By Lindsay Peyton
Anne Hearn, bishop’s wife, dies at 89
The Texas Annual Conference mourns the loss of Galveston’s Elizabeth Anne Connaughton Hearn, wife of the late Bishop James Woodrow Hearn. She died on Dec. 17 at age 89 and was laid to rest on Jan. 2 in Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston, Louisiana, next to her husband.
Hearn was born in Dallas on Aug. 25, 1931 to parents Clyde Augustine Connaughton and Kathryn Weatherford Connaughton. In 1952, she graduated Summa Cum Laud from Louisiana Tech University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. She was also a member and treasurer of Phi Mu Sorority.
Hearn met her future husband “Woody” Hearn while competing on the university debate team. They married on August 24, 1952 and celebrated their 68th anniversary before his death on Aug. 31, 2020.
The Hearns were parents of five children, Mark, Paul, Diana, Bruce and Christopher and grandparents to Elizabeth Anne Smith, Laura Kathryn Smith, James Chance Hearn, Woodrow Eugene Hearn and Dylan Lafcadio Hearn.
The couple were devoted to their family and loved taking their children on adventures in their travel trailer. Together, they often spent summer and fall at their cottage in Maine.
Anne Hearn attended graduate school and received her teaching certificate in history from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Throughout her life, she assisted numerous non-profits, serving as board member with Wesley Community Center in Houston and the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso.
She was a dedicated adult Sunday School teacher and led classes for years at various Schools of Christian Mission. Her passion for teaching kept her classes in high demand. As a pastor’s spouse, her church parsonage was always open to all.
Hearn fondly remembered entertaining large groups – even inviting the entire Annual Conference to her home for homemade ice cream and cake socials. In ministry with the United Methodist Church, she traveled the world with her husband, sharing the word across the globe. The couple often served as delegates or speakers at World Methodist Conferences. Their friends and memories stretched worldwide.
Bishop Scott Jones said that Hearn is an inspiration and an outstanding example of devotion to God, family and the church. “BISHOP QUOTE”
Hearn’s memorial service has been postponed because of COVID-19. Her family plans to announce a date in the future to honor and celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials gifts may be made to Wesley Community Center in Houston, Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso or Lakeview Methodist Conference Center in Palestine. To plant a tree in her memory, visit the Sympathy Store.