F. Rebecca Sparkman Righter, 1935-2000The Rev. F. Rebecca Sparkman Righter died on September 15, 2000, at Arlington Hospital from complications of congestive heart failure and Milroy’s disease. Becky, as she was known to all her family and friends, was born on August 28, 1935, in Birmingham, Alabama, and spent her youth in Washington, D.C., where she was called into the ministry at her home church, Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1956, and Drew Theological Seminary in 1959. Becky married the Rev. James D. Righter in 1960, and divorced in 1992. Until her ordination in 1983, Becky served God as a director of Christian education, preschool director, pastor’s wife and mother. From 1983 until her disability leave began in 1994, she continued her service to God through her ministerial career at Willis Church (Richmond), St. Stephen’s Church (Springfield), Manassas Church, where she was instrumental in the merger with St. Thomas Church to form Manassas/St. Thomas Church, and St. Mark’s Church (Arlington). Despite her disabilities and grave illness, Becky carried on her ministry through her involvement in Clarendon Church (Arlington), the Emmaus and Virginia Conference Women’s Clergy organizations among others, all of which gave her great joy and fulfillment in her final years. Becky lived her life for the glory of God, the United Methodist Church and her friends. She dearly loved all the people, especially the children, she met and worked with during her life. After a long battle with illness, the day before her death she said simply, "I want to go be with God." She is survived by her daughter Valerie, of Boyce, Va., and her son Eric, of Arlington, Va. — Valerie Righter |