and Morris Taber “It is easy first ventured onto the campus to underin rural Zimbabwe, they were stand why already Africa University supHarriet was porters. However, that 1997 attracted visit was the start of a partto Africa nership to which they would University. commit their time, energy and Reared in a personal resources for the Methodist next years. parsonage By contrast, Dr. Harriet King with a father The Ann and Morris Taber and the Harriet Vivion never visited Africa King Vivion Endowed Scholarship Funds will sup- who served as University nor traveled to any port students preparing for careers in education. president of part of Africa. She learned a Methodistabout Africa University in conversations related college, she valued education and with her good friends and neighbors, Tom loved her church,” said Tom McAnally. and Charlotte McAnally. The McAnallys described their friend, a Earlier this year, Harriet King Vivion mother of three daughters, as someone and Morris Taber passed away within who lived modestly and was outgoing and two months of each other. They each left generous. Harriet taught special education bequests, designated as endowed scholar- at Granbery Elementary School in Davidson ships, to Africa University. These two gifts County, TN for many years. and the life stories that shaped them share For Morris Taber and Harriet Vivion, growcommon threads—they honor the values ing up in a preacher’s household was a and vocation of the givers. shared experience, and they both had long
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and impactful careers in teaching. The son of the Rev. Marcius Taber and Mrs. Mearl Taber, Morris lectured at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan for most of his professional career. He taught summer school each year to boost his savings and his ability to give generously. Morris and Ann, a school librarian, were married for 64 years and have two sons— Steven and Mark. In talking about their life together, Ann said that saving and giving were important to Morris. “As a child growing up, there were often things they couldn’t do or have because of the family’s resources,” Ann said. “As an adult, whenever a need or concern came up in our church or community, Morris was quick to contribute. He really enjoyed being able to do that spontaneously.” The Ann and Morris Taber and the Harriet King Vivion Endowed Scholarship Funds at Africa University will support students who are preparing for careers in education.
Ousley UMC Highlights Historian, AU Connection There’s a lot to celebrate in a story as rich and remarkable as that of Ousley United Methodist Church. In a year-long observance of its 160th anniversary, the congregation is honoring the contributions of a dedicated church historian, Mrs. Margaret Williams Curtis, and her late husband, Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Curtis. Rev. and Mrs. Curtis joined Ousley UMC in 1969. The congregation, located in the North Georgia Conference, is a vibrant, predominantly African-American fellowship. Its members include people from across North America as well as from Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Though retired from full-time ministry at the time, Rev. Curtis was the congregation’s Minister of Pastoral Care when he died in . In , the church named its Christian Education Center in his memory. Mrs. Curtis began her work as the church’s historian in and served in the role for eight years. As part of the
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contributions within and beyond the local church, including their ministry with Africa University. Rev. and Mrs. Curtis served for years as United Methodist missionaries in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).On their return to the United States in , Rev. Curtis became the director of The contributions of Mrs. Margaret Curtis and her late husband, United Methodist Volunteers Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Curtis, are being celebrated at Ousley UMC. in Mission-Southeastern anniversary celebrations, the congregation Jurisdiction (UMVIM-SEJ). He is recognizing Mrs. Curtis’ leadership and helped to organize and send many U.S. service. The Ousley UMC history room now work teams to build alongside Zimbabwean features a special wall dedicated to both United Methodists and prepare campus Rev. and Mrs. Curtis. facilities for the launch and growth of Africa “I’ve never seen any two people as giv- University. ing as the Curtises,” said Mrs. Rutheen In , the UMVIM-SEJ organization Majette-Nejad. “Anything that they could do established an endowed scholarship fund for someone in the church, they did it. Mrs. at Africa University in honor of Rev. and Curtis loves the United Methodist Women Mrs. Curtis. Recently, a United Methodist and Ousley UMC with her whole being.” Women’s circle at Ousley UMC was The new display highlights the couple’s renamed the Margaret Curtis circle.
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