Julia A. Clews

CLEWS JULIA A. CLEWS On April 26, 2009, Julia Clews went to see the Lord at 2:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. She passed in her sleep at the Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Two Memorial services will be held to celebrate her fulfilling and Christ-centered life of 97 years. Two services will be held: The first on May 26, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Mullins & ThompsonFuneral Home Service, Fredericksburg Chapel. There will be a 10 a.m. gathering time for family and friends. After the service the burial will take place at Pohick Cemetery in Lorton, Virginia. The address of the Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service is 1621 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The second service will be held on May 28, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Asbury Methodist Village Guild Memorial Chapel. The address is 211 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donation should be made in Julia''s honor to the Asbury Benevolent Care Fund, c/o AMV Foundation, 201 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Julia was born in Brentwood, Maryland as the daughter of Abbie Dishman Arnold and Isaac David Arnold. She started teaching Sunday School at age 13 at the Methodist Church which was one block from where she lived. At age 16, Julia entered the University of Maryland. She was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Women''s Fraternity, a Greek social organization, which is still predominant in many institutions of higher learning today. She graduated from the University of Maryland at age nineteen. Julia taught English and Music at the high school level for six years. She was very talented, creative and comfortable in her teaching positions, most of which were in Laurel, Maryland. In June of 1937, she married Reverend W. Hedley Clews, a Methodist minister, whom she met while he was serving in her hometown of Brentwood. Julia left teaching to assume the many responsibilities of being a minister''s wife. Her many talents, teaching, music, and such served her well in this capacity. She and her husband blended their talents as a team in ministry for over 40 years. They began service in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church, in places such as Mint Spring, Portsmouth, Chase City, and Cherrydale. It is difficult to try to enumerate the bevy of contributions that Julia made to Hedley''s ministry. One would include an exciting and creative Vacation Bible School leadership many times in Virginia. Julia was totally dedicated to Christian education, but had other interests equally dear to her heart, one was love of art and art appreciation, the other was a theory regarding devotional influence. She founded many devotional groups during Hedley''s many charges. One was a Tuesday morning intercessory prayer meeting known as "Prayer Lift"; that she and Dorothy Kirkley at St. Paul''s Kensington created. Throughout their ministry, Julia and Hedley were supportive of Induk Pahk, a missionary from Korea. In 1954, Induk published a book called, September Monkey and described her heart stirring and lively dream to establish a school. Julia planned and hosted events known as Epiphany parties sponsored by spiritual enrichment groups to raise funds to support the school. In 1964, Induk founded a school in Seoul, South Korea known as Berea. The school was successful and Induk fulfilled her dream. The school still exists today, in part because of the faithful support Julia and Hedley provided throughout their ministry. Julia was also at Hedley''s side for great ministries at these United Methodist Churches: Trinity Church in Baltimore, Maryland from 1947 through 1954; at Catonsville Church from 1954 to 1962; St. Luke''s Church in Washington, DC from 1962 to 1970; University Park Church from 1970 to 1974; and St. Paul''s Church in Kensington, Maryland. Hedley served as an Associate Pastor at St. Paul''s from 1974 until his death in 1979. Julia used her abundant spiritual talents in the same capacity during these charges. After her husband''s death, Julia lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia for 10 years. She was active in the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church women''s group, a member of the Adventurer''s Sunday School class, and, rendered spiritual leadership in Bible studies and prayer groups. She was also active in hospice support care in the city of Fredericksburg. Her strong Christian faith and relationship with Jesus provided inspiration for many, including her family. Julia and Hedley reared one son, Hedley Vickers, born in 1945, and who now lives in Salem, Oregon. Julia also leaves her loving legacy to three wonderful grandchildren, all overachievers in whom Julia took great pride. Dawnine is the eldest born in 1976, Tara was the next daughter born in 1979, and the youngest was Carson, the grandson, born in 1985. To send a condolence to the family, please visit mullinsthompson.com.