Bledsoe Blain Kent, 1900-1989

Bledsoe Blain Kent, or BB as he was known, was born September 7, 1900, in Nelson County, Virginia. Mr. Kent, as the writer always addressed him, was a very active lay person in the United Methodist Church for more than 60 years before he was licensed as a local pastor.

 

As a lay person, BB married Susie Kent and they raised five children -one son and four daughters. During Mr. Kent's service as a lay person, he was a church school teacher at Batesville, an associate lay leader for 10 years (1935-45) and district lay leader for 10 years (1955-65), in addition to being a lay speaker for many of those years in the Charlottesville District. As a matter of historical record, BB was one of five ministers to enter the Virginia conference from the Batesville Church. He was the third to die.

Civil duty was important to Mr. Kent as he was a member of the Odd Fellows, Rebekah, Ruritan and a 32nd Degree Mason. After retiring from Blue Ridge Farm in Albemarle County near Greenwood, Mr. Kent was appointed to the North Madison Charge where he served until 1974. The nine years of licensed ministry exemplified his life of faithfulness to his Lord. He served with honor and distinction.

At his funeral on March 10, 1989 at Crozet, Virginia, there were present five ordained ministers: the Rev. Joseph T. Carson Jr.; the Rev, Gerald P. Coleman; the Rev. E. Thomas Murphy Jr., district superintendent; the Rev. Wm. Anthony Layman; and Dr. William N. Wade. As they came and shared, they expressed the depth of a man in whom God lived and through whom they were made richer for BB's faithfulness. Well done, thy good and faithful servant.

 

-Wm. Anthony Layman