Herald's history series:

Prayer And Memorial Services Held For President Kennedy

Reprinted from The Sylva Herald, Nov. 28, 1963

President Kennedy was fatally shot on his visit to Dallas Friday (Nov. 22).

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson thus became President of the United States.

Several churches here held Memorial services Monday. Flags were displayed at half mast along Sylva's Main Street. Stores were closed during the lunch hour, and Sylva street were the quietest seen here in many years. Citizens Bank and Trust Company and First Union National Bank were closed during the day. All public schools closed.

There was no mail delivery Monday as all post offices closed along with all federal and county offices and the Town Hall in Sylva.

The Western Carolina College vs. Mars Hill College football game at Asheville Saturday night was cancelled.

Among the memorial and prayers services was one held in Hoey Auditorium at WCC Monday afternoon. President Paul A. Reid presided.

The Rev. A. A. Ferguson, pastor of Cullowhee Methodist Church, gave the invocation and benediction. The Rev. John Barry of St. Mary's Catholic Church read from scriptures and prayed for the late President Kennedy's family and led a prayer of cooperation and confession.

The Rev. Davis Whitesides of Sylva Presbyterian Church directed silent prayer and meditation, and directed prayer for God's forgiveness as a nation and individual members of the nation.

Following the period of directed prayer, The Rev. Mr. Whitesides read selected passages of scripture affirming God's sovereign control of His world and then offered prayer in behalf of the Tippet family (of the slain Dallas policeman), in behalf of Lee Harvey Oswald's widow, in behalf of Governor Connally and beseeching God's mercy on Jack Rubenstein.

The College choral group sang, after which Bob Rigdon of the Church of Christ of Sylva read selections from the New Testament and led the assembly in prayer for our President Lyndon B. Johnson, and for our nation.

The service at Cullowhee was simple and sincere, with Hoey Auditorium filled near to capacity.

Sylva sponsored another memorial and prayer serve at 12:30 p.m. Monday at St. John's Episcopal Church. Participating were the Rev. Whitsides, the Rev. W.B. A. Culp of Sylva Methodist Church and the Rev. John Scalf of Sylva Baptist Church.

This well-attended service closed with the assembly singing "Oh God Our Help In Ages Past, Our Hope for Years To Come."

Sylva Inter-Church Group sent the following telegram to President Johnson:

"The churches of our community join the other Christian people around the world in the prayer that God will sustain and guide you as you endeavor to lead our nation and indeed the world."

The telegram was signed by Dr. Harold McGuire, president of the Inter-Church Group.

A Requiem Mass, a mass for the dead, was held at St. Mary's Church in Sylva at 9 a.m. Monday, with one of the priests delivering the sermon. A well-attended service was held at Scotts Creek Baptist Church.

Governor Terry Sanford issued the following statement to the press on the death of President Kennedy:

"North Carolinians mourn the death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States of America, and mourn the tragic and disgraceful cause."

"This wholesome, courageous, warm-hearted leader of the free people of the world spent most of his life, in uniform and out, in bold and intelligent attack on tyranny, bigotry and oppression."

"With a passionate concern for all people, often harassed from both sides and from behind, President Kennedy set his strength determinedly for human understanding and world peace, remaining always undaunted and unafraid."

"The valiant soldier of freedom is dead."

"All mankind is less."

People here and around the country have spent every available moment at their television sets since the tragedy last Friday, and watching developments since that time.

Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001.

Back to Archive: 11/29/01.