On the morning of July 22, 2006, nearly 200 people gathered at the home of Bishop Nathaniel Linsey, retired senior bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, to celebrate his 80th birthday. Guests were welcomed to the outdoor party by hostesses Debra Owens and Hattie Jay. The lawn and outdoor area were decorated by Linsey’s daughter, Angela.

The Rev. Frederick Braddock said grace and guests were treated to a lunch planned by Linsey’s wife, Mae M. Linsey, assisted by her neighbors and friends, with menu prepared by Debra Simon and her team of assistants.

Live entertainment during the afternoon included performances by the Linseys’ son, professional keyboard artist Wayne Linsey, and family friend and vocalist Myrna A. Clayton.

Tributes were given by a childhood friend, the Rev. L.H. Welchel; Mrs. Ernestine Thompson, a high school classmate and current president of Booker T. Washington High School class of 1944; and Mrs. Isabelle Holston, a 1956 World Olympian.

Son Ricardo Linsey performed an old church song for his father, “I Got A Feeling Everything’s Gonna be All Right.”

Linsey retired from the active ministry in 2002 and was the 2004 recipient of the William C. Hueston Humanitarian Award presented by the National Elks Grand Lodge Department of Christian Education.

Also in 2004, Linsey assisted with plans for commemorating the 300th birthday of John Wesley, the British founder of Methodism. The celebration, sponsored by World Methodist Evangelism, was held during the 2004 Continental Leadership Conference on Evangelism in Havana, Cuba.

During the 2006 session of the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, Korea, Linsey was designated secretary emeritus of World Methodist Evangelism.

“More important than all the many achievements amassed in the chapters of Bishop Linsey’s life is the passionate quality of his service and human kindness,” a family friend said. “After 80 years, the proclamation of his character is accurate, for he is a ‘servant of God and a friend to man.’”

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