Funeral held for wife of Native American leader
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The Rev. Sam Wynn was a delegate to the 2004 United Methodist General Conference. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.
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By Kathy L. Gilbert*
June 10, 2008
A funeral for Rosemary "Rose" Todd Wynn, wife of the Rev. Sam Wynn, a
United Methodist pastor and Native American leader, was held June 10 at
two United Methodist churches in North Carolina.
She was found unconscious in her home June 5 and died later at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, the same day.
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Rosemary "Rose" Todd Wynn
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Rev. Wynn, pastor of Holland's United Methodist Church in Raleigh, has
been questioned in the case but is not being named a suspect, according
to church officials. No charges have been filed.
According to news reports, Mrs. Wynn, 51, was attacked between 10:30
p.m. June 4 and 7 a.m. June 5. Rev. Wynn was not at home at the time of
the attack. She was discovered unconscious by the couple's 10-year-old
son, Christopher, and taken to the hospital. She never regained
consciousness.
The Rev. Ned Hill, superintendent of the United Methodist Raleigh
district, addressed members of Holland's on Sunday and asked for their
prayers for the family.
"Most of you have read or viewed newspaper and television reports
related to her death," Hill said. "I would remind you that whenever
there is a death related to an injury there is a need to understand the
circumstances of that death. Understandably, Sam, Rose’s family and all
of us want to know what happened. We believe that our knowing will be an
important part of our moving through our grief. And yet this time of
inquiry is particularly painful for us all."
Rev. Wynn is a member of the Lumbee tribe and is on the executive
committee of the Native American International Caucus of The United
Methodist Church. He served as district superintendent and on numerous
annual, jurisdictional and general church committees. He was endorsed by
the Southeastern Jurisdiction Native American Caucus as an episcopal
candidate in 2000. He served as a delegate to the 2004 United Methodist
General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body.
Hill said Rev. Wynn has been cooperating in the investigation. At the
time of her death, the couple was separated and living in different
residences. Mrs. Wynn was living in Raeford, N.C. According to
authorities, Rev. Wynn's home in Raleigh was searched June 6.
Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn, episcopal leader of the North Carolina area, is
expected to announce Wynn's appointment as district superintendent of
the Fayetteville Conference at the end of the annual conference being
held June 11-14.
Bill Norton, director of communications for the North Carolina
Conference, said he did not know when Wynn would resume his duties but
said the congregation at Holland's was praying for him and for the Todd
family.
"I know him personally," Norton said. "He's very compassionate, a very loving, caring pastor."
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. June 10 at Holland's United
Methodist Church in Raleigh and at 4 p.m. at Pleasant Grove United
Methodist Church in Bladenboro. In addition to Christopher and Sam, Mrs.
Wynn is survived by another son, Anthony Jackson, her mother, sisters,
brothers and grandchildren.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
North Carolina Annual Conference
Holland's United Methodist Church |
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