Gerald Howard Bartholow

BARTHOLOW, REV. GERALD HOWARD Minister, Unity of Birmingham The Reverend Gerald Howard Bartholow (Jerry) died peacefully at home on Saturday, June 18, 2011, surrounded by loving family and friends after bravely fighting cancer for the past eighteen months. 72 years young, he was born April 4, 1939 in Miami, Florida to Gerald Haynes Bartholow and Imogene Robinson Bartholow. Jerry spent his early childhood in Miami before the family relocated to Jacksonville in 1946, then moved to DeLand, Florida in 1947 after his father was killed in an accident. Attending DeLand area schools, he played percussion in his high school band, under the tutelage of renowned percussionist John Heney, and was a 1957 graduate of DeLand High School. His continued love for music gave him many years of pleasure as he played drums, xylophone and vibes in several local combos. After attending Rice University, in Houston, Texas for a year, he returned to DeLand to attend Stetson University, class of 1962, and Stetson Law School in St. Petersburg, Florida before embarking on a successful business career as a stockbroker and financial planner. In the early 1970's, he discovered Unity in Akron, Ohio and began to realize that he was being guided into a more spiritual work as he began study in holistic theology and meditation. He then moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he established the Institute for Positive Living, a holistic center which included a metaphysical bookstore, a health food store, health food restaurant along with a meditation and yoga center where he began teaching the Alpha-Theta Meditation course, which included biofeedback training, nutrition and Eastern and Western theology. In 1978, answering a higher call, he was accepted into the seminary at Unity School of Christianity. He was ordained in 1980 and employed as the minister of Unity of Birmingham, his first and only church. Since that time he has served not only his church, but the entire Unity movement, being on the Board of Trustees for six years and on various committees, including chairperson of the Radio/Media Committee and the field licensing team where he was currently serving. Jerry was the minister at Unity of Birmingham for 31 years. In that time he has touched the lives of countless others by sharing his humor and wisdom with everyone he encountered. Jerry lived his life guiding others down the path of love and light, tolerance and compassion. He was well known for his play on words in his weekly lessons and everyday conversations. In addition to his spiritual calling, Jerry had a lifelong love for architecture and design which led him, in 1988, to design the new multi-story addition to the church and take an active role in its construction. In 2000, he published Peace Soup: The Recipe for a Peaceful Life in the New Millennium, a practical guide to holistic living, which is based on the Alpha Theta Meditation Course which he continued to teach. He was also a member of the adjunct faculty to the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Beyond his deep roots with church and family, he took every opportunity to pursue his other passion in life, the game of golf. Countless hours were spent on the practice tee and the putting green, perfecting his game. In fact, he once built his own practice putting green in his family's yard in DeLand. It was said by a family friend and fellow golfer, Robert Bradley, "He had the sweetest swing I ever saw." In his lifetime he shot three holes-in-one.

Published in The Birmingham News on June 19, 2011