Presbyterian "poet laureate" Ann Barr Weems, author of such popular works as "Kneeling in Bethlehem" and "Psalms of Lament," died March 17 in St. Louis, Mo., where she had lived for more than 50 years. She was 81. A cause of death was not given.
Ann B. Weems
Ann B. Weems
According to an obituary published online, Mrs. Weems was also a speaker, liturgist and worship leader in addition to her prolific writing. Cokesbury, the official vendor of The United Methodist Publishing House, carried many of her books including "Kneeling in Bethlehem," "Kneeling in Jerusalem," and "Psalms of Lament," a series of poems written after the death of her 21-year-old son Todd.
In addition to her spiritual formation work, Mrs. Weems worked actively for peace. In 2005 the Presbyterian Peacemaker Fellowship honored her with its Peaceseeker Award. She served on the organization's National Committee and was a member of its Activist Council at the time of her death. In accepting her award, Mrs. Weems recited her own poem for seeking peace. See a video of her acceptance speech here.
She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Dr. Donald A. Weems; her children, Stuart and David Weems and Heather Weems-Elliott; her grandchildren, Barrett Weems, Christopher Simmons, Douglas Weems, Alexandria and Sofia Elliott, and Millie Phillips; and four great-grandchildren, along with other family members.
A worship service was scheduled at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 21 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorials in her name to either St. Jude Children's Hospital or Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article published an incorrect photo. We apologize for the error.