Judith Marie Ries Dale

13 December 1944 – 27 February 2014

Along with 21 of her high school classmates, Judy entered what was then Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College (Tennessee, USA). While there she served as an officer in Kappa Delta sorority, as Commissioner of Publications on the Student Government, and president of the Baptist Student Union.

Upon graduation, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, USA, to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, from which she received both a Masters of Religious Education and a Graduate Specialist of Religious Education (the first year of the Doctor of Education program).

Judy taught special education for 18 years, primarily working with young mentally handicapped students. During that time, she was a teacher trainer, supervised student teachers, and coordinated federal grants that produced several projects placed in the Library of Congress. She completed additional graduate work at the University of Louisville, including several certifications in special education, administration, and supervision, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

She was very active on the local, state, and international levels of the Council for Exceptional Children, eventually serving as International President. During that time, she keynoted or presented at 72 conferences in North America.

In Louisville, Judy was a member of Colonelettes and served as president of GLUE (Gays and Lesbians United for Equality), secretary of the Comm Ten Board, and on the boards of Religious Leaders for Fairness and Church Women United. She received the Human Rights Award from CWU last year.

In 1987, Judy became the life partner of Rev. Dee Dale, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Louisville, where over the last 25 years, Judy served in various capacities including interpreter for the deaf, chair of the Council of Ministries, seminar leader, Board trainer, editor of the weekly E-News, and chair of the Bylaws Committee.

Denominationally in Metropolitan Community Churches, Judy served as the Great Lakes District Coordinator for 13 years. During that time, she was a member of General Council, on the Steering Committee of the Women’s Secretariat, on the Evangelism Team, on the faculty and Board of Trustees of Samaritan Institute for Religious Studies, a presenter and preacher for General Conference, parliamentarian for the South Central District, a featured guest at a Southeast District Conference, on the planning team for General Council, and on the MCC Finance Team, which she served for 16 years.

Upon restructuring, Judy was named to the initial Board of Administration for which she served as secretary and then president. When Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson became the Moderator, she asked Judy to join her staff as the Special Assistant for Communications and Lay Resources. Among other duties, Judy edited a semi-monthly global e-newsletter, the MCC IMPACT. When the recession hit four years later, her position was abolished, but she remained for two years as editor on a volunteer basis.

Judy also served on the Lay Ministry Council, the Disability Forum, and as a General Conference parliamentarian. She was a member of the Bylaw Review Team and served on the current Bylaw Team for MCC. She was a recipient of the Kerry Brown Award for Distinguished Lay Leadership and the Service Award from the Commission on Laity. Judy was also a nominee for Elder.

Judy has been named to Outstanding Elementary Teachers in America, Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in Religious Leaders, Who’s Who in American Education, and the World Who’s Who of Women, among others. She was named a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky in recognition of her service to the people of the state.

Judy was preceded in death by her mother and father and is survived by her life partner of 27 years, Rev. Dee Dale, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Debby Price, her nephews and their wives, Ben and Heather Price and Chad and Belinda Price, and 5 great nieces. Judy also loved Angie Tronsin as a daughter and Miah Jamison as a granddaughter.

A memorial service for her many friends to honor and celebrate her life will be held at her beloved church, Metropolitan Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky on 26 April 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

Judy would be blessed to know that memorials were given to the Metropolitan Community Church of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.