Wesley Village to Honor "Heroes, Saints and Legends"

Ransom Cooper quite literally grew up in the care of the Methodist Church. The Fleming County native lived for a decade in the Methodist Children’s Home in Versailles when his desperately ill parents could not care for him at home. After serving his country in the U.S. Army, he began a successful career in construction design and development that helped to build hundreds of residential and commercial properties across central Kentucky. Over the years he shepherded a number of building projects for the Methodist Church, including the superintendent’s parsonage in the Lexington District. In addition to thirty years of exemplary service on the board of the Kentucky United Methodist Homes for Children and Youth, he played an indispensible role in the creation of Wesley Village. He and his wife, Betty, met at Epworth UMC, where they worshiped for more than 50 years. They currently are members of Lexington’s Centenary UMC. 

Kate R. Thomas, faithful member of Brandenburg UMC, has given a lifetime of service to the Church individually and in a 42-year partnership with her late husband, the Rev. Wallace Thomas. Born in Cumberland County and cum laude graduate of Spaulding University, she planted and nurtured new Sunday School classes wherever Wally was appointed. The author of three books, most notably New Every Morning, a daily devotional, the former kindergarten teacher also founded the Kentucky Christian Writers’ Conference, which has equipped and encouraged hundreds of aspiring writers since 1997 to publish their stories of faith. Inspired by the special needs of her eldest granddaughter, Kate helped organize the first social skills camp in Kentucky for children with autism. Established in 2003, Camp TESSA (Teaching Effective Social Skills to children with Autism) now serves a multi-county region with four different one-week sessions each summer.  

Sewell Woodward has served the UMC with distinction for more than five decades. The Lexington native is a graduate of Asbury College and Lexington Theological Seminary. He has pastored a half-dozen churches, including Lexington’s Centenary, which grew to be the largest UM church in KY having received close to 1800 new members in nine years.  His churches often led the Conference in new professions of faith.  As Ashland District Superintendent, his churches gave more than 100% apportionments for five straight years. A founding father of the Georgia-based, interdenominational Mission Society, Dr. Woodward himself has conducted mission work on four continents. Since 2006 he has been pastor of historic Robert’s Chapel, founded in 1841, in rural Jessamine County. He remains an untiring advocate of Wesley Village, whose garden is named in memory of his beloved wife Rosalie.