Charles N. Pickell

1927 - 2025

Charles N. Pickell

December 18, 1927 - July 2, 2025

The Rev. Dr. Charles N. Pickell died Wednesday, July 2, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Sally; three children, The Rev. Stuart Charles Pickell, M.D and his wife Emily of Fort Worth, TX, Luke Andrew Pickell and his wife Jennifer of Leesburg, VA, and a daughter, Heather Lee Nash of Centreville, VA; one adopted son, Arthur John Frazer and his wife Cheryl of Leesburg, VA; two step-children, Ellen L. Stackpole and her husband David of Charlottesville, and Ethan J. Harlow and his wife Nunu of Silver Spring, MD; and fourteen grandchildren. A daughter, Rachel P. Ellis of Baltimore, MD; a granddaughter, Nicosha Nash of Centreville, VA; a grandson, Kent Michael Pickell of Leesburg, VA and two sisters, Margaret P. Smith of Haddonfield, NJ and Dr. Betty P. Cleaver of Durham, NC. preceded him in death.

Born December 18, 1927, in Haddonfield, NJ, Charles received his elementary and secondary education in the Haddonfield public schools. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania in 1949, a Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA in 1952, and a Master of Theology degree from Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary in 1957. (These schools have since merged and are now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). He also engaged in additional study at Harvard University and Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. For several years, he participated in summer study programs at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He also participated in summer study at the University of Durham in England and Gladstone's Library in Hawarden, Wales. In retirement, he took several courses in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Virginia. In 1964, he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by Sterling College, a Presbyterian Church (USA) institution in Sterling, Kansas.

Dr. Pickell served as pastor of Presbyterian churches in Atlantic City, NJ, Monongahela, PA, and Newton, MA before moving to National Capital Presbytery where he was pastor of the Wallace Memorial United Presbyterian Church, West Hyattsville, MD (1963-1970), the Vienna Presbyterian Church, Vienna, VA (1970-1980), and the Ashburn Presbyterian Church, Ashburn, VA (1980-1993). After retirement, he served as Parish Associate, a part-time position, at the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, Leesburg, VA (1994-1998) and with his successor, John Peterson, at the Ashburn Presbyterian Church (1998-2000). He and his wife Sally had a house built just outside of Charlottesville and moved there in November 2000, after which he served for seven years as Parish Associate at the First Presbyterian Church of Charlottesville. In 2008, he became Parish Associate at the Meadows Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville and served there until 2020.

During his ministry Charles was active in the governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church serving terms as Moderator of both the Boston and the National Capital Union Presbyteries and of the Synod of New England of the United Presbyterian Church, USA, and was Chair of the Council of the Synod of the Virginias of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. He served as a Commissioner (delegate) to the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church, USA in 1966 and 1978 and the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1990. Charles also served on the Boards of Trustees of Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania (1957-1961), Gordon College, Wenham, MA (1959-1982), and Gordon Divinity School, South Hamilton, Massachusetts (1959-1972), and from 1958 to 1963 he was an adjunct professor at Gordon Divinity School. In Charlottesville, he taught courses for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Virginia. He was one of five incorporators of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, when Gordon Divinity School merged with Conwell Theological Seminary of Philadelphia in 1972. In addition, Dr. Pickell was the author of seven books, editor of another, and over the years wrote adult church school curricula as well as articles and poetry for periodicals such as The United Presbyterian, Christian Life, and Christianity Today.

As a child, Charles wanted to be a firefighter or a preacher and he realized both dreams. He was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. June 6, 1952 by the Presbytery of Butler in Western Pennsylvania, and during his time in Northern Virginia, he was a member first of the fire department in Vienna and later in Ashburn. He served on the Board of Directors and was President of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, and later was Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. He also served as chaplain for the Fire and Rescue Departments of Fairfax (1971-1981) and Loudoun (1986-2000) counties.

Charles had a great interest in American history, especially of the Civil War era, as well as church history. The latter interest resulted in almost annual visits to Scotland for over a 25-year period and to his organizing and leading several Presbyterian Heritage tours of Scotland, and a Reformation Tour of Europe in which more than 250 people from Northern Virginia and Charlottesville participated.

Upon his retirement January 1, 1994, he was named Pastor Emeritus of the Ashburn Presbyterian Church and a new multi-purpose building erected by the congregation was named Pickell Hall in his honor.

A memorial service will be held at the Meadows Presbyterian Church, 2200 Angus Road, Charlottesville, on Saturday, August 2, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. John E. Peterson, Dr. Pickell's successor at the Ashburn Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Thomas A. Goodrich, pastor of the Meadows Presbyterian Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish to do so are encouraged to make a memorial gift to the Meadows Presbyterian Church, 2200 Angus Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Interment of his ashes will be made in a private family ceremony at the Memorial Garden of Charlottesville's First Presbyterian Church.