James Franklin Spofford, 1959-1991

On October 4, 1959, James D. Spofford and Joan Seal Spofford in Cumberland, Maryland, announced the birth of a son, James Franklin Spofford.

When I first met James, it was in May of 1988 in Winchester, Virginia. James and I had only recently received confirmation that in June 1988 that we would be serving as the ministerial team at First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. One of the first things I learned from James was that he was to be called James, not Jim nor Jimmy. So I came to love and to respect James as a person called of God with the gifts and graces for ministry.

From 1988 until 1991, we served the people of First Church. During our ministry, James grew as a preacher and deepened his faith in ministry as he was a very sensitive and compassionate person. He was loved by the older people, worked very well with the youth, assisted at least three Boy Scouts in earning their God and Country award, and matured in many areas of his gifts and graces. His growth enabled him to seek another appointment in June 1991 when he was assigned to Monroe United Methodist Church in Monroe, Virginia, where he served until his death on November 5, 1991.

Though James received his Master of Divinity from Boston University, he spent most of his life in Virginia. Greene Memorial in Roanoke saw him grow from a boy into a young adult. While attending the university, James became involved in Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church where he was approved as an inquiring candidate for ordained ministry. James returned to Charlottesville in 1988 when he was assigned as the associate minister at First Church.

He was active with the downtown clergy association and was responsible for the last three Easter sunrise services at Monticello, the home of the late Thomas Jefferson.

His service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church on November 9, 1991, with Resident Bishop Thomas Stockton, the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. NeSmith and the Rev. Wm. Anthony Layman officiating the service. On November 10, 1991, his remains were buried in Rest Haven Cemetery in Hagerstown, Maryland where the Rev. Dr. Raymond Moreland officiated.

The suddenness of James' death and the quality of ministry that he shared reminds this writer again that it is not how long we live that really counts but how we live. And James lived to the glory of God.

 

-Wm. Anthony Layman