Reverend Dr. Ernest Porter

The Reverend Dr. Ernest Ray Porter, 85, went to meet his Savior, on the afternoon of December 8, 2020, with his wife, Sara, and son, Wesley, by his side.

He was born January 17, 1935, in Rose Hill, Jasper County, Mississippi, the youngest of three sons of Hercial A. Porter and his wife, Anna Simpson Porter.

Ernie Porter came from a family of Methodist ministers that included uncles and cousins.  At one time he counted seventeen Methodist ministers in their extended family.

As a young man, Ernie Porter served in the United States Army as a chaplain’s assistant.  It was while stationed at Fort Jackson that he met Sara Jones of Florence, South Carolina.  They were wed on February 26, 1956, a marriage that lasted almost sixty-five years until his death.  Two sons, Wesley and Joel were born to this union.

He was a member of the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for fifty-nine years.  Dr. Porter had served two years previously in Mississippi while a student at Millsaps College.  After graduation from Millsaps, he graduated from the Divinity School of Duke University.  He also held Doctor of Divinity degrees from North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, and Methodist University in Fayetteville.

Dr. Porter served numerous appointments in the North Carolina Conference, including First Church, Morehead City and Centenary United Methodist in New Bern.  He also served as Executive Director of the Methodist Retirement Homes, District Superintendent of the Goldsboro District, and Executive Director of the Conference Council on Ministries.

In 1988, he joined the staff of the Office of Finance & Field Service of the General Board of Global Ministries in New York.  In that role he directed stewardship campaigns in local churches for capital building projects, endowments, and other budgetary needs.  He and his wife, Sara, traveled across the United States directing local church campaigns.  Ernie Porter gained a reputation as a leading expert in Christian stewardship, finance, and church funding.

In 1991, the Porters moved to Lake Junaluska and founded Church Funding Associates, an agency to assist churches in financial planning, stewardship and funding.  Ernie retired officially in 1999 but continued to direct financial campaigns until recent years.  He was assisted by his wife, Sara, who oversaw the administration of the office.

At Lake Junaluska the Porters hosted the Junaluska Crazies, avid Duke basketball fans who gathered on their enclosed porch to view the games on a life-sized screen. Sometimes more than thirty local crazies gathered to cheer on the Duke Blue Devils.  Coach K recognized their efforts and sent commendations.  The Junaluska Crazies, at Ernie’s direction, also sponsored a float each year for the July Fourth Parade at Lake Junaluska.

Dr. Porter is survived by his wife, Sara, their son, Wesley and his wife, Chrisanne, of Charleston, South Carolina, a grandson, Matt and his wife, Jennifer, also of Charleston.  Their younger son, Joel, died in 2002.

Ernie Porter loved life, his wife and family and the church. He will be missed by many across North Carolina and the nation.  He will be especially missed at First United Methodist Church, Waynesville, and the Junaluska community, where he served as Director of the Junaluska Associates for a number of years.

A Service of Death and Resurrection celebrating his life will be held later in the year 2021.

The care of Reverend Dr. Porter has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.