The Reverend Dr. Gerald C. Hanberry

The Reverend Dr. Gerald C. Hanberry

The Reverend Dr. Gerald C. Hanberry died on June 10 at Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown, MD, surrounded by his wife, five children and eight of his 14 grandchildren. He was born in 1942, the son of Adele Blume and Hurlbut Hanberry, in Denmark, SC.

Gerry was a genuine, down-to-earth kind of guy. He was passionate about whatever he did and put that passion into action. Whether he was riding his bike three days in the AIDS Ride;  running 70 miles a week; leading 21 groups to Honduras to build houses; being a Founder of  Glade Valley Community Services; leading the effort to build the first permanent cold weather shelter in Frederick or working on anti-racism initiatives, he did it humbly and with a great sense of humor. 

Gerry attended Furman University, Greenville, SC, graduating in 1964 with a BA in music/ voice. He graduated from Florida State University with an MA and PhD in adult education/community development in 1972. He finally answered the call to ministry he had been resisting for years, graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. in 1989 with a Master of Divinity.

Gerry worked hard his entire life, starting as a farmhand on a dairy farm and a school bus driver (at 16). Later jobs included motel night clerk (to put himself through college); church Music Director; poverty program worker in Charleston, SC, and Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. He worked in adult education at the University of MD and Prince George’s Community College and was a Senior Associate at Development Associates in Arlington VA. He also managed the Sunrise Springs Inn and Conference Center in Santa Fe, NM.

Following graduation from seminary, he was ordained into the United Church of Christ, becoming Pastor for Parish Life at Trinity UCC, Waynesboro, PA and Pastor of Glade UCC, Walkersville, MD. He then received training in Intentional Interim Ministry, continuing his career as an interim minister in seven churches in Washington, Carroll, Howard and Frederick Counties, most of which wished he would stay on as their permanent pastor. He was also active in the wider church, serving on the Board of Directors of the Central Atlantic Conference and the Catoctin Association Church and Ministry Commission. 

Gerry is survived by his adoring and dedicated wife, Pat - they were partners in everything they did, supporting each other always. He also leaves his five children, April Hanberry, Amber Owens (Brett), Judd Hanberry (Marsha), Shaem Spencer (Denise) and Sarah Dolan (Neel Master), who blessed him with 14 grandchildren: Patrick, Zeke, Zion, Soleil, Nathan, Noah, Summer, Katie, Shaem Jr., Ty, Milica, Ehan, Dylan and McCabe, all of whom he adored. 

A service of remembrance will be held at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD at 1:00 on Saturday, June 15, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Beyond Shelter (formerly The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs) or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Go Yankees!