Dr. Touchberry

Rev. Dr. John Workman Touchberry

Rosman - Rev. Dr. John Workman Touchberry, 80, of Rosman, NC died Monday, April 26, 2010 at 5:30 PM. He was born on Jan. 16, 1930 in Padgett's Creek, SC to the late Tillman John Touchberry and Lillian Avarilla Barnett. He was also preceded in death by his brother William Barnett Touchberry and his sister Margaret Elizabeth Touchberry Miller.

John graduated with a BA from Furman University; and MA from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY; and a Doctor of Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, PA. He completed Clinical Pastoral Training at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.

He was ordained in 1955 and his first pastorate was at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Cordova, SC where he met the love of his life, Sheryl Dean Smoak. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 21, 2009.

His spirit now watches over two sons and two grandsons whom he adored; Jonathan Dean Touchberry of Rosman and Roger Tillman Touchberry and his wife, Denise Showalter of Bradenton, FL; grandsons Ramsey Tillman Touchberry of Bradenton, FL and Matt Kachurka of Downingtown, PA.

While working in student ministry in Gainesville as the Director of Georgia Seagle Hall, a Christian Co-Op at the University of Florida, John joined the United Church of Christ. He was called to be the minister of Faith United Church of Christ in Clearwater, FL. The main focus of his ministry there was housing for the poor through a program called "Twinkle" that he was instrumental in starting.

John moved to Lansdale, PA in 1973 to become the Senior Minister of St. John's United Church of Christ, and remained there for the next 26 years. The emphasis of his ministry was always on the poor and disenfranchised of society. He started a soup kitchen next door to the church called Manna on Main Street. He was the founder of Interfaith Community Services and Community Housing Services. He was on the board of Helpline and the American Heart Association. He was the Chaplain of the Volunteer Fairmount Fire Co. and he started an AIDS support group.

He opened the doors of the church to over 20 community groups, including a Korean Church, a Mental Health program, a Montessori School, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Boy and Girl Scouts, and many others. Most of the time, day and night, every room in the church was in use.

John was selected by Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1989 to be the recipient of the Allen S. Meck Award for "excellence and achievement in parish ministry". He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Lansdale Rotary International in 1992. He received the North Penn Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award in 1992, the Lansdale Jaycees Community Service Award in 1993, and many, many more.

He was well known for his role playing from the pulpit of many Biblical characters, including Jesus, Judas, Paul and Abraham. He loved preaching and teaching and continued to share those talents, after his retirement in 1999, with his church home here at First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Hendersonville, NC.

He loved books and read constantly, and taught adult classes at a local college. The main themes in his sermons involved world peace and equality & justice for all. He was a loving, giving, caring person who made a difference in the lives of those he touched, and he taught by example and "lived what he preached' more than anyone we have ever known. We think the world is better because he was here. His ashes will be scattered over Nancy Mt. where his spirit will continue to live, love, laugh & play.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Transylvania Regional Hospital Cancer Center, the Outpatient Center and Hospice for their gifts of love, compassion and support. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to these groups or to First Congregational UCC, 1735 Fifth Ave., West, Hendersonville, NC 28739-1013. There will be a Celebration of John's life at First Congregational UCC, Hendersonville on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 11:00AM.


To leave a condolence message for the Touchberry family, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com .

Moore Funeral Home is caring for the family.