Charles E. VanDevender

Charles E. Van Devender

The Rev. Charles E. Van Devender passed away on Aug. 25, 2013, from an extended illness exacerbated by a fall. The Rev. Van Devender was the retired pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Sheffield, Ala. He also served pastorates in Lyons/McGregor, Presbyterian Churches in Georgia and First Presbyterian Church Marshall, Texas. He was a member of the North Alabama Presbytery and Synod of Living Waters. He served as the stated clerk of both of these for about 15 years.

Visitation will be today from 6-8 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Thursday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Richard Gillespie officiating. Friends may call at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park.

While living in the Shoals, Charles served as the Chairman of the FEMA board, chairman of the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Board and served as a committee member as both the YMCA in Sheffield and Florence. Also, he was a member of the committee of the YMCA that helped to approve and construct the new YMCA. He was also the Chairman of the North Alabama's Presbyteries Renovation and construction of Camp Maranatha' new Conference Center. Charles was heavily involved in Community Theater at the Ritz and Zodiac. He performed in such plays as Annie Get Your Gun, Guys and Dolls, Student Prince, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Foxfire, Mice and Men, Broadway Bound, Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend and many Ritz's children's theater productions.

The Rev. Van Devender graduated from high school at University Military School in Mobile, Ala. He received a B.A. after attending the University of Alabama and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss. He received his Master's of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.

The Rev. Van Devender was a member of the Sheffield Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Charles was preceded in death by his father and mother, Charles E. Van Devender Sr. and Nadine Pappas Van Devender, of Mobile, Ala. and later Albertville, Ala.; and his first wife, Barbara Ann Steelman Van Devender, of Ocean Springs, Miss.

Charles leaves behind his wife, Lynda Anne Wilson Van Devender; four sons, Charles E. III (Candice), Christopher Ladd (Michel), Clifton Drew (Gina), Bryan R. (Elizabeth); and 9 grandchildren, Lync, Jules, Noah, Gavin, Nadine, Jude, Emerson, Silas and Abigail.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the ICU unit of Helen Keller Hospital for their incredible empathy and care for our loved one. We also wish to thank Dr. Aderholt and Dr. Jerry Williams for their expertise and guidance during this incredibly trying time. All involved in our experience were greatly appreciated and loved. Thanks again for all the love and hugs.

Any memorials should be sent to:

Presbyterian Children's For Children

P.O. Drawer 577

Talladega, Al 35161-9975,

Christian Appalachian Project

P.O. Box 55911

Lexington KY 40555-9944 and

Coalition for Appalachian Ministry

1329 Wears Valley Rd.

Townsend, TN 37882-3417

(phone-865-446-5940).

An online guest book may be greenviewmemorial.com.

Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.