Joanne Dempsey Glaser
Joanne Dempsey Glaser, age 71, of Lexington, NC, died suddenly January 4, 2025, in Winston-Salen, NC.
A native of Lewisburg, WV, Joanne was born February 18, 1953, to Raymond Lawrence Dempsey, Jr. and Betty Joanne Dempsey (Sponaugle) in Webster Springs, WV.
Joanne earned degrees in Biology and Chemistry at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV. She used those degrees to teach Medical Technology and Medical Assisting students throughout West Virginia.
In 1994, Joanne began a career serving the Presbyterian Church (USA), first as a Director of Christian Education, where she introduced children and youth to a loving, generous God, then as a Lay Pastor, leading a three church parish in the rural West Virginia mountains. In 2009, she graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity, to join her Masters degrees in Bible and Adult Education. She would go on to serve as Pastor to churches in the Elkins area, as well as Hickory and High Point in North Carolina.
She passionately served and supported the least of these, strongly advocating for small churches, believing in their ministry and purpose. A lifelong advocate for the underdog and unnoticed, she lived out the commandment to “Go and serve” those society deemed unimportant or without value.
Joanne is survived by her husband, Timothy Glaser of Lexington, NC; her mother, Betty Dempsey of Lewisburg, WV; and her children, Rev. Dr. Benjamin (Brandy) Glaser of Clover, SC, Rev. Elizabeth (Jeremy) Glaser Troyer of Statesville, NC, and Patricia (Daniel) Johnson of Rougemont, NC; along with her 9 grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by her father, Raymond Dempsey, Jr. of Lewisburg, WV.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 15, at First Presbyterian Church, High Point, led by the Rev. Paul Sink and Rev. Eric Faust. The family will receive visitors following the service. An internment will be held in West Virginia at laster date.
Donations can be made in Joanne’s honor to the Joanne Glaser fund at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Checks can be mailed to 616 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 with Joanne Glaser in the memo line.
