Rev. John Maxwell Cline

The Rev. John Maxwell Cline died peacefullyMarch 18, 2005.
He was born August 19, 1921, in Lewisville, North Carolina, to the late Dr. John Cline, who was a Methodist minister, and Kitty Plott Cline. Mr. Cline was a retired Methodist minister having served several churches throughout theNorth Carolina Conference. He began his ministry in North Carolina in the Kenansville Charge and the Bynum Charge, organizingone congregation in the Kenansville Charge. He also served at Bethany United Methodist Church in Durham, Ann Street United Methodist Church in Beaufort, First United Methodist Church in Siler City, Fairmont United Methodist Church in Raleigh, Front Street United Methodist in Burlington, and Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh. He was Pastor Emeritus at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh. He also served as District Superintendent of the Rocky Mount District.
Mr. Cline was a graduate of Duke University where he also received his Master of Divinity. He was elected as delegate to three North Carolina General Conferences, four Southeastern Jurisdictional Conferences, and the World Methodist Conference in Dublin, Ireland. He was a member of the boards of Wesleyan College, the Methodist Retirement Home, and served as Secretary of the Methodist Children's Home.
His ministry also included organizing tours of Israel. He traveled there seven times serving as a tour guide for many people from his congregations where he delivered sermons on the Sea of Galilee.
Mr. Cline was active in the Optimist Club and was elected President of Raleigh' Optimist Club and Governor of the North Carolina District of Optimist International. He also founded the Optimist Club in Chapel Hill, was a Mason and member of the Scottish Rites, and member of the Raleigh men's Garden Club.
Mr. Cline was known for his deep faith, his ministry to others, and his love for his family. He was a proud husband, father, and grandfather. He was also devoted to Duke University, where he not only studied but also sold programs at the Rose Bowl game at Wallace Wade Stadium and was rumored to have been an accomplice in the holding of a certain mascot resembling a ram, much to the dismay of his soon-to-be-bride from UNC.
Mr. Cline is survived by his wife of 53 years, Alice Stewart Cline, originally of Fountain Inn, SC; a daughter, Linda Cline Steadman and husband, Wallace of Columbia, SC; a son, John M. Cline, Jr. and wife, Cam of Chapel Hill; grandchildren, John Steadman, Anderson Steadman, David Steadman, Sarah Ann Cline and John Maxwell Cline, III; and sisters, Kitty Cline Cox and family of Richmond, VA, and Evelyn Cline Roach andfamily of Lexington, NC.
A memorial service will be held at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh on Sunday at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to any of the churches Mr. Cline served, Duke Udall PDRCE Research Fund (for Parkinson's Disease Research), 512 S. MangumStreet, Suite 400,Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, or the American Lung Association, 3801 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 190, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, is in charge of arrangements.