AMERICUS — A life-size oil portrait of the Rev. Reginald R. Gunn, rector at Calvary Episcopal, Americus for 14 years and now retired, was officially unveiled at a joyful service held in his honor on Oct. 31 in Lawrence Parish Hall.

A large number of Calvary’s parishioners, along with friends and admirers of Gunn from the community, turned out for the service led by current rector, the Rev. Donald Hutchens, who opened with prayer and joyous blessing for the occasion. Gunn served as rector of Calvary Episcopal from November 1992 to June 4, 2006. He and his wife Mary Lu Gunn reside in Tiger, located in the mountains of North Georgia.

Many close to Gunn participated in the service, but the highlight was unveiling of the handsome portrait, a remarkable likeness of the respected priest, painted by Americus artist Mary Beth Rogers. Rogers painted Gunn in a baptismal setting shown in full vestments standing by the baptismal font and cradling a baby girl named Maedell Mercedes Dudley. The child is shown attempting to grasp Gunn’s gold cross, a gift to him from parishioners made some years before his retirement. The infant child is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Woodrow Dudley of Orlando, Fla., and granddaughter of Calvary parishioners Dr. Gatewood and Cindy Dudley and Mary Faye Thomas Dudley, all of Americus.

Gunn, beloved and respected by many, was deeply moved as the portrait was jointly unveiled by his wife along with the artist, Hutchens and Gatewood Dudley, who supervised the portrait project.

Never one to be without wit and humor, Gunn quickly overcame his emotions and jovially quipped, “I’ve never been hung before,” then waxed serious saying, “I am humbled and honored and hardly know anything else to say.” He remarked the gold cross in the painting is “one of my more treasured possessions. It pales in comparison to the kindness you have shown me.” The painting, he said, “stands as a symbol of your own faith in the Lord — you gave me the opportunity to exercise my ministry in this place. I know I speak for Mary Lu and say thank you and God bless you.”

The portrait now hangs in the colonnade of the church’s Lawrence Parish Hall.

Hutchens stated in his remarks that the portrait and unveiling service underscore in a special way the importance of baptism and the importance of our helping others in their baptism. He noted that at Calvary Episcopal, the baptismal font stands in the center aisle of the sanctuary and the portrait now hangs at the opposite end of the church parish hall, illustrating that “in this church that we are baptized in Christ” and committed to mission under the baptismal covenant and reconciling the world to God.

Hutchens also praised Roger’s talented artistic abilities saying, “We’re very privileged to have her do this portrait that stands as the bookend in the church.”

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor science in fine arts, Rogers is an award winning accomplished artist. She reflected on the process she undertook in painting the portrait saying, “What I had hoped to portray in the portrait is a gentle man, a warm man and a humble person. The painting also incorporates a moment in time, capturing the baptismal of the beautiful child looking at the gold cross, the center of the canvas with the font in the background and Father Gunn off center,” said Rogers. “It was intended not only to be a formal portrait of Father Gunn but to take on the symbolism of the Christian faith in the baptismal story.”

Gatewood Dudley, respected Americus physician and life-long communicant of Calvary Episcopal Church, also spoke and gave a brief history of the project under his supervision and commissioned by the Vestry at the time of Gunn’s retirement. The portrait and frame were made possible by private contributions. Rogers also donated half of her normal fee for portraiture.

Also speaking were other life-long communicants, Ross Chambliss, who served twice as senior warden on the Vestry under Gunn, and Sara Jo Roush. Roush read a delightful poem that spoke to the many attributes of Gunn and what he meant to so many people, both parishioners of Calvary Episcopal as well as hosts of others within the community and beyond.

The Gunns were also both presented with hand knitted shawls created by the Calvary Episcopal shawl ministry led by Alice Davidson. The service closed with prayer led by Hutchens.

A reception immediately followed the service.



Honor, memorial gifts dedicated in separate service

Earlier in the day, the plaques noting gifts given in honor or memory of Calvary Episcopal parishioners were dedicated to the glory of God in the name of the recipient during a separate service led by Hutchens. The honor or memorial gifts ranged from trees planted on the church grounds and garden, to signs, lighting for the garden and crosses.

Those honored with trees planted on the church grounds are Jeanette Colbert Jennings, for her long-time service to the choir; Sally Markette, long-time former parish treasurer; Betty Hewitt, long-time former parish administrator; Father Reginald and Mary Lu Gunn, for their service to Calvary 1992-2006; garden lighting given by Gabriel Stauf; two large church signs given by Reggie and Phyllis Daniel in honor of their children and grandchildren. The Daniels also gave a memorial gift in memory of Ruth H. Warren. Crosses in the hallway and alcove next to the rector’s study and were given in memory of Randy Rials and his wife Carlise Rials.