Loading...Emily McDonald, a talented journalist and friend died on December 24. Emily loved to write and she loved meeting people and getting to know them. And she knew a good story when she happened upon it. With her wide network of friends and volunteer affiliations, she “happened upon” stories frequently.
A reporter for more than 30 years, Emily wrote for the Houston Chronicle, the Methodist Publishing House, The Associated Press, The Nashville Banner, the Chattanooga Times, and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. She chose to share her considerable gift with another love, The Episcopal Church.
Her articles were published in The Tennessee Churchman newspaper as the Diocese of East Tennessee was being born, and she was a frequent feature writer for the East Tennessee Episcopalian newspaper.
I first got to know Emily through her work on a three article set in a 2009 edition of the East Tennessee Episcopalian about mission and ministry in Haiti. Her stories highlighted the important work being done by folks from Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, and St. Stephen, Oak Ridge, working with St. John the Evangelist School in Petit Harpon; the Hospital Sainte Croix in Leogane and the hospital’s connection to the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti (CNP). I have remembered the articles, especially one about “PlumpyNut” an enriched peanut paste designed to improve the health of severely malnourished children that had recently been introduced for use by CNP. CNP’s mission is to help raise a healthy generation of Haitian children, who can in turn raise Haiti from Poverty. It was the first time I’d heard of “PlumpyNut” and CNP, which was started in 1998 by Dr. Mitchell L. Mutter, a cardiologist from Chattanooga.
Emily told me that once she had the first sentence of a story – the rest of the story was basically written. Her most recent story, which ran in the Spring 2017 edition of DioET Connections, begins, “Eucharist is a moveable feast for St. Francis of Assisi, Ooltewah.” In this story, Emily told us how every fifth Sunday, or four times a year, St. Francis of Assisi in Ooltewah literally transports its 5 p.m. Sunday service to Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove, an independent living community for seniors. The people who gather for the service are Garden Plaza residents, and sometimes family, along with St. Francis parishioners. They are a mix of Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, some of whom aren’t able to get to church regularly. Garden Plaza invites the spiritual emphasis in residents’ lives from St. Francis and churches of other denominations, and residents are especially grateful for the opportunity for worship and communion.
I’m sure other readers can still recall her articles, some from the first sentence, some from the whole well-told story.
Emily authored the “History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church (1972 to 2004).” She was a member of the board of the Episcopal Commission of Southeast Tennessee and editor of its newsletter, “Ecsetera.”
She also served on the boards of the Friends of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, the board of Friends and board of directors for the Collegedale Library, and the In-As-Much Mission. She was a volunteer in the library bookstore and at the Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry and the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. She was also chairman of the library committee and a member of the hospitality committee at Garden Plaza.
Emily was a member St. Francis, Ooltewah, and was previously a member of St. Paul, Chattanooga. She served as a member of the vestry, chalice bearer, and lay reader.
In an article about Emily on Garden Plaza’s blog, Executive Director Bart Walker said, “It doesn’t matter what kind of group is coming here, Emily either knows them, knows of them or knows somebody that knows them.” I, along with all in the Diocese of East Tennessee, will miss Emily’s open, welcoming, inquisitive presence and her stories that informed and enriched us.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church with the Rev. Louisa Parsons officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Book of Remembrance at St. Paul’s, Chattanooga, the Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Friends of the Library or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412.
