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​Georgia Sprinkle--Funding Visionary
Born to loving parents, George and Margie (Nunn) of West  Virginia, Georgia M. Sprinkle was one of four children. She  had three brothers, James Oliver, Lou and Wilson. She spent  summers in the country with her aunt. As a child she had  an extended stay in the hospital after a tonsillectomy and  recalled how difficult it was to watch other children playing  outside the window. 

Georgia’s family was active in the Methodist Church. She  had always desired a dramatic conversion like Paul, but in stead her faith development was a gradual longing to give  her life to Christ. Georgia was a good student, passing tests  in West VA history to become one of the “Knights of the  Golden Horseshoe” with the Governor laying a sword on her  shoulder. She enjoyed croquet near the apple trees, sleigh  riding and chicken gravy. While not a fan of algebra, she  thrived as a student, participated on the debate team and  went to Youth conferences at Emory, Henry College and  Lake Junaluska. Georgia taught the children in Sunday  School, while her mother taught adults. 

After earning a 2 year certificate from the Concord State  Teachers College, taught 3rd grade for $900 a year. After 5  years of teaching. She discerned a call to ministry and took a  position as Youth Director at the Bland Street Methodist  Church, and then later at First Methodist in Huntington.  She directed camps, attended large youth conferences and  did special studies at SMU and Emory. She was commissioned as a Diaconal Minister by the Bishop of the Methodist  Church in Charleston, and helped craft legislation to recognize those committed to the full time ministry of Christian  education. 

In her 20’s, much to the pride of her mother, Georgia finished her Bachelors degree from Marshall College. The two  of them remained very close. She referred to her mother as  “nurturer, teacher, model, encourager and friend,” and cel ebrated the sacred gift of being with her when she died. 

Georgia was at the center of the golden age of Christian education. In 1951, Georgia moved to Akron, OH and served on the Conference staff as the Director of Adult Education,  one of the first in Methodist Church. She earned a Master’s of  Religious Education from Boston University School of Theology, lectured at Oberlin College, wrote articles for Methodist  publications. She loved working on the Conference ministry  team, especially with Dr. Cox. She thrived in her work of  growing healthy churches in kingdom work. 

In 1965, Georgia began teaching at Methodist affiliated Mt.  Union College in the Education and Psychology Department.  She taught both public school teachers and religious educators, developing programs for both school and the church.  Georgia continued her own education at the University of Miami. She served as a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Ireland, and traveled widely to Tahiti, Fiji, American  Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. For an entire  year she taught at the Union Seminary in the Philippines She  earned a final graduate degree as Education Specialist from  Kent State University.  

While Georgia retired in 1986, a new chapter in her ministry  began. She decided to move south to be close to her great  nephew, Jim Capelleri and his family. After meeting Helen  Wolff at the Wellspring Retreat Center, Georgia accepted her  invitation and located herself in Greensboro. At West Market  Street UM Church, she was instrumental in leading Stephen  Ministry. Georgia continued her adventurous travels to Alaska, Greece, Nova Scotia and South Africa. She served as a volunteer with Greensboro Urban Ministry. In her final years of  the active life, she served as a volunteer chaplain at Moses  Cone hospital. With great devotion to the church, and an ever deepening  spirituality, Georgia’s last decade was spent in contemplative  gratitude for her rich life of ministry and adventure.  

As a last act of devotion, and a gift for spiritual pilgrims, Georgia Sprinkle left her estate as seed money for a retreat center.  Threshold will be a space for developing the spiritual life by reconnecting with the land, silence and contemplation.  





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