Theressa Hoover's Obituary
Theressa Hoover, a dedicated leader in the worldwide ecumenical movement and former executive in The United Methodist Church died in hometown, Fayetteville, Arkansas, on December 21, 2013. She was born September 7, 1925.
As a child she attended Saint James Methodist Episcopal Church. Her home, church and school had high expectations for her success in all areas of her life and though public education for Black students ended at the eighth grade, her parents expected their children would go to high school and attend college. During these years of racial segregation, Ms. Hoover attended and graduated from Henderson and Lincoln Elementary schools which were reserved for Blacks and later she was sent to live with her aunt, in Atlanta, Texas. Theressa worked with the youth program at Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church until she graduated from Pruitt High School in 1941.
Ms. Hoover matriculated at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas and was active in most student groups and often represented them in state and regional activities. She joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1942. She served as office secretary at Wesley Chapel and attended the National Methodist Student Conference at the University of Illinois. By her senior year, Theressa was employed as associate director of the Little Rock Methodist Council, a coalition of 19 Black and White Methodist churches doing leadership training and working on social issues. She graduated from Philander Smith in 1946 with a B.A. Degree in Business Administration and joined the Council full time. Theressa helped to convert a turkey farm in Little Rock into Camp Aldersgate which was formally dedicated in 1947 as a camp for Black youth and as a place for leadership training open to all people. As one of the first integrated facilities in the United States, the camp’s role in race relations led to challenges during the 1950’s. After working at Aldersgate Camp, she joined the staff of the Woman’s Division in 1948 and was a Field Worker for the Central (African American) Jurisdiction of The Methodist Church for 10 years.
Theressa Hoover was a political progressive whose rise to national leadership was an historical breakthrough in the United States because of racial segregation and economic exploitation. Theressa was a firebrand who, having been judged only by outside appearances, declared that “… it has helped me to develop a healthier ego for which I make no apologies.” In 1958, Ms. Hoover moved to New York City where she became a staff member of the Department of Christian Social Relations of the Methodist Church. She earned her M.A. in Education from New York University’s Center for Human Relations in 1962 by studying during vacations, leaves from work and by taking night classes and such spare time as she had.
In 1968 Theressa Hoover was elected Associate General Secretary of the Women’s Division of the Board of Missions of the United Methodist Church where she served as head of the national policy making body of the organization. Her work took her across all 50 States and five continents
Theressa Hoover lived and worked in New York City for over 30 years was where she attended Park Avenue United Methodist Church and later Salem United Methodist Church in Harlem. She was a founding member of Black Methodist for Church Renewal, and was a staunch supporter of the United Negro College Fund. In 1971 she was chosen by the Ladies Home Journal as one of the most important women in the United States of America.
Ms. Hoover served on the boards of: The World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches of Christ, USA, Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Celigny, Switzerland, YWCA-USA, National Council of Negro Women, Paine College (Georgia), Stephens College (Missouri), and United Theological Seminary (Ohio), and the organizing unit for Scarrett Bennett Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, was chartered December 1981. In addition to the monthly “column “Responsively Yours” in RESPONSE MAGAZINE, she authored WITH UNVEILED FACE (1983). In 1990, the Women’s Division of The United Methodist Church established the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizen Fund in perpetuity, in the amount of $100,000, with only the interest used for a grant. The grant is awarded to a young woman (aged 21-35) for study, exploration, learning, research and/or observation in a subject area of the recipient’s choosing in harmony with the current interests of the Women’s Division.
Theressa Hoover retired in 1990 after 42 years of service, 22 years of service as Deputy General Secretary of the Women’s Division which was the national program and policy making body for United Methodist Women.
Ms. Hoover moved back to Fayetteville and became reacquainted with her hometown, becoming modestly active in The League of Women Voters and other non-profit organizations. She accepted limited speaking engagements in nearby states and in October, 2000 was inducted into The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. In 2008, Daniel Coody, mayor of the City of Fayetteville proclaimed May 30, 2008 as Theressa Hoover Day. She again became a member of Saint James UMC and then spent her remaining years at Sequoyah United Methodist Church.
Revered in Methodist circles, Theressa Hoover’s work continues to have positive outreach and impact in The United Methodist Church, the ecumenical world and among individual women, children and men around the globe.
Theressa Hoover was predeceased by her parents James Cortez Hoover and Rissie Vaughn Hoover, and her siblings, Albert Hoover, Minerva Hoover Carroll Morgan, Francis Hoover and Russell Hoover.
She is survived by her nieces, Melba Smith, Patricia Carroll Polk, Dolly Hoover, Alfreda Hoover Beaugard, and Timberly Hoover Marshall (Irving), great nephew Caleb Marshall, great nieces Melinda Polk Bridges, Chloe, Claudia and Olivia Beaugard and Macalah Marshall, and great great nieces Theressa Bridges and Raven Petty. Her memory will be cherished by a host of relatives, friends and colleagues.
Visitations will be held Sunday, December 29th from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM, Monday, December 30th at Sequoyah United Methodist Church in Fayetteville with the Reverend Sara Pair officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that any contributions be made to The Legacy Fund of United Methodist Women in memory of Theressa Hoover in care of United Methodist Women, Room 1504, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115. Or to Saint James United Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, or Sequoyah United Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703.
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