Published: January 22, 2008 08:24 pm         

Beloved Princeton religious leader dies

PRINCETON, W.Va. — Word was received Tuesday in Mercer County that one of the region’s best-loved religious leaders, Rev. Harry Christie, died late Monday night in Burlington, N.C. He was 83.

Christie served several years as pastor of the Princeton Presbyterian Church where he and his wife, Ruth established the Tender Mercies Food Bank. The Christies were actively in the church and were involved in the community on many levels including community events like SummerFest, as well as events sponsored by the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce.

“Harry was well-known for service in his church as well as for his work with Tender Mercies,” Dr. Allen Hammond, former director of the Bluefield Union Mission said. “We got acquainted through his work with Tender Mercies and our work here at the Union Mission food bank — sort of working together for the same cause. He was a good colleague in the ministry and a good fellow to know.”

“I was a member of his congregation for a short period of time,” Princeton Mayor Dewey Russell said. “The thing that impressed me about Harry was that he was always upbeat, caring and he really loved this community,” Russell said. “Harry was an icon in this community. He played an active role in chamber of commerce activities, and he and Ruth worked hard to start the food bank.”

Russell recalled one of Christie’s habits of carrying a pocket-full of candy with him and sharing it with people he encountered. “He gave everyone he met a piece of that strawberry candy that was individually wrapped,” Russell said. “He had a pocket full of that candy every time I saw him.”

Bill Seaver was a member of First Presbyterian Church when Christie arrive, and the two remained close friends even after Christie retired and relocated to Roanoke, Va. “For me, he was a mentor and an example of how a person should live their life,” Seaver said. “He was a wonderfully kind person who served as an example to everyone he met.”

Seaver said that even after he retired, Christie maintained close ties with the community. “If something popped into his mind and he was thinking about you, he would just call,” Seaver said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He was such a fine person.”

Seaver said that the family is planning to hold a memorial service for Christie at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Colonial Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Va.



Bill Archer writes for the Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph.