The Reverend Diane Woolard Bragg, - Pastor, Counselor, and Spiritual Guide
The Reverend Diane Woolard Bragg, formerly the Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Salem, New Hampshire, died September 11 at her home in Londonderry, New Hampshire. She was called to be Rector at St. David’s Parish beginning in the fall of 1997 and she devoted her life to that ministry until she retired in July of this year due to ovarian cancer. The Rev. Bragg regarded her ministry as helping others to learn to know, to love, and to serve God and to discover ways to put God in their lives and the lives of the people around them.
Mrs. Bragg received a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1969 with a major in music. For a number of years, she was active in music circles, worked as a church organist and choir director, and taught piano and organ. She also received a Masters Degree in Social Work in 1978.
In 1979, Diane answered a call to serve the Lord at a time when very few women were allowed to be ordained priests. She entered the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas where she received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1982. The Rev. Bragg was ordained to the Diaconate at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, Texas, in 1983, and the following year was ordained to the Priesthood at the Church of the Holy Comforter in Angelton, Texas. The Rev. Bragg was the fourth woman to be ordained in the Diocese of Texas. In 1983, she joined the chaplain staff at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and was the first ordained woman priest to serve as chaplain.
The Rev. Bragg was called to be Rector at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Houston from 1986 to 1992. During that time, she completed three years of training in Spiritual Direction. In 1992, the Rev. Bragg served as Chaplain and Counselor at The Women’s Home, a long-term residential care, job training, psychotherapy, and spiritual development facility for abused, emotionally ill, and homeless women. At The Women’s Home, the Rev. Bragg was responsible for establishing a successful social work internship program and played a major role in the spiritual development, counseling, and rehabilitation of many residents.
In addition to her responsibilities as parish priest, the Rev. Bragg was active in the local community and ecumenical ministries with other area churches and synagogues. The Rev. Bragg served on the Diocese of New Hampshire Standing Committee during the time of the Ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson.
Born in Burlington, Colorado, in 1945, Mrs. Bragg was the daughter of the late Dr. Harold I. Woolard, and her mother L. Doris Woolard, who survives her. She was widowed early in her first marriage by the untimely death of Richard C.Inglis, father of her daughter Katherine Inglis Johnson of Austin, Texas. Other survivors include her husband Daniel N. Bragg, her brother Lynn P. Woolard and wife Pamela P. Woolard of Merritt Island, Florida; step-daughter Jane Bragg Cowley and husband Matt Cowley of Chandler, Arizona, and two grandsons, Daniel and Nathan; son-in-law Steven Johnson; niece Rebecca Lassiter of Melbourne, Florida; and nephew Phillip Woolard of Tampa, Florida.
A memorial service was held Monday, September 19, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre St. Concord, New Hampshire. Interment followed in St. Paul’s Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial expressions of sympathy may be made to: Portsmouth/Salem/Derry Home Health and Hospice Services, 1E Commons Dr., Unit 31, Londonderry, NH 03053, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115,The Women’s Home, of Houston, 607 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77006 or The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.