Rowena and Leroy are having a private wedding ceremony with only their immediate family in attendance! Join in their joy watching the live stream

Because of Covid-19 concerns by some about attending a wedding with strangers in an enclosed place, several changes have occurred in our wedding plans since July 19: We are now getting married in a private ceremony with OUR FAMILIES ONLY at Atholton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Columbia, Maryland at 4:00 p.m. We invite you to share in our Wedding Celebration Joy vía the live stream.

August 2, 2020 - 4:00 p.m. Go to the Atholton SDA Church YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/AtholtonSDA If you watch on the live stream, let us know to add your name to our wedding guest book. Thank you!

I met Leroy in approximately 1985 at the General Conference (GC) Central Building. Leroy was a PT security guard, and I had taken my 6-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, to work on a Sunday. As Leroy walked by with his large ring of door keys, he saw Elizabeth playing on the floor. Leroy stopped, chatted a bit with me and then offered to take Elizabeth on his rounds to give her something to do. Elizabeth had great fun finding the right keys on the ring to open each door for a security check! I remembers Leroy's kindness, his sense of humor, and his wonderful ability to connect with Elizabeth. Leroy only remembers that Elizabeth had a Mom in the office, but otherwise, he doesn't remember me at all!

Leroy and I have known each other through work for many years. We became friends over the past 18 years of my working at the General Conference on Sundays. Leroy worked at the front desk as a PT security guard. He would be there in the mornings when I came in or in the evenings when I left. We would talk Redskins, my health, my daughter, Elizabeth, and general things. Leroy and his dear wife, Carolyn, came to Elizabeth’s memorial service in 2015; and I went to Carolyn’s service in 2016. In early 2018 Leroy commented that I never got to enjoy Sunday brunch because I was always working, so he said he would take me out to eat after I finished the 2018 Yearbook. It took 8 months, but the invitation finally came. We had a great time talking and laughing, and there was another invitation, and another. At that point we had a serious conversation about how neither of us were looking for anything permanent, nor were we looking for marriage. This was just a friendship that would end when Leroy moved to Florida the summer of 2019. On that basis we continued to see each other. But within a few months we realized our feelings were changing. We both understood some of the challenges of our relationship. But the longer we kept seeing each other, we knew something serious had developed. We took our time, prayed, and talked. Ultimately we knew we loved each other and wanted to spend whatever time God gives us together. Leroy makes me laugh; he makes me feel special and cherished. My heart is lighter, and I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time. We are both very happy and hope you will rejoice in our happiness.