Reta Dover Steck

CONCORD, N.C. - The Rev. Reta Dover Steck, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Concord, passed away at her home Tuesday morning, Dec. 7, 2010.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Central UMC officiated by the Rev. Andy Langford. The family will receive friends following the service in the Coltrane Memorial Room.

Reta was born in York, S.C., on Dec. 1, 1958, to the late Emmett Isiah Dover and Grace Mary Calhoun Dover. Reta began Winthrop University and then left school to care for her family after the death of her mother. When Reta was age 26, her father died. Reta then obtained her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Limestone College. She began a career in human resources that took her to Charlotte, California and back to Charlotte. She began serving as Director of Human Resources for MedCath Corporation in 1995, when it had fewer than 90 employees and left 10 years later when the company had more than 3000 employees. During her time at MedCath, she began her spiritual journey as an adult and met her husband, Dr. Todd Steck, in a Sunday School class at University City United Methodist Church. She started Sunday School classes, led Disciple Bible study groups and was a leader in many church activities. While a member at Davidson UMC, she felt her call to ministry. For three years, Reta lived in Durham during the week and in Charlotte on the weekend while she pursued her M.Div. from Duke University Divinity School, which she earned in 2005. Her natural leadership abilities, professionalism, strong work ethic, kindness, love of others, love of the United Methodist Church and love of Christ touched many lives while she was an Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Concord. She loved the members and they loved her. Reta became an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2008 and had hoped to retire to a home in Lake Junaluska, N.C. After her diagnosis, Reta was named Central's "Pastor of the Heart." Reta will be greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Todd Steck; sister, Tammy Martin and husband, Eddie; niece, Brittany Moses; nephew, Devin Martin; mother-in-law, Mae Dreier; and other loving relatives.

Memorials may be sent to the Ruth Dollars Fund at Central UMC, 30 Union Street North, Concord, NC, 28025.

Online condolences may be made at www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com. Wilkinson Funeral Home is in charge of the services.