Marking a Milestone

In the midst of the pandemic, this Haddonfield pastor’s 100th birthday party became a virtual celebration.

For over 25 years, Rev. Dr. Charles A. Sayre has served as senior pastor for the Haddonfield United Methodist Church and on April 19, he turned 100. His birthday was supposed to be a day of celebration, a time for all of his closest friends and family to get together at the church, but with the coronavirus pandemic, plans had to change.

“My family had planned to have a 100th birthday party on Sunday, April 19 (my actual birthday) at Haddonfield Methodist Church. Plans were well underway, but had to be scrapped when the church had to close for the pandemic,” says Sayre. Instead, the party went virtual, like so many things these days. “There were around 65 people at the Zoom birthday party,” he continues. “Friends and family from Haddonfield, Camden, across the United States and abroad. It was very special for me.”

Sayre has dedicated his life to helping his community through serving on numerous institutions and boards, including as chair of the board of trustees for the United Methodist Southern New Jersey Conference, chair for the Methodist Hospital Foundation, a member of the board of trustees of Magee Rehab in Philadelphia, the Cadbury Homes board and so many more.

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“I founded Respond, Inc., in Camden 53 years ago. Respond’s main focus is to help residents mired in poverty, unemployment, homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction through job training, day care centers and housing,” Sayre says. “I was also chairman of the board of another Camden organization, Fellowship House, founded in 1965. This organization provides services, including drug addiction counseling, to the children and families of south Camden.”

Author: South Jersey Magazine