Reverend Mary Jane Modlin, age 92, of New Castle, a member of Foursquare Gospel Church, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Stonebrooke Rehabilitation Center in New Castle. She was born May 9, 1929 in New Castle, Indiana a daughter of Fannie Winslow Fears.
Mary Jane attended school at New Castle High School, a graduate in 1947. She was employed at the Ft. Benjamin Harrison Finance Center in Indianapolis, before moving to Richmond, Indiana in the late 1960’s. There she was employed as an Administrative Assistant for Head Start, briefly employed at Belden Corporation, and a Clerk for Social Security. Later she was an Investigator for the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office, an Outreach Worker for the Interlocal Community Action Program in Eaton, Ohio, also the Purdue Extension in Richmond. Eventually returning to New Castle, she was a Caregiver for Cardinal Services, Foster Grandparent Program Coordinator for the Interlocal Community Action Program (ICAP), Purdue Extension in New Castle, Pastor at Barnes United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, a Childcare Worker and Transportation Coordinator at Bennett House back in New Castle and most recently as a Foster Grandparent for ICAP Foster Grandparent Program.
As mentioned above, in addition to being a graduate of New Castle High School she attended classes at Purdue University, Anderson University, I.U. East, IVY Tech, Springfield College, Dayton University and the University of Indianapolis for Ministry pertaining to her new job as a Pastor, graduating in 2007. She received her initial license to pastor with the United Methodist Church in 1993, later earning a Certificate of Merit from the Indiana Area Alternative School to become licensed as a local pastor and began her college education. Churches she pastored were Barnes United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Christ United Methodist Church in New Castle, Metamora United Methodist Church in Metamora, Ogden United Methodist Church in Ogden and New Life United Methodist Church in Connersville, her last charge. Currently at Foursquare Gospel Church, as a member there since 2005 under Rev. Jim Becker, she served as a volunteer, visiting the sick in hospitals, nursing homes and private homes, sending cards and offering communion. She also served there as a volunteer for the D.I.V.E. Program for the youth in the church that stands for Discovering Important Values for Eternity.
She was preceded in passing by her parents; son, Robert Sheppard and an infant son Bobby Ballard; husbands; and her sister, Nancy Thompson.
She is survived by a grandson, Ryan Sheppard; two great-grandsons; six nieces, Inez Fox, Terri Thompson, Yvonne Thompson, Deborah (Mike) Edmunds, Rebecca Modlin and Pamela Modlin; nephew, Dr. Charles (Sheryl) Modlin Jr; six great-nephews, Kyle & Eric Fox, Brandon Johnson, Denzel Buchanon, Sean Edmunds and Charles Modlin III; four great-nieces, Jeniece Taylor, Sarah, Hannah & Meredith Modlin; several cousins and special friends, Reverend Carol Wiley, Reverend Jim Becker, Larry & Cindy Rivers, Lori & Brent Vincent, Vanessa Razor, Ruth & Blake Hurst, Kevin Polivic of ICAP, Ricky Cottman and others from Foursquare Gospel Church.
Services will be conducted 12:00 p.m. Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Foursquare Gospel Church with Reverends Jim Becker and Carol Wiley officiating. Burial will follow in Earlham Cemetery in Richmond. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday until time of services at the church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. You may express condolences or share a memory of Mary Jane at www.hinsey-brown.com.