Obituary of Loreeda Ruth Niemann

Loreeda Ruth Jones Niemann, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, September 23, 2013, in Kingsport TN, where she had made her home for the past several years. She was born November 3, 1923 in Coeburn VA the daughter of Chester Boyce and Susan Pearl Carico Jones. She was a 1949 graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in English. To further fund her education, she taught one year at St. Paul High School. In 1952, with a Master's Degree in Bible and Theology, she graduated from Scarlett College and Vanderbilt University School of Religion. She was then named the Director of Christian Education from 1952 until 1960 at the Asbury Memorial Methodist Church, Harrisonburg, VA. In 1960, she accepted the position of Director of Christian Education at Harris Memorial Methodist Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, where she remained until 1963. At that time, she assumed the position of a diaconal minister of the United Methodist Church; she served as a campus minister at the Wesley Foundation, creating a vitally active program involving both students and faculty at Mary Washington College. In 1970 under her leadership, The Wesley Foundation became ecumenical. With its name changed to the Campus Christian Center it included participation by local Methodist, Lutheran, Espiscopal & Presbyterian churches, welcoming the students for all of those denominations. She retired from her position as campus minister in 1987 and married. She enjoyed reading, traveling, community activities and served as program chairman of Wesleyan Circle and The Merry Makers. She was an active member of the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ralph A. Niemann; brothers, Harold, Blaine and Clyde; sisters, Evelyn Grizzle, Pauline Farmer and Avanell Ringley. She is survived by her sister Margaret Ann Dunning, Newport News VA and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Niemann's desire, upon her death, was to be interred beside her beloved husband in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA. A celebration of her life will be held at the cemetery on October 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM. Carter-Trent Funeral Home downtown Kingsport is serving the Niemann family.