A Story of Community
by Martha Bachman
In the late 1990s, Gus and I were living in Essex Fells, NJ. He ran a Champion International Paper milk and juice carton plant in Morristown, NJ and I was a commercial insurance broker in Montclair, NJ. We could walk to our church - St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and the golf club was less than a mile away. When Champion decided to sell Gus’ plant, he was offered early retirement. Gus was born, raised and educated in NC, so that influenced our decision. We wanted to be near the water, be able to play golf at a private club, and to be near a city that had good health care facilities, as well as cultural and educational offerings. After looking along the NC coastline, we determined that Wilmington provided just about everything we were looking for. Initially we looked in Forest Hills and downtown, but learned that there was a ten year wait to get into Cape Fear for golf, and at that time, Landfall required that you own property in Landfall in order to join the Club. Our decision was made, we found a beautiful lot sold to us by Vance Young, a member of St. James, and built a wonderful home.
Both Gus and I were “cradle Episcopalians” and our choice of churches was made more challenging by the eight Episcopal churches in the area, among which three were in search for a new rector. We were both very active at St. Peter’s - I in the music program, and lay reading and chalicing and Meals on Wheels. Gus was a warden and an usher. We both participated in outreach ministry. We were warmly welcomed in so many churches, but we felt most at home in St. James. We were quickly volunteered to manage the pictorial directory by EJ Brooks, bless his heart!! We rapidly met many new people, and got involved in lots of ministries - Gus with the morning breakfast crew, ushering and Mt. Lebanon cleanup, and I with music, layreading and chalicing, and both of us at Good Shepherd cooking on Tuesday nights!
When Gus became ill, the St. James volunteers at the hospital and at home were my lifeline. Without their support, and their commitment to ministry, I am not sure I could have handled the management of his disease and the final outcome of his passing. When we spread Gus’ ashes in the St. Francis Garden, I knew he was at peace in his home.
My home is in Wilmington and my church is St. James Parish, thanks be to God.
Rector
Associate Rector
Deacon for Pastoral Care
Congregational Care Commission Co-Chair
